SEIZURE OF THE CITY OF HOBART STEAMER.

West Coast Times, Issue 212, 24 May 1866, Page 2

SEIZURE OF THE CITY OF HOBART STEAMER.

(From the Hobart Town Mercury.) On the arrival of the City of Hobart yesterday morning, an extensivo seizure was made of smuggled tobacco. A suspicion having arisen that smuggled tobacco was frequently being landed from this vessel, Constables Cleary and Shanny wero placed to watch her arrival at tho Domain, and a short timo after the vossel was moored alongside* the cattlo jetty a cab drove up and remained waiting under tho shadow of tho trees. A man was Been to come from the steamer's side and deposit a large bundlo in tho cab, and return to the jetty to bring back another bundle, which •was also safely deposited in tho vchiclo. Tho constables made their appearanco and seized the bundles, which were found to contain between two and three owt of smuggled Sydney tobacco. Information was Bout to tho Collector of Customs, and tho cab and horses, tho property of a cab proprietor named Broughton, driven by a cabman named Georgo Hines, wero detained and sent down to Moore's livery stables, tho tobacco being taken to the Custom House vaults. Tho driver of the cab will bo proceeded against in tho usual way, and an information will also ho laid, we are informed, against a party on board from whom it was stated tho tobacco was received, and who was the hirer of tho cab on tho occasion. D. C. M'Guiro is on board in ohargo to see that nothing leaves tho vessel until thorough search of the ship has been mado. — April 23. The board of directors of tho T.S.N. Co. wero occupied for somo timo yesterday in making a preliminary investigation into the circumstances attending tho seizure of the smuggled tobacco charged to be landed from the City of Hobarfc, s.e. on her arrival from Sydney, on Sunday morning, and tho inquiry will bo continued at tho uoxt sitting of tho board. Tho steamer was searched by tho Custom House officers yesterday, but nothing further was discovered.' Tho horses and cab engaged on the occasion are still detained, and D. O. M'Guire remains on tho vessel in charge to prevout anything leaving the ship without ;ho presence of a landing waiter. Inquiries ire making with a view to discover the parties engaged in tho transaction, but wo learn that 10 information has yet beon laid against any person, — April 24.

Loss ov the Schooneb Zephyr.— The folowing is condensed from a report iv tho • Southland Times" : — The schooner Zephyr, L 96 tons, Captain White, bolonging to Mcl bourne, loft Invercargill for Newcastle on the L6th ult, and encountered tho full force of tho westerly gale, whioh commenced on tho {blowing day ; ran back for Port William, Stewart's Island, and anchored at noon on tho {LBth. On Monday, the 23rd, gotuuderweigh n company with the H. S, Page aud Flying Buck, which wore also at anchor, wind bound. Ihortly after leaving, she was again caught in i heavy W.S.W. gale, which blew away tho freater portion of her canvas, and hovo the ressel on her beam ends. She was afterwards 'ighted and kept before the wind, then again love to ; the vessel straining and leaking very nuch, the water got mixed with the sand balasfc and choked tho pumps, the crew wore em)loyed bucketing. On the evening of the J7th Bhe had seven feet of water in her hold ; it 2 a.m. on Saturday the 28th, the southFOBt capo of Stewart's Island bore N.W. 10 niles. At 6 a.m. tho crew wero completely ixhaustod, and the vessel being unmanageable, he captain deemed it expedient to run her on he beach ; kept away to look for a favorable teach. At 4 p.m. East Head bore W.S.W., he ship settling down fast by tho head, and he sea so heavy that no boat could live in it. Lt 6 p.m. ran on to a sandy beach, with nine 3et of water in tho hold. The crew wore all anded safely from their perilous position, and lanaged to get some sails on shore for tents. !he captain and part of the orew, when tho ale moderated, proceeded to tho Neok, where ley found Bomo Maoris, who brought them ver to Southland. From the "Wanganui Tunes" of 17th ipril, we learn the particulars of the strandlg of the Sarah, a ketch well known in this orfc : — " On Sunday, Ist April, tho ketch arah sailed from Hokitika for Kaipara in allast, there to tako in timber and other irgo. On Tuesday, the 3rd April, after a ood run, made the land six miles south of le Manukau. Tho wind then hauled from le northward, with thick weather and rain, tood'to the westward in a heavy sea. When bout 15 miles off land, the wind veered mnd to west-north-west, blowing heavily. n Wednesday, 4th, at 8 p.m., sighted Cape gmonfc under the lee, could not weathor it j eked off six hours, put about and cleared c Cape— gale increasing, with a heavy cross a. After rounding tho Capo found tho soa as setting me in towards tho land, supposed be Cape Egmont bearing N.W. tho uthern extreme, bearing South. All that Ijht bearing heavy press of canvas, to keep * shore, still drifting southward. Sea too avy to Btay ship, was obliged to wear, each no losing considerable ground. At midjht on Saturday, tho 7th, during a heavy uall attended with thunder and lightning, in and hail saw breakers ahead closo under c leo. Tried to stay ship, and warned all ndi that life depended upon a steady obe*

dionco of orders, which thoy cheerfully responded to. Tried to stay ship, and warned nil hands that life depended upon a steady obedience of orders, which they cheerfully responded to. Tried to stay ship, whon tho jib split to ribbons, and struok by heavy breakers on tho btarboavd side, narrowly escapid boing eapsizod. For tho prosorvatioi of life, put ship before tho wind — no land in sight — nothiMg but a surging soa, a foaming element, mado occassionally more visible by vivid flashes of lightning. By tho aid and guidance of an all-wiso wo Btcercd for a beach, upon which wo wero lauded high and dry by tho foaming oloMont — or, at least, shortly found ourselves so, without tho least injury to tho good kotch Sarah, which will oro Ion?, bo aflont onco more Aflor hawling vainly, endeavored to get hor off with tho means and appliances at command, and erected a tent, to which all valuables wore removed, it was then dotermiucd to soil the vessell as blio lies for tho benefit of all concorned."