THE LOSS OF THE MEGÆRA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 241, 11 October 1871, Page 2

THE LOSS OF THE MEGÆRA.

By the European. and Eastern papers received by the mail, we are enabled to make out a narrative of the mode by which the loss of the Meg£era,was reported, and of the steps taken to meet the exigency. It seems that soon after the vessel was run on shore at St. Paul's, an officer, Lieutenant Jones, left with a boat and crew of men, and steered for Batavia, a distance of some 2,000 miles. They reached Batavia on August 3, and a telegram was at once despatched to the commodore at Hong Koug. Orders were telegraphed to H.M.S. Rinaldo, then lying at Singapore, to proceed without delay to the relief of the shipwrecked men, aud she sailed the following day, August 4, calling at Batavia on her way to take on board the officer who brought the news. The following day tbe Commodore telegraphed to England that the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Malacca, 1,680 tons, had been eDgaged, and was to embark provisions at Hong Kong, aud follow the Rinaldo to the site of the wreck, thence to bring on relief crews to Sydney. In reply to a telegram sent by the Admiralty to Batavia, askiDg the cause of the disaster and whether provisions had been landed from the ship to the island, the following telegraphic despatch was forwarded : — " From Fraser, Consul, Batavia, Aug. 5. — Leak reported about June 8. Kept under for several days by hand pumps. : Leak increased ; steam then used; water kept under. Insufficient coal to reach Australia; steered for St. Paul's. June 17 auchored. Survey held; diver employed; reported unsafe to proceed; hole through bottom ; landed provisions; weather stormy; lost three anchors. June 19, ship was run on the bar full speed and For remainder of news see fourth page.