To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 573, 11 October 1851, Page 2

To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Gi-nhlmln, — In Cnjitatn llarnsoti's letter, announcing: to you the los* of his vessel, an impulsion is conveyed winch might be tlie means of producing a similar Ciit.istiophe. Captain llaili^on appears to consider thfi island on which ho was wretkeil )o be Clarence Island, whereas it appears to me (by marking the ship's position at the previous noon, and the subsequent coui&p steered, as given by Captain llainson, in his letter), that tin 1 vessel wa< lost upon ihe group of islets, lung about fifty miles to ilie south-east of Ciaicnce Inland, and fi r&t inseiCed by None in In* charts of 1816, one of which 1 6aw a few months since, and coi reeled my own log. This group was also repoited <U J'«jns by the commander ofn Ficmli whaler, as a new di»co\eiy, about the month of April last. The course sf"^rvd by the Novelty would le.ul directly on the centie of tliis group. It it. very improbable they weie l.nd clovvn on the iS'ovelly's chart, and hence the disaster. Their position accoiding to Norie'b chait, is 9\30 soutli latitude, anil 17050 west longitude. 1 compaied this position with that reported by the French captain, and they agreed closely. None calls them Low Islands. I was nearly lost Hpou them myself about fourteen months since. In conclusion, I would bog 1 to state my opinion, that the enormous inciease of British traffic in the Pacific, consequent on the opening of the California market, cills imperatively on the llii'ish Government to have some practical route to and fiomSan Francisco, speedily and thoroughly investigated, and the charts corrccled and published. The long tiain of recent disasters on this route, are a sad but a convincing proof c-i the necessity of snch an undertaking. Apologising for this intrusion on your valuable space, I am, gentlemen, A Bkiiimi Shipmaster.

The arrival of the schooner Albion from Wide Bay, brings the distressing news of the lass of two fine vessels on this coast,—the ship Bolton Abbey, and the barque Countess ■ i .Minto* The former vessel registered 620 ions, hailed from Plymouth, and was commanded by Capt.ini Peter Smith ; the Countess of Miuto liaileil from Livirpool, registered 300 tons, and was commanded by Captain David Alien. From the verbal statement of these gentlemen, it appears that while they were lying in the portol Valparaiso, they received instructions to "-ail for Lady Elliotts Island, situated between Hreak Sea Spit and Poit Curtis, for the purpose of procuring cargoes oi guano. They succeeded in making the island all s.ife, and the Bolton Abbey obtained 600 tons of guano; and the Countess of Minto 250 ton;,. On the 25th August, in a very heavy gale of wind, ths ship Boltou Abbey was driven ashore, wheie she became a total wreck ; and the barque Countess of JUttito disappeared Li a heavy squall and w.is not again seen; the c«rpentcr, John Johnson, and the stewdid, Joseph Pass, were the only people on boaul of the latter vessel at the time of the catastrophe. The captains of both vessels were ashore, together with 27 of the seamen; it is doubtful whether the Countess of Minto was ('riven to sea, or sunk at her anchoiage. The piincipal part of the Bolton Alibi y's htores were saved, which enabled the people to make themselves contented foi the time being; and as there was veiy little water on the island, it was unanimously agreed to draw lots, who would take the only two boats left, with a competent crew, on to Wide Bay, being the nearest port; it fell to the lot of Captains Allen and Smith, their two chief officers and fifteen of the seamen. On the 3rd instant they, in their very frail vessels, the pinnace and the gig of the Bolton Abbey, lelt Lady Elliotts Island, and happily leached W ide liny on the Bth instant, where they were leceived with great hospitality by the lesidents of that place There were twelve men left on the island, and we believe that app ication has been made to his Excellency the Governoi to send a vessel to their assistance, captains Allen and Smith deMre to return their thanUs to Messrs. Uhr and Aldridge, of Wide Bay; a'so to Captain Clinton, of the Albion, for the generous and open hearted kmdue^ses received at their hands. The fol lowing extract of the log ot the Countess of Minto will give all the information required :—" Counters of Minto from ValpaiaibO, airived off Lady Elliotts Island on the 13th July, and found the ship Bolton Abbey loading guauo- Wednesday, July 16. Moderate breeze arid fine weather. 17. commenced to discharge ballast, and the boa's employed in bringing oft guano. Friday 18. Fresh gales Irom the west, whicn continued increasing until the 25th, with moderate breezes and fine weather, boats still emplo\cd in bringing off guano- At noon, the wind suddenly increased to a violent gale, and it was found impossible to get on board, there being a very heavy sea on. 8, P.M. Gale still increabiug ; midnight, blowing fearfully accompanied with iaiu< From the shore saw the ship riding very heavily, when a tremendous squall passed over the island, and continued till l, a.m. It then cleaied up, and it was discoveied that the ship hnd disappeared, leaving eleven of the crew destitute upon the shoie. Tuesday, 26th. Sill blowing hard, and no appearance of the ship. From 8, A-M., lill noon blowing a terrific gale; the Bolton Abbey diove ashoie, and struck heavily on the rocks- Wed nesday, 27th. Hale blowing from wcs>t-south>west; boarded the Bolton Abbey, and found hoi 1 nearly lull of water; saved n fesv stoves and a little water. Thursday, 28. Moderate breeze with fine weather; crews employed erecting tents, and fittinu out the two boats. Wednesday, 3rd September. Launched the boais, and proceeded to sea with a fair wind; boats in company during the night. On the 4th, made the mainland, and at midnight entered between Great Saud lslaad aud the mainland. — Sydney llerald) Sept. 19< The Countess of Minto, from Lady Elliotts Island, the 26th August, ultimo, slipped both anchors on that night to avoid running on the reef; haviug only two men on board —John Johnson, carpenter, and Joseph Pass, Stewart. These men endeavoured to reach the Island, but failing to do so, after sixteen days beating to windward, they bore up for Sydney. Off Port Macquarie they saw the barque IMosellp, and having made signals of distress Captain Thomson bore down upon them and sent Mr. Greenwood (late chief officer of the George Buckham,) and four seamen to their assistance. The Countess of Minto arrived in safety in Port Jackson on Saturday morning. Grtat credit is due to Johnson and Pass for their b are and persevering efforts to save the barque, and for their endeavours to make the island with the view of rescuing their shipwrecked mates. H.M. Schooner Bramble sailed yesterday morning in the hope of ri'bcuiiag the twelve men who are reported to have been left on Elliot's lBldnd.--.JWd, Sept. Tl.

Newcastle —Sunday morning, September £7.—H-M-steamci Acheron sailed on Thiusday tor Lady Elliotts Island, to bring off the crews of the Holton Abbey and Countess of Minto. Clearance : September 22, Sophia, Hambuigh baique, 27S tons, Captain Docker, for Valparaiso ; cargo, 344 tons of coals, 1120 lbs- pVeseived j meats. The Oriental is taking in water preparatory to loading Stock ior New Zealand. The Joseph Weir is loading coals at the Company's shoot

English Shipping.—The Hamlet, Wilson, was advertised in the Tunes of 25th June, to sail for bydney on the 15th July, The Canterbury and Midlothian, for New Zealand, and the Courier for Adelaide, sailed from Gravesend on the 22nd June. The Hart, for Adelaide and Melbourne, sailed from the Downs 22nd June. The Aberfoyle and Jay, for Melbourne, entered outwards on the 18th. The Constafice, for Melbourne, and Tasma nia, for Portland Bay, on the 24th*June. The Enchan'er, for Mel bourne,-was to sail from London on the 10th July. The Vigilant, from Hobart Town to London', was lepoited in the Times of the 25th June, as having been spoken on the 27nd March, in lat. 21° S. long., 187° E. The ship Commodore sailed irom Deal lo Glasgow on the 11th June, to load for Victoria.

San Francisco.—Arrivals : July 15th. Adirondack, U.S. ship, 100 days from Sydney via Honolulu ; Aleit, brig, 130 days irom Hobart Town; Doiset, brig, 92 dayi from Hobart Town. 17. Marine Plant, brig, M 4 days from Adelaide. 20. Marmion, brig, 130 dnys from Port Phillip via Tahiti- 23. Rosaljnd, brig, 196 days from Sydney, via Auckland and Tahiti.) Cleared out: 17. Jessie, ship, for Sydney. 19. Gfraff'e, brig, for Manila via Sandwich Islands. 25. Timandra, barque, for Adelaide; MinervJ, schooner, for Adela.de. 2G. Elizabeth Thompson, barque, for Launces-on. The "Walter Claxton, barque, 23') tons, was advertised to sail lor Sydney, on the Ist August. The Amelia, barque, 340 tons, for Ilohart'l own; and the Ceylon, brig, lor Auckldiid, to sail early in August. Honolulu. The U. S. ship. Edgar, hence, for San Francisco, sailed from Honolulu on the 25th July. The Hamburgh, schooner, Lina, for Sydney, sailed on the S3rd July. The Constant, ship, Cootnbes, sailed foi ISan Francisco on the 14lh August. The schooner, William and James, for Sydney, sailed on the 12th August.

Van DirMTN':, Land Maureis. — Launceston, Sept. 17.—T1)P mm Iveti are said to be dull, the nominal quotation lor wheat being 10&- per bushel, and lor flour £ J25J 25 per ton. Uobart Town September 16' — Wheat is quoted at 10s- per bushel, but no sales have been heard of at that pt ice. Oats are 65., and best uniting h.irlcy in demand at 6'a 9 to 7b F.O"i', per ton — -Couneu