COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 145, 10 March 1874, Page 2

COLONIAL ITEMS.

(f BOM THE ANQLO-AUSTBAUAN PBMS AGENCY) AUCKLAND. March 3. The ship Queen of the Age, from London, arrived last night, with 220 immigrants ; DO sickness on board. March 4. Referring to the new Australian line of steamers, the Alta California says : —“ The pioueer vessel of the new line of steamers lias arrived. Mr. H. Hall, who arrived overland from the East, expresses the utmost confidence in the success of the enterprise. The resources of the company are ample, and he declares that if the public are not satisfied, and the line should not succeed, the fault must be his. He is confident that his negotiations with the railroad company will lead to a fast train from San Francisco for New York, carrying the Australian mails and passengers. Mr. Hall says that the first new Clyde built iron screw steamships for this line will be launched in August, and will arrive here about January, 1875. He is already negotiating for a fortnightly service, to be conducted by four American and four English ships. The company is two-thirds American, that proportion of stock being owned by American capitalist*. The steamers will be 3000 tons each, and built very much on the plan of the ships of the White Star line. The ships are guaranteed to steam fourteen knots an hour, loaded, while the contract calls only for twelve knots. Later

The Tartar sailed for Sydney at 4 p.m, A deputation waited on Mr. Hall, at Kandavau, urging the desirability of constituting Levuka a port of call for the new service. They offered to guarantee Mr. Hall a trade of £20,000 a year. The directors of the Union Bank of Australia declared a dividend of 35s per share, being seven per cent., for a half year. During January, ten ships left with immigrants for New Zealand ; eleven were to leave in February. About 2,500 souls are des- ’ patched per month. The Kent Agricultural Laborers’ Union sent 200 adults per William Davie for Otago, and 75 in the Wilmington, for Wellington. Previous to their departure a grand entertainment was given at which 1,600 persons were present. Shipping. — Sailed : For Auckland. — January 17, Dorette, with 280 immigrants; and Jubilee. For Canterbury—Auriga, Portland, Rakaia, and City of Glasgow (from Glasgow.) For Nelson—John Bull. For Otago—William Davie, City of Dublin, and Atrato. For Wellington — Schielhallion, Undine, and Mallard. The Portland nnd Rakaia passed Dover on the 11th January. The Scimitar, for Otago, passed Plymouth on the 24th December. The Woodlark was off Dartmouth on the 24th December. The Somersetshire, s.s., from Melbourne to London, put into Valparaiso, for repairs. The ship Splendid, from New York, for London, sprung a leak, and returned to port. The s.s. Tartar arrived at 6 o’clock this morning from Kanduvau; she reports the M’Gregor ashore at Kanduvau. The M’Gregor's passengers and cargo were transhipped on board the Tartar and Star of the South. The barque Anazi arrived in the harbor lasi evening, in tow of the *1 earner Golden Crown. The s s. Mikado left Kandavau for Frisco with the outward moils on the 23rd of February. The s.s. M’Gregor arrived at Kandavau from Frisco on the 25th. She attempted to start for Sydney on the following day, but was unfortunately stranded in going out of the harbor. The pilot said he could take both the Tartar and M’Gregor to sea, provided the Star of the South would lead the way. The M'Gregor struck an a shoal inside the reef. The tartar then tried to tow her off. Tn the attempt, she lost all her best hawsers. Ninety tons of cargo were then taken out to lighten her for the night tide. The Tartar again marie fast, and for three hours tried to tow the M’Gregor off the reef, but without avail. It was then thought advisable to remove more coal, and make another trial in daylight, which was again unsuccessful. It was then considered inexpedient to make any further trial until the vessel was thoroughly lightened forward, and therefore the mails and passengers were transferred to the Tartar. Captain Grainger is confident that upon removing the coals and cargo, the ship will float off. He attributes the mishap to the M’Gregor, solely to want of caution on the part of the pilot. OTAKI. March 4. Judge Rogan opened the Native Lands Court here this morning. The Court will likely last for two or three months, as the ownership of all the land is disputed.