NEWS FROM SAMOA. THE U.S.S. NIPSIC TO COME TO AUCKLAND.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 364, 1 May 1889, Page 3

NEWS FROM SAMOA. THE U.S.S. NIPSIC TO COME TO AUCKLAND.

Auckland, April 27. Last evening the s.s. Mawhera returned t° port from her first trip to Tonga and Samoa, bringing some twenty - one passengers, including the Rev. Mr Watkins, from Tonga. The Mawhera left Apia on the 17th insb., and by her we learn that little has transpired since our last advices. 1b is expected that the German war-vessel Adler, wrecked in the late hurricane, will be floated off the reef on which she is now lying ; she is not seriously damaged. The U.S. ships Trenton and Vandaliz are lying side by side as they sank, and there is no chance of floating either of them. The U.S. man-of-war, the Nipsic, which was successfully floated off, was fitted with a jury rudder, and arrangements were made by Admiral Kimberley with the s.s. Mawhera to tow her to Auckland to be docked and repaired. On the 16th in&t. at 8 a.m. she left the harbour for a trial spin, bub at 10 a.m. the Mawhera had to go out and tow her back oo her anchorage, her machinery having given way seriously enough to prevent her from proceeding. As she could not be got ready again for at leasb a week the Mawhera came on without her. The U.S. man-o-war Alert is expected in a few days at Apia, and when she arrives Admiial Kimberley intends to despatch her to Auckland with the Nipsic in tow. H.M.s. Rapid arrived at Apia from Auckland via Fiji on the 15th inst., taking j)h'e place of the Calliope, Matters political in Samoa are in a state of quiescence, all awaiting thejresulb ol the Berlin Conference. Mataafa and his men assisted in the floating of the German vessel Olga, although the proclamation of war against them had not been. withdrawn by the Germans. Diving for valuables in the wrecks is being carried on by natives, men from the Line Islands, but they have declined to search for the bodies of those drowned in the Eber, as they declare the locality of the wreck to be infested with sharks. When the Mawhera left Apia, business was very brisk, consequent upon the large expenditure of the American sailors. Supplies of all kinds were plentiful, and the arrival of the steamers Richmond and IVJawhera and other vessels due should prevent any scarcity. Very good order prevails amongst the seamen on shore, a result due to the strict discipline enforced by the Admiral and his officers. The Mawhera does not sail for Samoa on the Union Steamship Company's next trip. Her place is taken by the e.s. Wainui, which leaves for Tonga and Apia on the 6th May.