THE QUEEN BEE DISASTER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 188, 10 August 1877, Page 2

THE QUEEN BEE DISASTER.

We regret to say that we have no" further:"' news to, give regarding the 'missing boats.'. The Lytteltoa has not- yet; been signalled, : but is expected to arrive during the "evening from Colliugwood, and we hope that she may be the bearer of good tidings. Last night, the Aurora, with Lieutenants Gully and Simpson, sixteen of the Naval Brigade, and . the second mate and boatswain of the Queen, Bee, sailed for Durville's Island, which, with-i the fine breeze that was blowing, they would reach in less than four hours. It is their intention to sail round it, aud to go on to Stephen'slslandinsjearchof the missing ones sothafc' " no part ofjjthe coast on either side of the Bay shall remain unexplored. They have takeir a plentiful supply of blankets, provisioiis, and medical cdniforts, in the event of their, falling in with ths objects of their searctu A curious story is told by Mr John Weatrupp, of the cutter Bruiser, which arrived in harbor this morning after being absent; on a fishing expedition since Monday. He says that yesterday afternoon he wa3 fishing near the reef a short distance from Astrolabe when he saw two boats, painted white, the one apparently strongly manned,, and the other full of people, entering Bark Bay. At the time he knew nothing of; the wreck of fche Queen Bee, but shortly afterwards he fell in with the Lytteltpn, from which he learnt, what had occurred, and lie 'then told them what he had seen. The Lyttelton then stood on in the direction of Bark Bay. Now for. two reasons we cannot attach any importance to this story. ' In the first place had the boats been those of which the Lyttelton was in search she would assuredly have been back in Nelson long ere this, secondly, Bark Bay is but a short distance f rom Riwaka, and some means would have been adopted of sending word there, and thence to Motueka, from which place the telegraph would have conveyed the news to us long since.