(From the Lyllelton Times.)

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 347, 15 February 1861, Page 3

(From the Ly llelton Times.)

Another week of very fine weather has done great service to the farmers in enabling them to push forward their reaping operations vigorously. The wheat harvest is now in full swing over a great portion of the plains and a great quantity has by this time been cut in excellent order. The introduction of machinery on a large number of farms tends very much towards facilitating the hitherto slow process of cutting the grain. There are this year an unprecedented number of reaping machines at work, and the time and expense saved thereby will avnount to a considerable sum over the province. The wheat crop is a full average. We do not hear from any district of its being remarkably heavy or remarkably light.

Some fears begin to be entertained respecting the safety of the schooner Fantome, which left the Heathcote rather more than three weeks ago, bound for Wellington and afterwards for theFeejee Islands, Mr. Jones, her owner, being on board as a passenger. The Fantome had not arrived in Wellington when the Lyttelton left on Saturday last, and the violent gales which had prevailed during the intervening period lend some foundation to the supposition that the schoonor is lost. As Mr. Jones was, however, bound ultimately for the Feejees, it is possible that after standing out to the eastward off shore, the vessel may have been driven by the southerly gales far northward of Wellington so as to render a return to that port unadvisable, and that she may now be quietly pursuing her course to the Islands, in company with the Mary Louisa, which sailed hence at the same time. The passengers, besides Mr. Jones, were Mrs. Jones and two children, Mrs. Toohig, and Mr. Lester. Fatal Accident—Five Livess Lost.— The schooner .Randolph from Kai Koras, arrived in this harbor on Tuesday evening last, bringing the melancholy intelligence of the death of Captain Kempthorne and four others. The following are the particulars of the accident, so far as we have been able to learn:—The Randolph was lying at the Kai Kora Peninsula, moored in a small boat-harbor. 'On Monday the 21st Jan., Captain Kempthorne, , accompanied by Messrs. Harwood (lately arrived from England), John Thompson, Joshua Miller, (two" men of color), and John Roy, started in a small boat for (he Wai papa River, a distance of about 20 miles. When the boat had reached Mungamana, a point of land about half way, the natives state that a disturbance appeared to take place in the boat, when all at once they lost sight of the men but could see the boat. Being convinced that some accident mns,t have occurred they kept watch for the men, with a view to render what assistance they could. Miller was quite warm when they got him on shore, and they did the best they could to restore animation, but without effect. Four of the bodies were picked up'by tine Maoris the same evening, and one, John Thompson, the following morning. The bodies were identified and interred by C. R. Keene, Esq., abreast of the place where they were picked up. The boat had been built at Mr. Fyff's station, for Mr. Trulove, to be employed as a ferry boat on the Waipapa River, and the parties in her were on the way to deliver the boat when the accident occurred. Captain Kempthorne was master of the Randolph, and has sailed out of this port for some years. He has left a wife and three children to mourn his loss. The parties with him were not the crew of his vessel, but parties who were residing at the Kai Koras. — Wellington Independent^ February 5.