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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 18, 15 January 1873, Page 2

MAiiduuun. --The following additional particulars relative to the wreck of this vessel have been supplied to us. It appears that the Margaret, after passing the East Cape, fell in with the Sou’ Easter that preceded the storm from the N. E. , ’and had some tough work in holding her own. The wind I then chopped suddenly round, and raised a terrific cross sea, which she staggered upder in the hope of making either Tologa Bay or this Port. Night coming on the watch below consisting of two hands turned in leaving the Captain and the man at the alone on deejt. A heavy squall was heard and seen some distance astern, and the Captain deeming assistance necessary descended to rouse the watch, but before any one could return to the deck, the squall struck the vessel putting her oh her beam ends. The cabin at once filled with water and the continuous roll of heavy seas washed the man at the wheel overboard, who, of course was drowned. The two men. thanks to their being awake, were soon out of their bunks, but saw nothing more of the Captain alive'; they heard a groan and supposed he, too, had been washed overboard. The Margaret at this time, happened to be close in shore opposite Tologa Bay, whither she drifted, finally getting stranded on the rocks which skirt the South headland there ;• so far it was lucky for the two unfortunate men who had been immersed in water up to the neck for about 12 hours with no possible chance of escape, and with every likelihood of their craftturning bottom up. After the vessel had struck, the poor men struggled hard for life, having to swim to a safe place. Here, with their bare shirts, hungry and cold in such a tempest, they could only look to their immediate and personal condition, which was miserable in the extreme ; and thoroughly exhausted they slept for some time, until assistance came to the vessel whose -position had been noticed from the Bay at daylight. The Captain’s body was afterwards found at the bottom of the cabin. Articles of necessary clothing and food were immediately furnished by the settlers, and everything done to relieve the sufferings of the two men who have lost everything. The Margaret is ■ the property of Mr. Black of Mahia.

Opotiki Road.—Mr. Simpson, General Government Engineer .arrived overland on Monday and reports favorably on the progress of the conn ectin g link, par excellence, required to send this beautiful district ahead viz., the Opotiki road. Some considerable distance is formed from the Opotiki end, where Mr. Simpson’s brother has charge of a party of 80 natives who are working well. The complete formation of this track, will open up some beautiful country, and help our settlers who have a. plethora of fine stock, to reach the markets where a surplusage of population cannot find a supply equal to the demand. Mr. Simpson purposes organising a party of some 80 natives here and to start at once from this end, beginning above Ormond outside the boundaries of the HighwayDistrict.- As the instructions of the General Government imperatively demand the enlistment of native labor only, some difficulty may be found in the indisposition of the natives to enter into contracts, on the one hand, and in their unreadiness to work hard on the other ; but Mr. Simpson has an alternative, if .our native friends here “ can’t see it,” he intends to send for a party of Arawas who “ can see it,” and have expressed their willingness to “ come over and help us.,’ It is a pity the Government has so stipulated the conditions,' as it ties the hands of its officers; but Mr. Simpson, who is well up to his work, will be equal to the occasion, we doubt hot.

Waiapu.—The R.M. at this settlement seems to be causing some dissatisfaction by issuing Licensesand Permits to natives to sell, we suppose spirituous liquors, but our information on this point, is not so complete as we could wish it. ,We .are informed that the quantity of grog landed on the Coast now is simply enormous, and that complaints have J>een made, (we don’t know to whom) without effect. Pending fuller information we forbear to express our* opinion on the System, and that an R.M. could be found to administer to a system, so brim full of viciousness s> that which not only sets .the law at defiance, which is .supposed tp .prohibit .grog selling to natives, but gives them ra licence to sell it, ergo ttf drink it. The rest we leave to the Custafrm* authorities. H u. C. U. 1 J Race Meeting— The sums of the Stakes to be run for will be found .in a separate.adyertise-. ment m to day a isgw. u* T

Mravsei BaiDGK-fewill be seen that tenders are called for. to ba sent in to the Road Board office by Saturday neKt, for the construction of a bridge oveJthe Muhunga CrtA This is a work whichcould not have .been put off indefinitely, as The sjte of the present crossing is on private A dray recently attempting to cross,.went through the dilapidated structure, which has precipitated calling for tenders at once. . Wa I apv. —A corrsepondeut writ ing Jf rom Awanui gives a very mdancholy account oh the effects of the .lste storm in that part of/the Coast. He says:— “ 'there has been a Searful fresh in the Waiapu river, bringing down numbers of sheep, horses, pigs, rattle and *ftta.es, strewing the Waiapu flat, and the beach from the Awanui to the mouth of the Waiapu river with ..dea.d„i»ccaaa£X-..Th£.standing .crops' are destroyed by deposits of rubbish, the potatoes being swept clean away, i Several small houses and Maori whares have also disappeared, which, with loss of food-crops will cause jgreatsuffering amongst the mOTirfo. ’ Wrremn’s* fighting pa was completely covered with water, nothing tb be seen but the top of The pallisading. Poor Daniel has lost both shepp and food. The Arawas are also great sufferers. The sea has been well up the banks carrying and tearing everything before it, smashing boats and canoes." Race Ball. —We have been desired to draw attention to the fact that ladies’ tickets will be issued separately, if required, on application. /Escvlapius Rejuvenated,— A reference to our advertising columns will show that Dr. Smith has commenced practice a$ a- medical adviser in Gisborne. ■ Waerenga-a-hika.—Mr. Breingan, a newlyarrived settler from Hawke’s Bay, is, We understand, the successful tenderer for this fine estate