THE ORIENT STEAMER AUSTRAL.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 116, 2 December 1882, Page 185

THE ORIENT STEAMER AUSTRAL.

I ' -• . I THE_magnificent steamer Austral, which has just -been sunk off Kirribilli Point, Sydney Harbour, -was a new ship of 5588 tons gross tonnage, be--1 Jlonging to the Orient Steamshp Company. Her I length was 475 feet, her breadth 48 feet, and her ■depth 37 feet, and was fitted up with all the -latest improvement, in most luxurious style. It ■was only her second trip to Australia, when this ■disaster overtook her, by which several lives have been lost, and which "may result in the total loss of the steamer. She is valued at £220,000, but this is stated to be covered by insurance. The cause of her sinking is enveloped in mystery, but there appears little reason to doubt that it was due to carelessness on the part of those who had charge of her coaling. At the time she sank she had 1500 tons of coal and 200 tons of iron on board. There were 15 coaling ports on board the steamer — 8 on the starboard and 7 on the port .side, each of these being 2ft. 6in. high by 3ft. 3in. breadth, and it is supposed that the Austral having lurched over through unskilful trimming of the coal, she capsized and sank through the water rapidly rushing in through these port-holes, which were left open. The most of the crew escaped with their lives, but lost all that belonged to them. The \ T essel now lies on a smooth soft bottom in eight fathoms of water. Her masts are visible, but it is feared that she may sink deeper so that it will be impossible to float her again. Strenuous efforts are, however, being made to that end, and most powerful appliances are being brought to raise the vessel. The engraving which we this •week give will convey to our readers an idea of the size and appointments of this really splendid steamer.

ruthlessly hunted down and run in "with the same tnerciless vigour as collarle3s dogs or hydrophobie subjects. The most ruffianly effusion we have received for some time is a string of excruciating doggerel > from a fellow at Te Aroha who attaches the initials "J. ¥" The rhythm of the lines is something like the sound of a saw-sharpener, the howling of fourteen dogs, the hee-hawing of four jackasses, and a band of tin-kettlers combined, while the sentiments have about the same effect on one's feelings as getting two back teeth pulled out with a patent agricultural stump extractor. This kind of poetry might be utilized for a new purpose, viz : — the execution of our worst malefactors. Nothing could equal it for making a thorough and effective finish. There was a lively scene at Otahuhu the other day between a soft-goods man and a butcher. The trouble began when the knight of the cleaver accused the other man of being too mean to attend a certain local entertainment. Soft-goods gave the statement the lie direct, and the butcher proceeded in the most scientific manner to make sausage meat of him. The customers mounted on the counter, the store manager ran for the local bobby, and fourteen dogs of nondescript pedigree seized the opportunity for a raid on the butcher's establishment. The Constable arrived '. on the spot just half-an-hour after the gore and , hair were swept up, but he solaced himself for '. being roused from his afternoon siesta by running '. in nine out of the fourteen dogs, said collarless | tykes having lingered too fondly round the scene of the encounter in the delusive hope that the ' butcher's attention would again be similarly diverted from his shop, so as to afford an opportunity for another raid. A correspondent, in Upper Queen-street, thinks a sensational chapter might be made out of the

out by the lug.'.' All tlie 'finer instincts o£ Henton's aesthetic nature were wounded at this gross outrage. His dream of bliss was rudely dissipated, and he fled in disgust. Poor fellow ! His case is hopeless. Every morning when the clarion note, discordant harbinger of approaching day, comes in all its native strength from the throat of that old rooster who, like some gallinacious Brigham Young or Eastern Sultan, lords it over the poultry yard ; a lovesick youthjat Tauranga, tumbles out of bed and tramps sleepily forth until his form is hidden by the morning mists. Whither does he go ? Far out along the shelly road to obtain a floral tribute for his innarnorata v ere Sol's pitiless rays have dispersed the crystal dewdrops which cling refreshingly to the petals. He arranges his flowers carefully, places within the fragrant bouquet a perfumed note whose every page burns with expressions of his undying devotion, ties them with a neat ribbon, puts them in a tumbler of the coolest water and lays them on his loved one's window where they may greet her opening orbs and receive her impassioned kisses. Then he drags his weary limbs back to bed and sleeps the sleep of the just, conscious that he has fulfilled a sacred duty. This is fact. There is a man at 'New Plymouth named James H. Coad, who runs a machine for metamorphosing some very choice ingredients into stuff which he dignifies with the name of beer. Whatever may be the quality of Coad's beer, there is no mistaking the quality of his blasphemy. It is as hot as ginger in the mouth. Coad's latest method of puffing his beer is by means of a tract entitled " Mrs Hampson's Crusade," in which we find the following disgusting sentence :— " Though Mrs Hampson asserted that our Saviour never went into an hotel with any I young man, yet, as a point of fact, the first

Undressed kid gloves of cream white, «Bra long loose ■wrists, are pref ei'red for brides. jhSS Elbow sleeves of evening dresses are made-\fflH| close-fitting, so that the long gloves may be drawn! up over them. A cluster of large strawberries on a cream ground is one of the latest designs for painted muslin. Black lace costumes are still much in favour,' and, arranged over colour, are particularly elegant. Basques are bordered 'with puffings of satin or , velvet, in colours contrasting with the material of the waist. Others have one or two rows of lace around the border. A pretty back comb has just been brought out, in the shape of a rosette of open-work jet, with four long prongs to pierce the hair. JFixed in the centre of a large coil, this ornament is most effec-L The latest novelty is that of lace flowers, jyherej every petal of roses, daisies, or lilies is maflfflffiH Mechlin lace (the modern and inexpej^M Mechlin) mounted .on most natural - I(mmH| stems, with leaves of velvet exquisitely shffifflg and veined with gold. "^BBS The newest pompadour foulards have blavSj grounds showered over with very larg^d^g^m flowers, and are trimmed with ficelle lasKH9»«& are accompanied by a fan and parasol flffflfSfffPffl and a black lace hat trimmed with a i of artificial flowers like those P^^HHbEBhH The fancy for tinted lace with. vr|i|£s|j|Bßf| I has not in the least abated. A very 4ra^Jß»l j collarette is composed of crossway ruoawHHjj|a||H in Indian muslin, completed by a fflSJsJllßfflß| flounce of copper-coloured Torch/>ffiJjEffl|fflffl| front droops a cluster of pale pink Ji^iHmm|Bffl[|||S Coloured embroidery is very m Hß|ifl|||f|B