SHIP GAINSBOROUGH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 56, 6 March 1878, Page 2

SHIP GAINSBOROUGH.

There has been a considerable amount of talk during the last few days as to the seaworthiness of this vessel after having lost her foretopmast and jibboom, and it is only fair to the authorities here that it should be known that such matters, involving the safety of both life and property, receive due attention at this port. The Collector of Customs (one of whose duties is to look after all such matters) has had the ship's condition under his notice throughout her stay here, and was aware as to the repairs that were being proceeded with. He had also ordered a survey of these repairs to be made on Monday afternoon, so that they should be reported on before he gave the vessel her clearance. The local agents for Lloyds'— Messrs Curtis Bros. — however, considered it needful to have a survey on. their own account, and to allow of this being done the ship was delayed until next morning. The result as shown by the reports below has proved that the injury to the vessel was one which in go way affected her thorough seaworthiness. The following is the correspondence between the agents of the ship and the agents for Lloyd's, the first letter being written in support of a verbal notice given by the ship's agents that if the report of Captain Cross was satisfactory and the Collector would clear the ship she would sail at once for Welliugton.

It is estimated that there are two thousand four hundred disorders to which the human frame is liable. When a man is laid up with the rheumatism he is apt to think that the entire number has struck him in concert. A sermon in Barbadoes recently concluded thus : — "My obstinacious Bredreo, I find it no more use to preach to you dan it is for a grasshopper to wear knee-breeches." An Australian paper, publishing latest news from New Zealand, says: — At Wellington, a diabolical attempt to blow up the ship Eli Whitney, then in harbor, was only partially successful. The perpetrators of the outrage hare been secured. The Rev. Father Henneberry has found a wonderful convert in Mr J. G. S. Grant. In his latest pamphlet, "The Roses of Parnassus," Mr Grant says :— " I would recommend all classes aud conditions of men to turn their backs on Brights and Clarks, aud such idiotic mountebanks, and ascend the hill and drink the waters of inspiration as they flow richly, freely, and purely, from the lips of -the Rev. Father Henneberry, at St. Joseph's Church, Dunedin. By the Murray on Wednesday evening (saya the Westport Times) there arrived aouie well known Dunedin residents having interest in the Mount RocbEort coal leases. They come on business iutimately connected with the opening up of the mines. Speaking at Hokitika on Tuesday, Sir George Grey said it would give the Government the greatest pleasure to provide railway communication between the East and West Coasts— in fact the Government were as anxious on this point as the people of Westland. If the railway could be made they might rely on its being constructed, but a special vote would have to be granted for the purpose. It is known (says the Wellington Argus) that at the recent election for the city of Wellington, certain gentlemen, through a misconception caused by the different regulations under which voting for local elections and elections for the House of Representatives, takes place, voted at both booths. They discovered their mistake almost at once, and informed the returning officer, so no blame could be attached to them. It is quite plain, too, that the disparity between the votes polled for the different candidates would of itself have prevented the duplicate voting alluded to from having had any effect on the ultimate result of the election. A few daya ago the Agency sent us a dark telegram intimating that some dreadful disclosures were likely to be made on the subject of certain land transactions in a locality not specified. On the same matter the Post says:— The public will probably yet hear I further about the transactions of the " Auckland Land Ring." Now that Ministers have obtained complete access to all documentary | and other evidence, it is said that the results of a searching investigation with respect to certain land transactions have disclosed a | series of facts which may possibly result in proceedings being taken in the law courts against some of the Northern land sharks, | with a view of compelling them to disgorge j their prey. Some strange and startling disclosures are anticipated. In Breslau a successful attempt has been made to erect a paper chimney about fifty feet high. By a chemical preparation the paper is rendered impervious to the action of fire and water. The draught is secured by using drawing paper. * In its account of the Premier's journey to Hokitika, the West Coast Times, unwittingly, j no doubt, published a strange statement. It makes particular mention that as the Minis- ( terial party passed the Lunatic Asylum " the ■ Asylum Band played • See the- Conquering J Hero comes, ' and the patients cheered heartily." It is to be hoped that there was no method in this piece of iusanity. Not the least significant sign of the times in Victoria is the fact that a working men's society is in course of formation, with tho object of procuring work in the other colonies for those who are thrown out of employment there by the action of the Government in driving capital away. When a gentleman asks another to drink he blandly says : « Shall we give the public revenue a lift ? " And they lift.