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Otago Daily Times, Issue 106, 19 March 1862, Page 6

I Captain Brown op the " Ocean CniEr."—A

testimonial, consisting of an address aud a purse of £200, was presented yesterday to Captain Brown, late of the "Ocean Chietj" as a mark of the sympathy felt for him under the distressing circumstances of the loss of his vessel on the New Zealand, coast by fire— the act of an incendiary. Captain Brown lias now been some seven years before the Australian public, as first officer and commander of the ship whose destruction we have recently had occasion to chronicle. He has brought a large number of immigrants to these shqres, and has always gained the confidence of both' passengers and crpw. The address bears the signatures of all classo3 of the community. A number of influential gentlemen connected with the shipping and mercantile interests assembled at Bignell's Hotel at 12 o'clock, to do honour to the occasion. Mr. Martley occupied the chair. It was presented in due form, as follows :—"To Captain Brown, late of the " Ocean Chief," &c. A number of your personal' friend 3 and admirers having met together on the eve of your departure for England, beg leave to tender "you their sincere sympathy on the loss of your beautiful vessel, the "Ocean Chief," and trust that you will accept the accompanying purse of 200 sovereigns, as an earnest of their appreciation of your conduct Tyhiid in command of her- Hoping that you will sbqn retiirh amongst us with a ship worthy of your cpnjmahij, we are," &o. Among the subscribers we notice the Hon.' R- Heales) M.L A.; A(r .Orkney, M.L.A.; Mr. Reid, M.L.A,; Mr.Magulre, American Consul j'" Messrsr Power and Rutherford, Messrs. Clough and Co., the representatives of most of the shipping firms of the city, a large number pf citizens, captains of vessels, and others. A great deal of generous sympathy was expressed towards Captain Brown by those present, to which he feelingly responded Captain Mathews, Lloyd's agent, Mr. Maguire, the American Consul, and other gentlemen, bore testimony to his character as a seaman and commander, and expressed the general wishes of the meeting that the position which Captain Brown had :

Severn? of the largest mining companies in the Ballarat district are sorely pressed for want of water, and have altogether ceased working, or only work a portion of their machinery. This, of course will add to the decrease in our eScort returns as long as it lasts, which, let us hope, -will not now be more than a few days. A small quantity of rain would help. r-Hera Id, March7.~- -~- -."~."'.'.'..:' . - -, !: