Port of Auckland.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 883, 30 September 1854, Page 2

Port of Auckland.

SIILPV IN G INTELLI GENC E. ARRIVALS. September 27 —Hawkhead, 22 tons, Williams, from Mahurangi with 22 tons firewood. September 27 —Endeavour, 14 tons. Martin, from Waiheki, with . r > tons firewood' September 27 —Christina, 2"» lorn, Collier,' from the Hot Springs, with 11,000 feet timber, 4,000 shingles, CM pailings, I ton salt pork. September SB—Highlander, 14 tons, Hoeroa, from Tauranga, with 141/ kits potatoes. 50 do. inai/.e, 2 pigs, 1 package eggs. September 20 —Kororaika, 17 tons, Moka, from the Bay of Island-;, with 14 casks whale oil, 23 hogs, 2 cases bacon. September 28 —Napi, I<> tons. Hooker, from Matakana. with 2,0H0 feet timber, 20 tons firewood, . r >o posts, and 4 passengers. September 28 —Galatea, barque, 327 tons, Thompson, from Sydney. Passengers—Mr. and Mrs. Caller, Miss Grey. Merger!. Webster, Patterson, Hill, Diore, and Howe.—W. S, Grahame, agent. Sept. 29—Forager, 14 tons, Tarewa, from the Thames, with 5 cask* pork, 70 baskets kauri gum, 2 bag 3 potatoes, 4 boxes baggage: September 29—Osprey, 47 tons, Mihaka, from Russell, with 10 head cattle, 2 casks salt pork, £ ton bacon, 13 packages wearing apparel and furniture. Passengers, Rev. W, C. Dudley. Mr. Margraves, Mrs. Brown and o children, 5 natives, Master Renells. September 2< ( —Duke of Wellington, 10 tons, Ko te Hemora, from Mahurangi, with 30 tons firewood. DEPARTURES. September 57—Star, 17 tons, Merrick, for Waiheki. September 27 —Hawkhead, 22 tons, Williams, for Mahurangi, September 27 —Endeavour, 14 tons, Martin, for Waiheki. September 2/ Midge, 10 tons, Lewis, for Matakana, via Kawau, with 5 passengers. September 27 —Herald, 25 tons, Tautari, for the Ray of Islands, with 100 hags salt, 111 hags biscuit, (i b.igs Hour, 4 casks beer, 1 keg tobacco, (i cases bottled porter, 2 tons coal, 20 packages sundries. Passscngers, Mrs. Stevenson, Mr. H, Baker. September 211—James, 10 tons, Dent, for Wangarei, with 1 ton flour, .'! do. potatoes, 10 bags biscuit, 1 barrel do. 2 \- chests tea,.') kegs spirits, 1 doz. axes, 3 parcels and sundries. Passengers—Messrs. Burnett, Hooker. September 2!! —Emerald Isle, 32 tons, Oakes, for the East Coast with 1 keg, tobacco, 4 bales slops, 4 cases sundries, 1 cask rdm, 1 do. gin, 5 bundles spades, and sundries. September 28 —John, 28 tons, Laurence, for Matakana. September 21) —William, 17 tons, Copeland, for Thames, with 3 tons flour, I ton sugar, 4 packages sundries. September 20—Exert, 50 tons, Laurie, for Wangaroa, with 10 cases sundries, 2 catks do. 2 cans oil, 4 bundles spades, ,'! bales sundries, 40 lbs. tobacco. —Passengers, Messrs. Shepherd, Sandy, Sherman, Mrs. It. Laurie. September 29 —Maori, 10 |tons Cook, for Hauraki, in ballast. September 29—Christina, 2. p > tons, Collier for the Wade in ballast IMPORTS-FOREIGN Per Galatea, from Sydney : 5 tierces beef, 13 horses, 50 head cattle, (131 sheep, .Teases slops, 17 boxes candles, 10 boxes soap, 2 cases wine. 2 casks vinegar, 1 cask beer. 2 packages, 1 cart. 25 packages furniture, I grindstone, 1 case tobacco, 5 cases brandy, Ships in Harbour. Algerinc, brig, 10 tons, Lillewall, from Sydney, about to sail for Sydney,—John Woodhouse, agent. Cashmere, ship, 040 tons, George Pearson, arrived from London, preparing to sail for China. Urowii iz Campbell, agents. Eugene, barque, 236 tons, Tutty, from Melbourne. Bain arid Ilurtt, agents. Firefly brig, 131 tons, Wm. Jones, at Manukau, about to sail for Melbourne. Charles Davis, agent. Gal way Aik, brigantlne, 220 tons, Wadham, from Mahurangi, with spars, &c, discharging. Combes and J/aldy, agents. Galatea, barque, Thompson, from Sydney, with cattle, sheep and horses.—W. S. Grahame, Agent. Invincible, barque, 2lio tons, Brier, from Melbourne, laid on for Sydney,—Henderson and Macfarlane, agents.

Jasper, store-ship, 236 tons, moored off the Queen-street Pier, Maria Theresa, schooner, 116' tons, Paul Upton, laid on for Sydney. George Duke, agent. Monarch, barque. 338 tons, Dixon, from London, discharging. Brown and Campbell, agents. Victoria, brig, 188 tons, laid up. \V. S. firahame. agent. 11.M. hrigantine. Pandora, Commander Ilrury, arrived from a cruise to the Northward, about to sail for Cook's -Straits. Yarrow, brig, 200 tons, Kemp, from the East Coast, yueen of Perth, schooner, <J2 tons, T. Poole, arrived from Sydney. Vessels Expected. Joseph Fletcher, ship, G72 tons, Foster, from London. Norman Morrison, barque, . r >(>4 tons, Maundrell, from London via Wellington and Canterbury. 2nd dist. pent. 6379. Trafalgar, ship, 739 tons, , from London via the Southern ports. 2nd dist. pent, 18(53. Moa, brig, 2.'!G tons, Bowden, from Sydney. 2nd (list. pent. 7138. Nelson, steamer, Martin, from the Southern Settlements. William Denny, steamer, Mailler, from Sydney, hourlyIno, barque, from Sydney, Ist dist. pent. 54116. Sporting Lass, brig, Cellurn, from Sydney, Ist dist. pent. f>23o. Wanderer, brig, Bobbins, from Sydney, 2nd dist. pent. 2467. Kate Kearney, brig, Houston, from Sydney, 2nd dist. pent. .')27'.) Elizabeth, brigaiitine. Currie, from Melbourne, Ist dist. pent. 3267. Lady Mary, brig, from Melbourne, via Sydney, Ist dist. pent. 01)52. The barque, Galatea, ('apt. Thompson, arrived in port, on Thursday afternoon, after an excellent passage of eight days from Sydney, having sailed on the 20th at noon. She experienced strong Westerly weather during the earlier part of the passage, but during the two la<t days, when off this coast, she met with light and baffling winds. Out of 61 head of cattle shipped, she lost hut 5, bringing down 13 horses out of 14, and CIl sheep out of 671 shipped. The above have arrived in capital condition. The (ialatea reports the brig Moa, Bowden, to sail on the 22nd. and the steamer William Denny, en the 2.'! rd at 3 p.m. In addition to these, there were also on the berth for Auckland Hie barque Ino, the brig Wanderer, Capt. Bobbins, the brig Kale Kearny, Capt. Houston, and the brig Sporting Lass- Capt. Culluin, The brig Sporting Lass, (says the Herald of the 20th) has changed hands, having been purchased by Messrs. Harris and Barlow. She will be p!ac«d in the Auckland trade under the command of Mr. Cullum, late chief officer of the brig Brothers. The Henrietta arrived at Sydney trom Valparaiso, has encountered light winds and calms all the voyage. She contradicts the rumour lately published of-an engagement having taken place between English and Russian frigates off Valparaiso. When she left, there were no men of war in the harbour. The brig Yelnx, Captain Ifolford, arrived at Sydney from New Plymouth on the 10th hist, after a lengthened passage of 25 days. ' The barque Hamilla Mitchell sailed from Calcutta for London on the 3rd of June. A schooner was signalled at sunset withinside of Tiri Tir 1 Matangi. THE MURDER AT MEW CALEDONIA. Having (in our number of the 20th instant) furnished an abridged report of the trial, and sentence of death passed upon Captain Ross, of the B'ack Dog-, schooner, for hanging a native of Lefoo. in one ofthebaysof New Caledonia, we deem it a matter of equal justice as interest, to transcribe the following narrative from the Mail Summary of the Sydney Morning Herald of the 20th of the present month: A very puinful case has been recently brought before the Supreme Court of this colony, in its criminal jurisdiction; to which public attention is now earnestly direced. Captain John Ross, master of a British schooner, the Black Dog, was convicted at the last sessions of the murder of a native of the island of Lefoo ; and has been sentenced to death. The unfortunate occurrence took place on the I s; of Feb'ury last whilst the schooner was lying at nnchor within the reach of musketry from the .-bore of a bay called Tuperama, in the island of New Caledonia. The jury in recording a verdict of guilty,recommended Captain Ross to mercy; and stated their opinion, that the schooner and crew were in danger from the natives, with whom the lad in cpjestion was co-operating, and that he was put to death by the order of Captain Ross in order to save his men and his vessel. Points of law have been reseived for the consideration of the full court. Pending that consideration, however, nnd on the eve of the departure of a mail steamship, it may not be improper to name some strong reasons on behalf of Captain Ross. In tbe first place, his object in going to Tuperama was both justifiable and laudable. He had been informed that a white man bad fallen into the hands of the natives; and, according to the information received by him, there was reason to believe that the man in question might be still alive. To rescue him, therefore, was an obvious duty ; and that duty Captain Ross went to fulfil. Whilst anchored in the bay, there were clear indica ions. nay. actual attempts on the part of the natives to laptute the schooner. In these attempts tbe Lefoo native was plainly participant, and was made prisoner whilst engaged in aiding the design. It has been urged on the part of Captain Boss, that the state of warfare which commenced on the first repu'se of the natives,and after the capture of the Lefoo hoy, continued during the whole time of the schooner's stay off the coast; and that inasmuch as there was this nctii.il and continuous hostility on the part of the natives, Captain Hoss might not unreasonably have supposed, that he possessed a right, not only of meeting force by force, but of acting in the same manner as if he were an officer waging war under the authority of bis Sovereign. It is further urged, that as the boy bad been captured whilst actually engaged in Hn act not merely of hostility, but ofeross treachery; and ns future good might ensue from shewing to the na ives the spectacle of an immediate and ignominious punishment inflicted upon such an offender, Captain Ross, i- may he presumed, deemed that he had a right to deal with the boy upon the same principle; that during an ac ual attack upon the schooner, he would have been justified In killing any of the peopla engaged in it. This is another of the sad tragedies enacted in the Corallean sea. The yet unascertained fate of Mr. Benjamin Boyd is recalled to tbe mind, as we record the captivity of the Englishman, whomjCapt lin Ross sought to rescue at Tuperama. It is a painful picture awakening the gravest reflections.

Capture of a Russian Merchant fhip off Madras iiY a P. andO. Sieameß.—We extract the following from the ' Madras Examiner,'of June 27: Jilack Town was yes'erdny morning thrown into consternation bj the rumour of the arrirnl here of the "advanced ships of the Russian Squadron." The news spread like wildfire; and dire indeed was the alarm of Clietties and others who congregated in hundreds on the beach as the report passed from month to mouth, till it announced at length no less than au approaching descent ol the enemy upon us, and the inevitable destruction ol the whole of the town within gunshot from the Roads. The mouse that has so agitated the mountain is au uir fortunate Russian barque, the Skeppet Idt-alet. She was "captured" yesterday morning at sea under the follovriinr circumstances: ul Suuday, a large vessel was seen out at s-a to the southward of Madras ; and just before dark, 10 the surprise of those who were watching her motions, she hoisted Russian c< lours, and stood off again into the oiling. Intelligence was instantly dispatched to the Governor, whom the news reached while he was at Church. The authorities assembled at the Fort, joined by Lord Harris, who instantly sent on hoard of the mail steamer a number of artillery and other soldiers, with a body of officers and the Town Major, and with orders to capture the vessel and bring her into the roads—by force of arms if necessary. The steamer's boats were at once sent out in search, fully armed, and they cruisi d about for the whole night without success. In tlu> morning, at about halt-past fouror live, the stenn er got under weigh, and stood out in pursuit. The chase was soon found at anchor, five or six miles off the Roads to the southward. The steamer ran alongside, and on hailing the suspicious stranger, found her to be a Russian merchant ship, hound for Madras, with coals Irom Hartlepool. On being asked if he had any recent information regarding the political relations of England and Russia, the Captain replied he had not; that he left Hartlepool on the 31 st January—as was prov d by his logbook—at which time war had been declared by Russia against Turkey, though pacific relations still existed between England and Russia. He was then told that he and his crew were prisoners. The crew were called aft, mustered according to the ship's papers, and sent on beard the steamer ; while forty of the steamer's men and some soldiers wete placed in charge of the prize. She was brought into ihe Roads about half-past seven or eight o'clock, and anchored by herself opposite the battery on the beach, where she still lies—a lightcilouied lull with lofty spais, dingy and weatherbeaten. Her men, and all their things, were, as soon as possible, landed ; and all her papers and documents were brought ashore. The men were detained at the Market Choultry. The consignees of the cargo are Messrs. Binny and Co. The steamer was detained ti/l half-past three o'clock yesterday afternoon. As the several questions arising on her capture will be fully argued in the proper Court within the next few days, we defer n aking any observations on the matter, except by way of giving the plain details of the case. [The Madras K.vannner proceeds to state that the Government had released the Russian merchantman from durance ; and shows that the capture was an illegal one, as thy vessel left Hartlepool on the 318 A January, whereas the Queen's Proclamation, declaring war with Russia, was not is-ued until the 28th March.] Capture of a British Bric; hy Pirates.—News has reached us of the capture of the British brig Cuthbert Young, by Rillian pirates. The " Gibraltat Chronicle of the 24th of Juue thus explains the affair :—" The

British brig Cutbburt Young, of Newcastle, Captain John G. Marshall, of 293 tons roister, copper ana copper-fastened, out 25 days from Malta in ballast, ana bound to Falmouth for orders, was unfortunately becalmed and driven by force of a current to w "<» ln lu miles of Cape Trea Forcas, on the coast off JUtt, on tlie Digbtof Wednesday last, the 21st instant, when, to the astonishment of the master and crew, they were suddenly alarmed by the fire of musketry, and immediately afterwards observed a number of boats approaching which proved to be full of pirates. By 10 o clock, finding little chance of escape, the night bt ing rather dark, and ihe pirates increasing-their fire and closing upon the brig, the stern boat was lowered, six of the crew <rot in, and pushed off ia the greatest confusion; twenty minutes elapsed ere the remaining portion of the crew could launch the skiff, when they jumped into it and made av»av as fast as they could, hotly pursued for three hours by two piratical boats who kept up a constant fire on tbem until they were out ot reach. It was not until 5 p.m. on the following day Seventeen hours after leaving the brig) that the skiff ua< falleni 10 with by the Austrian barque Vincenzo, Captain 1 . Facliiuetli. who took them on board and treated them with every kindness, they being in a state of great exhauston not having tasted food during that lime. Captain Fachinetti w:is on his way to Swansea to take in a cargo of coals, and put in here yesterday, merely to land Captain Marshall, James L»ng (first mate) William George 1 lardv (second mate;, W. 'lock (cook), and W. Waufess (apprentice). The stern-boat, with the other six (including two boys, the safety of whom was Captain Marshall's first thought), baa not, we are sorry to report, been heard of. Her Majesty's steam-sloop Prom:theus, which arrived on the evening of the 23th. received instructions to take on board the master of the L'uthbert Voung, and proceeded to the RifF eoast in search of that vessel. The steamer left shortly after.— The master of the British brig Odessa, of London, which arrived at Gibraltar from Constantinople on the 24ih, reports that on the 20th ultimo, at 1030 p m., while on his way through the Arcbipelvgo, Ijing-tn under Cape Angely with close-reefed topsails, wailing an opportunity to proceed through Cerigo Passage, he was surprised by ob erving a Greek schooner, of about VZO tons, with a 1 irge number of men on board, bearing down on him, and attempting to board the brig ; but, fortunately, Captain Warren entertaining strong suspicions of the s-hooner, before it became dark, o.dered all hands up, and made every possible sail, steering north-east. The pirate gave chase for four hours, hut the brijj gained considerably on lier and escaped. Captain Warner further states that he saw the 6arae vessel for three successive days after, lying under the laud."—London Morning Herald, July 4.

The Mediterranean Cable in the Yard near Greinwich.—The first portion of the great [Mediterranean cable, the largest ever made, and in point of circumference, also, the largest at present existing-, is just completed and leady for sbipnunt. The screw ateamer Persian, destined to cirry it, will receive her singular cargo the moment she arrives from Alexandria, and the subterranean works on the islands of Corsica. &c, will be ready to be connected ta the cable on its being laid down. The cable is about 110 miles in length, and weighs somewhere tibout 800 tons. Jt contains six copper wires or conductors, f«jr the fluid to traverse, protected by a gutta percha covering, secured in a hempen rope, and finally surrounded with twelve iron wires of number one gauge. The projector and originator, Mr. John Wntkms Brett, profiting bv expsriei ce, has allowed twenty mi es for what is technically termed " slack" and " way.'' and for depths of the ocean. As now coiled in the \anl the Cible occupies about 7j feet, taking its convex sides. The perpendicular height of the coii is ahout five ft er, and the width of" one side of the coil, from convex to concave, reaches 24 feet. The moment it is laid, London will be in immediate communication with Cagliari through the cable, and about 400 miles of subterranean wire. Extensions to Multa, Turkey, &c, would give us news from the seatofwnr in an incredibly short space of time, and might, in the mat er of rapidity of proceedings, speedy communications of o ders, knowledge of wants, &C, be o ("essential service to the country. The still more rapid publication of intelligence would also tend to diminish the national anx : ety, and would enable the Press of tin'* country to protect the mind of not them Kurope from the agitation wrought by the journals of St. Petersburg.

KRONSTADT. As we approached Kronstadt—a submarine fortress of which tiie Russians are justly proud—the Gulf of Finland suddenly assumed an animated appearance. The imperial fleet was in motion, and surrounded u< on nil sides. It rem iin* in port, ict -locked for more than six months in the year. Put during liie three months of >un rner the marine cadets are exercised in nautical manaouvres between St. Petersbur-r acd the Baltic. After passing the flee', we again sailed on an almost desert -<>:>, now and then only enlivtned by the distant apparition of some merchant vessel, or the yet more frequent smoke of a ' pyroscaph,' as steamboats are learnedly called in the niutical language of some partof Kurope. The Baltic Sea, by the dull hues of itunfrrquented waters, proclaims toe vicinity of a continent depopulated under the rigours of the climate. The barren shores harmonize with the cold aspect of the sky and water, and dull the heart of the traveller. No soon i does he arrive on tks unattractive coast, than he longs to leave it; he calls to mind, with a sigh, the remaik of one of Catherine's favourites, who, when the Empress complained of the effects of the climate of Petersburg upon her health, observed,*' It is not God who should he bla red, tnadame, because men have persisted in building the capital of a great empire in a territory destin d by nature to he the pat'itnony of wolves and bears." . . The view of the naval t;ower of Russia, gathered together for the amusement of the (Jz ir, at the gate of his capital, has thu3 caused me only a painful impres-ion. The vessels which wi I be inevitably lost in a few winters, without having rendered any service, suagest to my mind images—not of (he I owe: of a great country, but of the useless toils to which the poor unfortunate seamen are condemned. The ice is a more terrible enemy to this navy than foreign war. Every Autumn, alter the three month's exercise, the pupil returns to his prison, the plaything to its box, and the frost begins to wage its more serious war upon the imperial finances. Lord Durham once remarked to the Emperor himself, with a freedom o( speech which wounded him in the most sensitive part, ihat the Russian ships of war were but the playthings of the Russian Sovereign. As Begirds myself, this childish Colossus by no means predisposes roe to admire what I may ex - pect to see in the interior of the empire. To admire Russia in approaching it by water, P. is necessary to forget the approach to England by the Thames. The first is the linage of death, the If St of life. On dropping anchor before Kronstadt, we learned that one of the noble vessels we bad seen manoeuvring around us bad just been lost on a sand bank. This shipwreck was dangerous only to the captain, who expected to be ca>h iered.and perhaps punished yet more severely. Prince K said to me privately, that he would have done better to have perished with his vessel. Our fellowtraveller, the Princess L , had a son attached to the unluckyJship. She was placed in a situation of painful suspense, until news of his safety was brought to her by the governor of Kronstadt. The Russians are incessantly repeating tome that it is requisite to spend at least two years in their country before passing a judgment upon it ; so difficult is it to understand. But though patience and prudence may be necessary virtues in those learned travellers who aspire to the glory of producing erudite volumes, I, who have been hitherto writing only for my friend and myself, have no intention of making my journal a work of labour. I have some fear of the Russian custom-house, but they assure me that my 'escritoire' will be respected. Nothing can be more melancholy than the aspect of nature in the approach of St. Petersburg. As you advance up the Gulf, the flat marshes of Ingria terminate in a little wavering line drawn between the sky and the sea—this line is Russia. It presents the appearance of a wet lowland, with hpre and there a few birch treps thinly scattered. The landscape is void of objects and colours, has no bounds, and yet no sublimity. It has just light enough to be visible ; the grey mossy earth well accords with the pale sun which illumines it, not from overhead, but from near the horizon, or almost indeed from below—so acute is the angle which the oblique rays form with the surface of this unfavoured soil. In Russia, the finest days have a bluish dimness. lf| the nights are marked by a clearness which surprises, the days are clothed with an obscurity which saddens. Kronstadt, with its forest of masts, its .substructures, and its ramparts of granite, finely breaks the monotc nous reverie of the pilgrim, who is, hko me, seeking for imagery in this dreary land. 1 have never seen, in the approaches to any great city, a landscape so melancholy as the banks of the Neva. The Campagna of Rome is a desert, but what picturesque objects, what past associations, what light, what fire,what poet y—if I might he allowed the expression, I would say what passion animates that religious land ! To reach St. Petersburg, you must pass a desert of water framed in a desert of peat earth—sea, shore, and skv, ar ■ all blended into one mirror, but so dull, so tarnished, that it reflects nothing. The thought ol the noble vessels of the Russian i avy, destined to perish without ever been in action, pursues in-like a dream. . . . Kronstadt is a v.ry Bat island in the middle of the Gulf of Finland. This aquatic fortress is raised ah ve the sea only just sufficient to defend the navigation to St Petersburg. Its foundations and many of its w. r.s are tinder water. Its guns are disposed, according to the. Russians, with great skill, and by vinne of the shower of ball that an order of (he Emperor's could lure pour

upon an enemv, the place passes for impregnable. I ani not aware whether these guns command both the passes of the Gulf—the Russians who could have iuformed me would not. My experience, although of recent date, has already taught me to distrust the rbodomontailes and exaggerations in which the subjects of the Czar, inspired by an excess of zeal in the service of the master, indulge. National pride appears to me to be tolerable only among a free people.— De Cuttine. Cronstadt.— We understand that a clergyman of the Church of England, who a year or two since had settled in St. Petersburg, haajust returned,and imparted some rather important information to the Admiralty respecting the portion and resources of Cronstadt. YVe believe his opinion is most decidedly that that place is pregnabe more especially from one point, with which he U well acquainted, and having formerly been in the British service, his opinion and judgment must be entitled to some respect. The rev. gentleman considers also that however formidable the fortifications may be, they would, in the event of an attack, prove more destructive to thedefenders than to the attacking party being so ill constructed that the first discharge of the long „ um would utterly destroy the unfortunate wretches who man them, the smoke being alone sufficient to suffocate them. The rev. gentleman was also able to put the Admiralty in possession of full particulars of the so-called infernal machines, which, it is said, consist of cylinder* charged with powder and combustibles, sunk beneath the surface of the water and floated by a buoy, and upon a collision with the ship's bottom will explode, with what effect may be imagined.