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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 25 June 1864, Page 2

We noticed the arrival of the Hero of the Nile in our last issue. She entered Colombo Harbor in a rather disabled state, having encountered very rough weather, and passed through a hurricane, during which the passengers more than once gave themselves up for lost. Their voyage began very ominously, the Bhip being run into off the North Foreland, and consequently forced to return for repair to London, occasioning a week's delay; however, rthe long; protracted passage of 160 days does not seem to have interfered with the health or good spirits of the passengers. On Saturday, the Balnaguith", from London, arrived, having left on the 14th December ; and this forenoon we have before us a list of five arrivals since Saturday, as follows — The John. Scott (left December 17th), and Springbok (November 11th, from London) ; the barques Herrington and Pomona, from Calcutta, arid' the ■ Jeanie; Oswald from Melbourne. The arrival of so many vessels which left London lone after the lizzie and Kate cannot fail to occasion grave fears regarding that" vessel's safety. She is now over bix months out.— Colombo Observer. __ The N.Z.S.N. Co's s.s. Wellington, previous to leaving Nelson on Saturday last, made the ofncal trial trip on the measured mile, by request of Captain Johnson, Inspector of Mail Steamers, outside Kelson Harbour, when a speed Avas obtained of 11 6-10 knots against the fade, and 11 2-10 against a strong breeze a-head. However, this can hardly be considered a fair test of her speed, aa the fires had no time to get hot enough, and the greatest pressure was. barely 18 lbs. during the time A few Kelson residents aa -gueste, -and also Captains Johnson and Kennedy; und Mr. Nancarrow, inspector of engines, in then*, official •apacities, accompanied the vessel, and all were highly satisfied with the trip. The steamer finally left the Kelson Wharf at half-past -1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and steamed from the lighthouse and through fee French Pass, a distance of 35 miles, in the short^pace of 2bp : urs 40 minutes 58 seconds. Having to call at Hopai, Pelorus, to land' • BCnte, passengers and, cargo, she was detained there until naif-past 9 m the evening when she started for Picton.arrivuig there at 2 o'clock on, Sunday .morning. Left Picton at 11 a m and made the ; distance from there, through the "entranced Tory Channel, M one hour and a half -under steam only, -agamst flood tide, all the wavWri Picton. In the Strata, she met with a strong south-easterly, gale and- a , heavy confused cross sea; but the .vessel behaved, admirably, and arrived off tne Heads, at, half-past^ dropping anchor abreast of t¥e Queen's Wharf at a quarterpast 5 on Sunday evening. • /.Captain Kennedy, who 5 was acting as pilot during the whole of; the passage, with Ms usual skill and^ judgment, expressed a high opinion of r the .Wellington, with reear"d : t»"''lier= : steaming as well-as./her, sea-going *Luties. .- s.s. Waneanui in the Sound, both.-iboundV.to Picton. When the' Wellington 'was in Queen . Charlotte s Souiia, 'a'Wge rigKfew-wliale was harpooned by a boat's crew, close the .steamer. Two other boat fl ; were assistirigin^capturuig .the .whale, and%e Whole^fiair/:a 8 ! f w J tnfesßed : from the: deck of the steamer, was a most exciting scene.— Wellington Indepsrl^t,'^eU:^ ..£,!.. -^ The Sea Bipple -arrived from lucolßay^n Sunday, and briiig^i#mgence^onv^. i Harding River ?sU?vi)l>; be recollected that this vessel was chartered by Mr. WitnaU to convey tb_e stock wbicli he intended to place upon the DeG-rey. After a rapid passage, and with the loss of only one aheep, the Sea Bipple arrived at Port Hed-

land,'where ;thc Btock;wa9\lanaed^L^They suffered very much from ,want *of and it does not "appear 'that any attejapbowasvrSaSe" to seek for it. In- the reports published in thiS-paper,'and in the Perth Gazette, it has been stated that no -water is to be found nearer than six or seven miles from ' "tn^'coa^WW^th^Duga^ pect was held forth that it would-be, ,obtained,by digging, and jt is strange that any one with Iso much property at stake, should . have _ embarked without gleaning^ neeessai'y "information, without i engaging some ;i oriel who: ,' had visited the place before, or without obtaining, such, mr structions as would. have enabled him., to proceed at once' to the\Dugald. AY matters' turned out, the party and stock were re-embarked, with the exception of two cows, three mares, and one colt, which were left at Port ' Hedland. ' The vessel theni went to Tien Tsin JSarbor,,, and the stock, at Butcher's' Inlet. " By this unfortunate. .. occurrence, ;,;Mr. TVitnall. lost J,so_.sheep, . besides paying an additional £100 for the conveyance of his party and stock from Port 1 Hedland to Tien Tsin-Harbor.- Atthis- latter place they were without water •wlien'ivisited by Mr. S. Hall, who is in charge : of..Mr.' Wellaid's establishment on the Harding. We ? -are -glad to hear that the party at this station were well, and that the cattle, sheep, and horses, . were thriving. There was no communication with Mr. Padbury's party ; on the De Grey during the stay of the Sea Ripple, but there had previously been, for the balance of : Mr. Padbury's sheep had been removed from the Harding to the De Grey. As there is overland communication between the De Grey and the ' .Harding, we hope that Mr. Witnall has contrived to reach the former place,, and that his first loss willibe his last loss. Unless some effort is made by the Government to have the respective . harbours surveyed, and an official stationed at that which offers . the greatest facilities for landing and watering stock, and for the formation of a town site, we fear there will be much unnecessary loss of property on the part of intending settlers. In to-day's journal it will be seen how wisely the South Australian Government provide for the settlement of their northern country, and although we cannot go to work on so magnificent a scale, we can at least do something. But everything here appears to be left to private enterprise, and, for all our rulers seem to care, sheep, cattle, and settlers might be disposed of without any inquiry whatever on their part. We shall not hear from the De Grey until the return of Mr. Padbury's vessel, the Mystery, to be despatched on her arrival from Champion Bay. — Perth Inquirer.