PROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 9, 10 January 1874, Page 2

P ROVINCIAL.

Dunedin, January 9.

Thc enquiry into the wreck of the English ship Surat has commenced before Mr Strode, R.M., Mr James Fulton, R.M., and Captain Thomson, Nautical Assessor. Mr Haggit. solicitor, conducted the case on behalf of the Customs authorities, and Mr Stout nppearod for Captain Johnson. The captain'fl and flrst and second mates' certificates were handed in to the Court. Captain Johnson was the first witness examined, and he gave particulars as to the ship and her cargo. He said the ship's iron was worth £15,000, When ehe struck the weather was very hazy. The vessel bumped five times; the first hour afterwards she made no water, but at five o'clock in the morning the water was increasing at the rate of one foot per hour. It was au error of judgment that they did nob bear away for Port Chalmers, which place they could have fetched under twelve hours.. A steamer passed between the vessel and land at two o'clock, when he hoisted an ensign union down, but did not fire a gun ; nor was he asked to do so. Anchored in seven fathoms of water, then had the five boats hoisted out aod handed out one hundred passengers. Afterwards beached the vessel. He left the ship on the morning of the flrst of January, leaving the mate and two seamen on board. The chitf mate, Abraham Forshaw, was diunk in bed when the vessel came to anchor ; ifc being the first time he had seen that officer drunk. Witness had drank something after the ship had struck, but declined to state how much liquor he took on that occasion. Ho had a pistol in his pocket and threatened to shoot any person who attempted to hoist a signal without orders being given to do so. He did not see the mate use a revolver, neither did he (witness) prevent the women from waving their shawls. January 10. In the cross-examinatioi into the Surat case, the captain admitted taking six glasses of whisky between the time of the shi]) striking and when beached. Theeupenter was drunk as well as the mate. Things look bad for the captain. The Governor leaves to-morrow in his yacht to visit the wreck. The sails and stores are already saved. A steam collier of lftOO tons has been purchased in London for Mr Frank Fulton of this city. Port Chalmers, January 10. The s.s. Mikado, 3030 tons, from Hong Kong, arrived last night with 600 Chinese, all well. She left Hong Kong on the 9th December. She libs two engines of 400 horse-power, and steamed eleve a knots on the average all the way down. She is beautifully clean as a passenger vessel. Auckland, January 10. Mr Saunders reports biij-ors o? Bunk of New Zealaod shares, £16 ss; National Bank, 545; South British, 455; Sons of Freedom, £13 10s; Eureka Hill, 6s 6d. Sellers: National Insurance, 21 s; Caledonian, £12.