WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4429, 15 March 1883, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. The ketch Emerald, Captain Backstrom, went ashore at Palliser Bay on Monday evening and is likely to become a total wreck. She. left Oamaru on Friday, and was off Cape Campbell at 11 p.m. on Sunday. She had clear weather, and a strong southerly breeze during the night but it came up very thick, and blew hard at 2 a.m. Not being able to make out Pencarrow light she hove to at 6 a.m., and then found herself in Palliser Bay. The captain tried all day to beat the vessel out, but could not manage it, owing to the heavy sea running. At about 6 o'clock in the evening they went ashore on Boulder Beach. The crew experienced great difficulty in getting ashore, They drifted a large log ashore, with a rope attached, whirl? was made fast by settlers on the beach. A boat was then pulled ashore by means of it. The cargo consisted of colonial produce, consigned to A. Hassell, which is insured, but the amount is not known. The vessel is insured in the New Zealand Office for £550.

A six-roomed house, owned and occupied by Andrew P. Young, at Manaia, has been destroyed by fire. Ii was insured in the Colonial Office for £300.

The Government have received the following telegram:—Mr Hnrsthouse was sent by Mr Bryce to explore the country between Alexandra and Mokau, with a view to find a line of railway. He was warned by Maoris not to go on, but he did go on, and got as far as Otorohanga, when the Maoris refused to let him proceed, as Tawhiao was absent. The natives were perfectly friendly, and very hospitable, but very positive in not allowing exploration. It is believed that the obstruction is only temporary.

Nothing has been settled about the new commission to decide on the West Coast Eailway.