West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 174, 10 April 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1866.

The "Otago Daily Times" has a leader on the loss of the London, aud invites its colonial contemporaries to comment on an incident which suggests tho thought that "if there we 1 c a genuine horror of such disasters and an earnest respect for human safety, the London would never have gone down." Our contemporary says :: — c# lt is impossible not to believe that she was utterly vn f suited for a safe passenger ship. No vessel fitted for such a purpose skould have succumbed to the mere fury of a somewhat more than ordinarily severe Bay of Biscay gale. The accounts given leave but the one deduction, that she was never constructed to face a heavy sea." It is certainly a new and most unsatisfactory feature in the his* tory of this most distressing case, that the London was in some quarters long ago known to be an unsafe boat, and that her build and sailing qualities had been freely criticised. Undoubtedly the reputation she bore in England was that of a magnificent first-class s?a boat. It is not conceivable that, had the following account of her, which appears in the Melbourne " Age," been current before her passenger list was filled up, two hundred persons would havo ventured their lives on a long voyage in weather which was known to bo tempestuous. The " Age" says of her, — ♦< Had she been built with »n intention pf sending her to the bot-

tom the design could not have been better carried out. The London never was sea-worthy, and every passenger who ever sailed iv her concurred in the opinion that sho was unsafe. She Avas built for speed' regardless of safety." In order to offer us little resistance as possible to sea and wind, she had peculiarly built bows. She was destitute of the usual bulwarks against the foica of thesea and for strengthening the bowsprit. She had a plain stem, such, as is comm >n to river steamers, and there was an absence of those curves which break the force of cross seas striking the ship forward, and which help to lift her above their crest. To completo her mal-conotruction, she had an enormous foremast, which was stepped so far towards the bows as to give her the appearance of depression by tho head. Nautical men who saw the London prophesied that some day, if she had to moko her way against v heavy cross sea, she would go down. In the languago of ono experienced captain, 'that foremast would be shaken out of her.' His prediction was fatally verified ; the L ndon was caught in a severo gale in tho Bay of Biscuy. Her naked bows were exposed to the shock, and by and by the enormous ill-placed spars gave way. Her fore-topmast and jib-boom went, and tho crow could not get tho wreck cleared away,"

It is a question that deserves muoh public consideration — how far tho fault of a commander who accepts tho responsibility of carrying passeng rs to sea, in a ship which his own nautical experience must make clear to him, is dangerously defective either in her build, or in tho circumstances of her loading-, ought to bo condoned by the exhibition of a certain amount of pluck and calm bravery exhibited at the last moment, when all hope is fled. With no 0110 of the two hundred unfortunates who went down in the London, has more public sympathy been expressed than with Captain Martin. And in tho unselfish resignation, tho undismayed courage, with which he stood at tho post of duty until the sea cngulphed him, there is something from which it is impossible to withhold admiration. But there were other mon — aye, and women too — on board, as brave as he was, who accepted their melancholy destiny with the same pious Bub* mission. But between them and Cnpt. Martin himself, there was this vast difference., They had shipped on board his vessel, not only in full confidence in his seamanship, but implicitly relying upon the safe qualities of the boat itself, which was invariably spoken of as a splendid specimen of naval architecture. What do landsmen know of the qualities of ships, but from repute? What can they Ho, but believe that in selecting a " crack" vessel^ and paying 0 handsome sum for their passage money, they aro doing all that is required of them to onsuro a safe ocean home, and a prosperous passage ? Captain Martin on the other hand, must surely have known, if the fact bo true, that the London was not fitted to weather such a sea as ho determined to face, and that before he took her out of port, whatever faults there were in her construction were greatly aggravated by the method of her loading. A private letter received in Melbourne from somo of tho friends most nearly and dearly interested iv poor Brooke, reporting the progress of a search for information at Gravesend says : — " We saw the landlady. Gardiner had not conio that day. While she sent out to inquire about it, we talked with her concerning the London. ' She lay right opposite to the house; and I could not help remarking how low sho was in the water. I didn't like Mr Gardiner going aboard of her She was loaded down so that you could almost step out of a littlo boat on to her deck.' A similar report we heard from other Gravesend people beside tho landlady," If those facts be established, by what standard shall we estimate the" moral culpability of those who, after building the London for speed rather than safety, and freighting so as to get the utmost farthing out of her carrying capacity, guaranteed so far as human expo rience and skill could do so to more than two hundred trusting people a safe passage to the antipodes r Shipowners can ensure both their bottoms and their freights. They thus guarantee themselves against loss. But what insurance can be effected upon human life ; what atonement made for its heedless sacrifice ? No responsibilities can be more solemn than than those of tho owners and commander of a passenger ship. The responsibility of the latter is the heavier, To have obtained his grade, he must have been a man of large and long seagoing knowledge and experience. For the sake of obtaining tho command of a reputed crack ship, he is not justified in shutting his oyes to her patent defects as a sea -boat, nor in making favor with his owners by consenting to take her to sea overfreighted, loaded with deck cargo, and otherwise out of trim, as it seems clearly enough proved that the unf'ortunato London was. We have a deep conviction that the lives of passengers will never be effectually protected until suoh a publio opinion is created and expressed on every suitable occasion, that the captain of a merchant ship is morally responsible for everyjlife lost by his 6hip going down at sea, unless it can be distinctly established that he not only displayed the heroism of a Britidi sailor in tho hour of peril, but that he had every ground for believing that his ship, before he took her out of port, was both safely built and furnished, safely laden, and adequately mauncd. Tins calamity has fallen with such a crushing blow upon tho colonies ; it lias brought desolation u;pon so many

homes ; lacerated so many tender affections ; destroyed so mnny bright hopes: clouded with the dark shadow of nn unending sorrow so many yet surviving lives, that it has naturally excited very gpneral comment Thousand travel annually— nay, monthly, — between the mother country and her colonies. Thousands of members of scatteied families seek the joys of occasional reunion. The pathway lies' across tho great ocean. No community can have a deeper interest than that of Australasia in the safe navigation of the sea. And as contributing to tho conso" lidation of a healthy public opinion on this subject, the press of the colonies, ou tho ove of the departure of tho Mail, should take the opportunity of making it distinctly known, that in the prevailing opinion here, no bravery or heroism in the hour of shipwreck will cover the guilt of having heedlessly put tho lives of mon aud woniou in peril.

Yesterday morning tho Keoro, 3.8., returned from her expedition to tho southward, bringing back two of thoao mon who woro reported by tho Bnrwon. Happily, thoy were not in such distress as at first supposed, although thoy had boon without food for thirty hours ; but having fortuuatoly captured a soal, the fire (whioh attracted tho attontion of tho Barwon) was kindled to roast a portion of its floah. As wo oxpected) thoy proved to bolong to a party of prospectors, and had been despatched by tho main body (who romainod at Jackson's Bay) to test tho country towards Milford Sound, and when the Barwon passed thoy were returning to their mates. So far, hen, tho oxponso inourrod to despatch thet Koora was needless, although tho motivo for so doing was nono tho less commendable, and tho sympathy thoro displayod for tho supposed distress of thoso raou, and tho measures immediately taken for their roliof will long bo romombored to tho credit of thoso whoso bonovolonco and Christian Charity was so nobly displayed. Much roason is thoro for congratulation that tho dospalch of tho roliof party was superfluous, and that the fears entertained that thero wore many unfortunates perishing on tho Southern Const, aro, to* a certain extent groundless ; for, from tho roport of these men, and others at Jackson's Bay, who havu explored tho coast many miles southwards, wt« aro led to infer that no wrecks havo takon place in that direction ; or if thoro havo, not only must tho crows have all perished, but the vessels which boro them must- havo beon totiUly destroyed, as tho beaches were free from wreck, and no castaways were mot with on shore. It is, howovor, mo9t desirable that tho coaßt still farthor to tho southward should bo thoroughly oxplorcd 3 for, if it be followed in that direction, it becomes more rugged, inhospitable, and difficult to escape from. Whilst wo cannot help oxultiug that such bonovolonco is rife in our midst, wo must needs rogrot that tho thoughtlessness of a few diggers should havo causod suoh an outlay of capital, whioh might havo beon far moro profitably invested nearer homo 5 and it is just possiblo that tho mistako— if suoh it can bo considered — may boget a fooling of indiffer* once aud unduo caution for tho future amongst thoso who uro generally tho first to promoto objects having for their end tho roliof of tho distressed. Wo would, therefore, most oarnostly caution iniuorß who are traversing tlw coast to bo curoful and not misload, by fires or idle signals, vossels that may bo passing by ; for nothing so causes n, cry of real distross to bo disregarded as a succession of falso alarms boforohaud.

Mr N. Chovalier, says the Otafft Timtiß, who, in Docombor stnrted from Dunedin on a tour, arrivod by the South Australian. Ho dosoribes himself as being dolightcd with the sconery rouud about tho Otagan lakes, and has already some soventy Bkotches in his portfolio. Among other places, ho visited tho Tuiori, Molynoux, and tho Waimea Plains, and explored Lake Wakatip as far as Earnsolouoh. Mr Chovalior has somo beautiful sketches of tho To Anau and tho Manipori Lakes, Mr Chevalier proceeded in tho Airedale to Christchurch, and upon his rotum, intohda to complote his tour to tho lakes, and to oxploro tho Wanaka as far as tho season will poi-mit.

Tho following is from tho Wellington corrospondont of tho Otago Tones : — " Mr Moore, 6f tho firm of Brandon and Moore horo, has boon appointod Acting Ohiof Justice (luring tho contemplated yoar and a hulf's absonce of Sir Gtooi'go Arnoy. Tho appointment has been offered to more than 'ono legal gontloman in other provinces, but tho groat drawback was that of salary, Sir Georgo receiving ono-half and tho olhor boing all that there was for his substitute Now ho must be far from holding tho position of a lawyer of mark who does not make £840 a year in Now Zealand, aud this inducomont has been found to be insufficient to torapt any of thoso to whom tho appointmont has boon offered. Mr Mooro had tho reputation in Molbourne — from whonco ho arrived to practise about a yoar ago— of boing a clover equity lawyer, and I understand that tho Assembly will bo reccomonded to increase tho emolument.

Wo extract tho following |from the " Bruco Herald : " — During a late rumble in tho South 01 n tli a district our attention was drawn to a Totara tree of vast dimensions, situated in the Oukiki Bush, upon the property, and withni a few yards of tho residence of Air David Dunn, Viowfields, Puorua 1 A careful measurement of tho tree, about three feot above tho roots — which aro ostiinated to spread over a spaco of 'about a quarter of an acre— showed the circuraferenco to be 27 feet, and tho girth of the treo for fully 30 feet wo should judge, from appearance, (to be equal to that of tho baso, or at least nearly so. At this height the tree breaks into brandies, two of whioh havo becomo rotten, but beneath tie timber appears to be fresh ntul solid. Tbo greon branches at the summit show the tree to be still alive, but in all probability it has now reached tho full extent of its growth. Any of our readers who may visit tho district should exatnino this vegetable wonder— a monument of tho Holiness of tho soil whioh couU produce a growth so magnificent. Wo were 'susequently informed that in Oukiki Bush, in the same district, noar tho residence of Mv Mutch, Ja TotMA

tree is . to be. found measuring 24 feet, -and another at Rocky Point, in the same busl^ 21 feet, both these lattor being still green and fresh."

The correspondent of the Molbourno Argus, writing from Ballarat, March 19, gives tho following concerning tho execution of James Jonos, for murder : — '■' Fow felons who have died on a gallows have commanded more attention than this man Jones, owing to tho ferocious ooolneis with which ho slow Ihb vic-tim-~tho oxtrordinary motive assigned by himself for tho crime— tho absence of any mo* tive shown during his trial— tho singular indiffercdeo ho displayod on boiug sontenced — his domeanor sineo — and tho attempt of the bonovolont to ostablish him as an insano man not rospousiblo for his actions. The roading of his first death-warrant to him, tho roading of tho week's rospito that followed, and the reading of tho socond, woro all treated by Jonos with the coldest frivolity, his only reply to tho shbrlff boing invariably, " Oh, all right, sir." Notwithstanding his callous iudifforonco, tho Revs. Mcssra Binks and Albiston, Wcsleyan ministers, woro rocoived and listened to by the eondomned man with conside rablo respect and attention, aud they had at one tlmo a hopo that they could bring tho culprit to fully comprehend his position, and tho otornal abyss into whioh ho was about to be plunged. To a certain oxtont these gentlemen succeeded: but horo must bo sktod, perhaps tho most siugular cironmstances conneotod with a man in Jone's position that» evor was recorded. Whilo bolieviug ho had committod many and hoinous sins that required forgivonoss, he would not acknowledge that his inurdor of Dr. Saonger was a sin at all. Not all tho argument, tho talont, tho kind and Christian persuasion of his spiritual teachors could for one nioraont unhinge his obstinacy and determination In this point, and ho died with prayors to God on his lips for inorcy for past sins, among whioh he would not includo tho foulest of them all. On boing oxhorted to assign somo roason for his crime, ho invariably replied that Dr. Saonger was not a man fit to livo 5 and onco said that if ho had not killed Dr. Saongor tho latter would have killed him. An attempt had also boon made to get him to inako a statomont of somo kind to go boforo iho publio, but ho only replied, " Oh ! it's no use now } it's too late." Tho execution of tho culprit was fixed to take place within tho walls of tho gaol at nine o'clock this morning, and to tho diegraco of those prcaont seeking to obtain admission to tho gaol, one of tho most .lisgusting sight! I have witnessed for a long timo, occurred. No polico had been provided to koop tho gaol gate clear for those who had a right to bo prosont, and it was accordingly mobbed by a number of persons of mixed ages, all eagor to rush tho wickot as soon as anyone with an ordor presented himself, aud many forced themselves in in this way. Bosidos, tho brutal jostß indulged in plainly showod tho charaotor of "the ruffians wlur indulged in them. Even tho door of the gaoler's private house was forced, and it was with difficulty tho mob could bo stopped. Not a single comtablo could bo scon, to protect either tho turnkoy in opening tho gates, or those who had tho right of entry. At a little after nine o'clock tho prisonor was led from his cell (tho usual formalities by tho sheriff havlug been attondod to), accompanied by his spiritual guides. Ho appoarod pale and subdued, but not timid ; aud tho fatal ropo being adjusted, ho joinod in soemingly ferront prayer with his clergyman, to God to havo morcy upon him. This ovor, tho bolt was drawn, and the law was vindicated. Ho did not seem to struggle muoh, but a convulsive twitching shuddoring of tho body was porcoptiblo for more than livo uiiuutOß, and it was said tho pulsations of tho heart could bo felt for somo time. The usual inquest was hold, and all was OTer.

Wo N take tho following from the latest Argus i—"lni — "In tho County Court yeatorday, in tho action of Mitchell r. Crooke, some ovidono 1 } was givou, which, if reliable, scorns to pvovo tho transplantation of the system of commission to servants, which in England has givon much ofibneo to tho Duko of Sutherland and othora. Hero tho plaintiff bargained with defendant to aoll him a horse. Plaintiff* price had boon originally £20 j but as plaintiff stated, when defendant's groom intimated hit expectation of boiug paid one shilling in the pound on tho transaction, and. that his approval was necessary to the purchase being completed, plaintiff's price became £22, subjoot to groom's commission. Tho groom having provisionally approvod of tho horse, defendant bought him at plaintiff's price, iubjeot to an oight days' trial, and with a warranty that tho animal would go " quiet in Binglo or double harness, or in a cavt." Elovon days olapsod, and the defendant returned tho hovso on the plaintiff's hands, tho groom having in tho interim ascertained that the animal had a " hard mouth," and could not bo brought to stand still whilo boing washed with tho copious stroain poured through a stablo hoso from the Van Yoan. The groom doniod in toto plaintiff's ovidonco as to his having made a demand for commission. Plaintiff's case was that tho horso was in all respects up to tho limited warranty givon, and that, in fact, tho groom had divested himself of all partiality for the horso in conscquonco of tho plaintiff having declined to divido with him tho amount to bo paid by defendant abovo plaintiff's original expectation of price Plaintiff stated that tho groom Baid ho had already spoiled the sale of half a dozon horsos to his master, and should do so with this unless ho was properly dealt with. Evidence by disin- 1 forested porsoni was given, to show that tho J horso had been usod and known by them to be perfootly quiet, and up to tho warranty 5 but thoy had had no experience of tho animal in double harness. The judge, at the eleotion of plaintiff's counsel, nonsuited, and it was intimated that tho case would bo taken into the Supreme Court."

The following paragraph appears, enoiroled by a black border, in the local columns of the Dunedin Times : — " Mr Honry Brewer Chapman, who, togother with his mother, only sister and youngest brother, periihed onboard the steamship. London, was called to the bar in tho courw of to«t- yoivr with tho intention of

practising horo. He was cducutod at Westminster School, and in 1856, in his lGth year, was electod Queen's Scholar. In 1860, at the" end of his term of four years, hd was biectod to one of tho Westminster Scholarships df Trinity College, Cambridge j at tho same time Dean Triplctb'B Exhibition of £50 a year was awarded to him, iv addition to his Scholarship. Iv duo timo ho took tho degreo df LL.B., with honors, being second on tho oivil law tripon. His gentleness of disposition en" l deared him to his family, frionds, and ad» quaintances. Wo oxtract from tho printed collection of Odes and Epigrams, written and spoken at the Tor-contary festival in 1860, tho following fablo or epigram by this lamoutod young man : —

KON HABEHT TUA. VELA REOUBStJSI Ut forte orrabat ponti sub margirie folisj Ai'to oculos pingues ostrea pandit opes. ' Crona esfc eeco 1 inquit 'mihi lnxuriosa parata,' Neo plura ollata est, corripuitque dapos, Hou! nobis con tract a nimis sunt gaudia vita;, Ostroa raox valvas oontrabit, eccc, suas, Non jam, folis, habont ullos tua Vela rcoursus, Quam canan optabas hcec tibi career irih" A mooting of tho Track tioinmitteo wad held on Monday night, at tho Mercantile Hotol, saya tho Okarita Times, for the purposo of considering tho position of tho business mon of Okarita, in reference to tho recovery of snlall dobts in tho Magistrate's Court. As tho caso stands at prosont, Mr Prico has ndfc boon gazotted as Rosidont Magistrate, and therefore has no powor to adjudicato in small debt cases ; aud the traders consequently havo sustainod ropoated and heavy losses. Tho committee agreed on a momorial to tho Exeoutivo, pointing out tho inconvenience that was thus occasioned, and thoro can bo littlo doubt but that then. 1 request will bo granted, and Mi' Prico at onco gazotted.

Tho Okarita Times has tho following : — " It is a strange, though positivo fact that in this district tho Fenian mania has takon root, and that contributions havo been gatherod in aid of the oauso. Only a short timo ago when tho aboi'tivo rush to thd north beach took place 801110 of thoso enthusiastic in the cause formally christened tho supposed load the Fenian lead, a very fitting appellation, judging from its produco, and ono in ovory way typical of tho movement from which it is derived. Wo dd not for a moment mean to say that aily danger is to be apprehended from those holding such principles, but wo merely mont ion the fact of Fenianism existing in these caronies hb something singular. Jr£ho Okarita Times says :—": — " A tender for /oloaring tho Lake track was finally decided on on Saturday night last, at a special meeting of tho Track Commitlco. Seven of tho tenderers had been requested to meet the committee, and tho majority of them did so, and oxplained what moans they had at disposal for carrying out tho contract. Somo of them wero clearly unablo to do so satisfactorily, bo thoir tenders woro thrown asido : and after a long investigation, it was Bhown that O'Connor and Smith wero tho most suitable porsons to perform the work. Thoy had sent in separate t jndors, one at 10a and tho other 11s per chain^ and at the lower sum they amalgamated. On Monday morning they attended at Mr Reid's; and signed the contract, and at onco set to work with a will, taking up on that day thirteen men, with all necessary tools and appliances, to Canoo Point, where the work commences. O'Connor was with Mr Dobson whon tho lino was surveyed, and has 'done a groat deal of bush work iv other places j so that not only is he fully acquaiuted with tho job ho has undertaken, but {Voiu, past experience is thoroughly able to go through with it. The heavy rain ou Monday, will iv some measure inipodo operations, but tho weather promises to tako up, and tho work will, we have no doubt, bo fiuishod within the stipulated throe weeks. A largo number of per- 1 • Boas aro waiting for tho track to bo cut, intending when this is done to give the Lake a thorough trial. , Should it prove as valuablo as those who havo tried it think, a very large extent of country will bo available, aud there will be room for thousands of men. Canoe Point is likely to bocomoa placo of some littlo importance, now that it will bo tho termination of tho track to the Lake. Already one Btoro is eroctcd ; others wo bolieve are likely to follow shortly, and will no doubt do a good trade, for packers will ruako that thoir point of arrival and doparturo, and if goods can bo sold as rcasonbly as in Okarila, making allowauco for tho additional water carriage, thoy will save time, and not havo to incur tho oxponso of going to the latter place. Forßome littlo timo. however, packing will bo done under difllculties. for in tho first placo, horsci will not bo ablo to get over the terraces till sidings are out. and in the second, after a very littlo Irafilo the ground is so swampy that horsos cannot cross it. Theso spots will " havo to bo corduroyed, but wo are informed . ' that this can easily bo done and at very little/ expense. //t

A Mr MoMillan is reported to have discovered a cheap method of preparing flax without the use of chemicals or any expensive machinery. The " Southern Cross" in noticing t'ho fact says : — "Knowing the process we cm positively assert that the preparation of flax to any extent dopeuda entirely on the industry of tho colonists and natives, wheu tho secret of Mr McMillan's discovery shall have been made known. A sum of L3OO has "been subscribed^ to test Messrs Nihnis and Purchas's patent ; let an equal sum bo subscribed, and paid to Mr McMillan on his satisfying a committee of the subscribers of the complete success of his discovory. This, we nndertako, he Bhall do. Wo aro not at liberty to make tho secret public, but we unhesitatingly say that if tho New Zealand flax is ever to' become a considerable export, and a source of wealth to the colony, it will be by adopting the mode of preparation whioh Mr MoMillan has discovered, or 6oiue process equally simple and iuexpensive. As our Tauranga correspondent very truly says, a child of tender years, and a woman of seventy, may prepare flax fit for the market from the green leaf by this process, without any help or instruction beyond being told once for all bow to do it." We learn from the Melbourne J" Argus" that " Prospectuses have been received in Adelaide, from Batavia, proposing the establishment of four ranil routw monthly with < Australia. Thf

projects embrace communication with Macassar, and ■the Netherlands Indhi settlements in Java,

Und Timor, and the routes proposed are to Bris-

bane via Torres Straits, and Western Australia via Adam Bay." This would givo two services a month to Eastern, and two to Western Australia. Messrß Henderson and Bonav havo received a telegram from the agents of tho Gothenburg announcing tho projected departure- of that 'steamor for this port this morning. In tho event of her arrival in tho roadstead to-morrow sho will bo despatched with tho mails for Melbourne nnd Europo at tho advertised date, viz., Thursday. Wo aro indebted to tho courtesy of Mr G-rcer for files of Dunodiu papers so tho 31st ultimo. Wo learh that tlio land salo at Groymoulh realised tho sum of £795. Messrs Brittau and Salo returned to town on Sunday. We aro glad to hear that a company has not only been foimed al the Aucklaad rush for the purpose of testing tho swamp, but that yesterday operations were commenced . The formula prescribed in the regulations has also been complied witb, bo there is no doubt the Warden will grant them registration should no valid objections to such a proceeding bo offered by others. A curious point of law, says flic Melbourne Spectator, was raised by an ingenious prisoner in his own dofoncc, at tho Maryborough Circuit Court, las), week. Ono Coulter, beiug charged with bbtainiug, money .under, falso pretences by passing oil' a valueless cheque, pleaded that as tho cheque was " post-dated," it was only a promiso to pay, and therefore that ho should havo beon arraigned rathor on jv civil than a criminal charge. Tho chequo, in iact, by being post-dated, was convortod into a bill of oxchango. Tho ingenious argument was admitted, after some demur, by. Judge "Williams, and the prisoner was acquitted. Tho point determined is of considorablo value, wo should imagine, to nil persons In trade, and it seems strango that it should hdt hard occurred before". Tho'Wellingto'ri correspondent df the Otago Daily Times writes : — •' Talking of the Upper Houso reminds mo that when Mr J. C. Ttichmond was elected the other day for a Taranaki district, he was still holding his warrant for tho Upper House. Thoro ha 3 been somo little gossip about tho cleclion being illegal in fconsequenco ; but although this is disbclievod, I am not dura that the question of privilege will not bo raised when tho Assembly meets."