Telegraphic Depatches

Southland Times, Issue 970, 17 June 1868, Page 3

Telegraphic Depatches

Timabtj, Saturday. — There has been a fearful storm here, the sea running mountains high. The continoas downpour of rain for the last twenty-four hours continues unabated. The rivers are already ■■• Tery high, and rising rapidly ; another flood is anticipated. The brigantine " Despatch," 98 tons, Captain Driver, lost , ; at "Wainui. He called yesterday morning for hay and water, and was driven on shore four miles north of Timaru at three o'clock this morning. "Was bound from tbe, Chatham Islands, and had on board 18 head of cattle and 21 horses for the owners, Messrs Turnbull and Co., of : Dunedin. The captain was crushed to death by the galley falling upon him. AH hands and two passengers were saved. The vessel is high and dry, but can be got off. The Captain Vent on board at three o'clock yesterday. He could not hive gone to sea until ten o'clock at night, and was advised to do so. This port is without either pilot or harbor master, and great blame is attached to the Government. "When the vessel began to drag her anchor they lost sight of the light, and could not tell where they are. The crew then lost all heart directly the captain was killed, and allowed the vessel to go before the wind. — 4.45 p.m. Bain has set in much heavier now. The main street in front of the Bank of New Zealand is two feet under water. Bussell's store and Beswick'a bond are flooded, and a large quantity of grain damaged. Gangs of men are employed to cut trenches to let the water off. Communi- , cation with the country is entirely suspended. Balcltjtha, Saturday. — The mailman from the Mataura has just arrived, and . is seven hours behind his time. He reports the rivers to be very high. The Molyneux is impassable, and the stages are all washed away. There is no late news from the salmon breeding ponds, , but it is supposed to be all right. Lawrence, Saturday, 3.30 p.m. — "We have had the highest flood there has been for four years. It has rained incessantly from Thursday night to five o'clock this morning. The coach could not pass Manuka Creek yesterday, midway between the "Woolshed and Waitahuna. No mails have been received from Town. Boss-place is a sheet of water. The claims on Tuapeka Flat are flooded. All the creeks between here and Beaumont are impassable. The approaches to "Waitahuna Bridge have been washed away, and breaches have been made in the road to "Waitahuna and "Weatherstones. CHBisTCHtmcH, Friday. — "William Bolleston, Esq., Superintendent of Canterbury, has been elected a member of the House of for the Avon district without opposition. Oamabtj, Saturday. — We have had here fearful rain incessantly since Thursday morning, with a gale from the south and south-east, and a tremendous sea on. IPortunately ther.e were no vessels in the roadstead. The Comerang left yesterday about 4 p.m., and guns were heard between one and two o'clock, and again between nine and ten o'clock this morning, as if from a vessel in distress. Two cabin doors have been washed ashore on to the beach, but it is not known whether they are portions of some vessels wrecked in the last gale in February, or evidence of fresh disasters. The doors are sliding ones, and painted white, with green panels. Great anxiety is felt for the Comerang^ as she was light in the- water, and it is feared she had but a small stock of coals. "Wellington, Saturday. — In the Provincial Council, Bunny moved a reduction of Superintendent's salary from £1000 to £700, but it was negatived. The various attempts at other reductions failed. Accounts have been received from Patea of the murder by the Hau Haus of Sergeant Cahill, who resided on r - -<. his hind within hearing at Ketemarai. The Natives who committed the deed ar e said to act under the instructions of t n e Maori Bang in expelling Europeans from their district. Mr Booth and Captain Boas, while out in the direction of Ketemarai, saw a number of armed Hau .Haus, who ordered them back to Patea. Captain Cummins marched out with all the men he could muster, and Colonel M'Donnell, although on leave, started for Patea at once. ' Dunebxn", Monday. — The Comerang arrived in Port Chalmers late on Satur- _ day night, all safe. Auckland, 10th.~ The garotters have * been sentenced to flogging. The Thames goldfields are progressing satisfactorily. Kennedy Bay rush is a failure. A new rush to Tapu creek took place on the 9th .inst., seven claims were pegged off in the rear of Scot* s British Hotel. Timabtj, 15th.— The body of Captain ! Driver, has been recovered. Some of the crew refused to work after the death of the captain, and allowed the vessel to driftanywhere. CouldhavemadethePenin- j

sula. Flood subsiding. Inundation heavier than last one. Big River has not done much damage, as snow iell three or four feet thick a fow miles from the coast. Approaches to culvert and bridges washed away. 'Wtiujswos, 15ch— Col. M'Donueil has iurived from Wanganui, for instructions. Tuere have been four murders by natives— Gahill and two laborers, Squires and Clerke, were sawing timber for Cahill's house when the natives fired, shooting all dead, and then multilated the bodies. Friday. — A trooper named Smith, was out catching his horse when he was fired at by the natives, and then mutilated by cutting his legs off and hacking his body. Major M'Donnell has only 100 men. No decision yet come, to !by the Government. The murderers are supposed to be resident natives, not strangers. The Governor did not return by the Bosario which arrived yesterday. Two tribes only numbering 130 fighting men appear to be concerned in the murders. 7 p.m — Up to • lata hour no determination had been come to by the Government. Major M'Donnell is understood to have applied for authority to raise 300 Europeans and 100 natives, in aid of the present European force for six months. The general belief is that those JNgatiruaniu's mean mischief unless speedily checked. Dunedin, 16th. — Besemeres acquitted libel case yesterday.