TELEGRAMS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 337, 11 March 1874, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

(From the Dunedin Dailies. ) Wellington, March 7th. Tir James Fergusson has become a member of the Wellington Jockey Club. He and Governor Weld have gone on a cruise in the Straits in the yacht Blanche. The "Tribune" says that the health of the Hon. John Hall, now in London, has quite given way. March Bth. There was a terrific gale here last night. Two colliers were lost— the ship Wellington and the barque Cyrus— between Lyell's Bay and Sinclair's Head. Seven lives were lost, two from the ship Wellington, being Johnston, the cook, and Euston, a seaman. The five lost from the Cyrus were Mrs. Wrigglesworth, the wife of a -well known photographer, and her two children ; Robert Smith, the second officer ; and a seaman called George. Captain Hill of the Wellington, and eight seamen pulled into the harbour after escaping from the ship in a miraculous manner. The first mate was saved by clinging to a life-boy, and the second mate managed to swim ashore. The people on shore assisted the Cyrus crew and officers ashore with ropes, but all much cut and bruised. Both vessels were smashed into numberless pieces, and went ashore within a few yards of each other. They left port on Friday, bound for Newcastle. No bodies are yet recovered. The vessels are insured. March 9th. The aggregate loss of the Wellington and Cyrus is £8000. The Wellington was purchased for £1000 before the rise in ship pvoperty. She was insured, for £1000 in the New Zealand Company ; £1000 in-fche South British ; and £1000 in the Victoria. The Cyrus was insured for £1000 each in the South British and New Zealand Companies, and was worth £2700. Mrs. Wriggleswortli and children were crushed to death by the falling of the deck-house, just as the captain was making an effort to set them on to the rouks. He ordered the second mate and a seaman to try and get to a certain rock, so as to pass a rope around the ship to save the woman and children. The men made the attempt gallantly, but were washed off, and seen no more. None of the bodies have yet been found. Owing to the heavy gale on Saturday, some apprehension was felt regarding the safely of the Blanche, with the Governor and Mr. Weld on board, but the yacht came into the harbor this afternoon. A preliminary inquiry into the late wrecks was held at the Custom House to-day. An official inquiry hoe yot to be held. | Auckland, Narch 7th. - At the Police Court this morning, Captain Holman appeared in answer to a summons respecting the stranding of the barque A niza. The Court was crowded. William Hellier Holman was the first witness examined. All the witnesses beiug ordered out of Conrt, the captain said he blamed the, second officer for the accident. In answer to a question, the witness declined to state that he was intoxicated He admitted that when the vessel struck he went below, leaving the vessel in charge of the officers ; and he further admitted attempting to strick the second mate with a knuckle duster. The witness said that this was his first voyage as master. He had been chief officer of the Crusader, Zealander, and the Charlotte Gladstone, trading sonth. March 9th. The captain of the Star of the South called at Kandavu on her return from Levuka, and found the Macgregor still on the reef, with 10ft of water in one of her forward compartments. H.M.S. Pearl had made two unsuccessful efforts to tow her off, and is still anchored by her. Fiji papers, by the Star of the South, from Levuka, state that Verebaake and seven others, the murderers of the Burnes family, have been sentenced to death on a verdict of a native jury. The Chief Justice recommended them to mercy. He said the King might possibly spare some of their lives. The " Star's " correspondent, writing from Levuka, March 2nd, says that annexation is now counted a certainty. The natives are ■ all favorable. The Commodore is at Bau, the royal residence, where all the chiefs are congregated, and where all the terms of annexation are being agreed upon. Divers from H.M.S. Pearl have been engaged cutting away the reef from under the Macgregor. She is lightened considerably, but not expected to be got off. Napieb, March 9th. The ship Inverene arrived yesterday, with 170 immigrants, 107 days out. Sixteen deaths occurred during the voyage, from scarlatina and measles, principally among the children between one and six years of age. The passengers are in good health, it being six weeks since any sickness occurred. The lighthouse now erected will be lighted for the first time to-day. Westpokt, March 9th. A heavy gale from N. W. was experienced here on Saturday, doing damage to the flumes on the. mines, and blowing down large buildings in course of erection. There were several minor carnalities. The gale appears to have been general along the coast. Hokitika, March 9th. The river is much swollen, and the lowlying streets are flooded. The Provincial Council has increase-! the police pay sixpence per day. The pay is now 9s. 6<i. Grahamstown, March 7th. Two men had a narrow escape from suffocation in the Caledonian miue this morning, through a sudden influx of foul gas. The Inspector of Mines is holding an enquiry. Grbymocth, March 7th. Dr. Atcheson reported in the Borough Council last night that typhod fever of a dangerous type is existing in Greymouth. The Council are about to take active steps to remove nuisances.