LOSS OF THE SCHOONHR RAVEN.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 381, 18 June 1861, Page 2

LOSS OF THE SCHOONHR RAVEN.

two lives lost,

By the Northern overland mail we have received particulars of tbe loss of the schooner Raven, Hopkins, master, hence the 12th ultimo. It will be seen that Hopkins and another white man were drowned, the rest of the crew (two natives) succeeded in landing iv Kawhia harbor in the vessel's boat. Mokau, May 23,1861. Sir,—l am very sorry to inform you of the loss of Mr. Hopkins' vessel. She went down off Marokopa (about 12 miles south of Kawhia) on the 12th instant, and Hopkins and the other white man were lost. The following is a true statement of the whole affair from Henry Takeiei, one of the survivors, to the Rev. Mr. Schnackenberg at Kawhia, for the information of the friends of the deceased at Auckland :-—" About 9 o'clock on the night of the 12 th instant, one of the natives went down into the hold of the vessel to feed the cows, and found she was making water very fast, he went on deck and reported the same to the Captain, who immediately went below and found several feet of water in the hold. After examining the hold, found that the vessel had been stove, and took a blinket to stop up the place where she was damaged, and in the act of driving in the blanket, the planks gave way, and he and the crew had only time to get in the boat when the schooner went down bodily. They were now, four of them, five miles off land in a small dingy, and while making for the shore a breaker filled and capsized the boat. One of the natives, who was disabled with a burnt hand, made the painter fast to his body and by so doing was saved. The other native exerted himself with tbe greatest determination to save his companions, and on looking round saw one of the white men struggling in the water and went to his rescue and took him to the boat, and told him on no account to leave it. He then saw Hopkins some distance off, and with some"difficulty managed to bring him also to the boat, telling him in like raauner to cling to the boat. Hig orders were not obeyed, and both white men let go the boat. When the native missed them from tho boat, he again went in search of them in the water, and after some time he saw Hopkins a good distance off and made to him again ; but this time Hopkins had all the agonies of a drowning man. The native tod him if he would not lay his hands on him be would be able to save him, and took him in tow, but Hopkins made every attempt to seize the native, when both went down, the native succeeded by some means to get clear of Hopkins and rose to the surface, and reached tlie boat in a very exhausted state. Both white men were seen no more. The natives got the boat righted, baled out the water, and with one oar, having lost the rest, sculled the boat 11 miles before they could find a landing place. They landed safe in Kawhia harbour on the 14th instant.

lam, Ac,

J. Shore,

Mr. G. W. Woon, Herald Office, Taranaki,

-The Prince Arthur, screw transport, 1246 tonp, 150 horse power, of H,M. Indian navy, commanded by Lieutenant C. H. Walker, 1.N., hits arrived in port with the remainder of the 67th regiment— Major and Mrs. Hassard, Captains Sir R. Douglas, Bart., and C. J. Glarke, Ensigns M'Clintock and Manners, Mrs. Martindale and three children, 145 non-commissioned fficers and privates, 43 women and 70 children. Stoppages included the Prince Arthur made a fair passage of seventy days.— New Zealander. Tie transport ship Minden, Marshall, has airived from Oalcutta with the officers and 227 non-commis-sioned officers and privates of the 70th regiment, with 19 women and 25 children: of these 9 men and a woman died of cholera. Tho troops were landed in admirable order by the boats ot the Pelorus, and marohedbto the camp at Otahuhn, under the command Colonel; GftUoway k —/&.