TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1690, 20 May 1884, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

; (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

•A NARROW ESfiAPE.

'Wellington, Monday. The Government after consulting with tho Governor have decided not to alter the arrangements mado for celebrating the Queen's birthday this month. At Wellington and Canterbury the holiday will be held on the 26th, and at Auckland, Otago, and other places on the 24th inst, Dunedin, Monday. The following are the acceptances for the Dunedin races :

Hurdles.—Locket, Littlejohn, Mokara, Glenra, Schmozer, Sailor Boy, Maiden.—Gorton, Holderness, Falcon, Verona, Minnie, Larry, Benedict, Flapjack, Tongariro, Symphony. Provincial Handicap.—Rubin a, Lady Emma, Poet, Hippo, Webster, Trumpeter, Violin, Trot, Wakatu, Randall, Bella (Hurley's), Bella (Black's), Cockrobin, Charlie, Fred, Wallaby, Ace of Clubs, Maggie, Chromo, Postboy, Tiger, Nollio Ago of Clubs (Rutherford's.). ■ Spotted Maiden.—Biddy, Ramrod, Sandy, Banker, No Name, Hallelujah Lass, Tradesman's Handicap. Emma, Rubina, Theuge, Minerva, Hippo, Webster, Trumpeter, Billy, Violin, Prospero, Molly, Molly Bawn, Novel Race.-Molly Bawn, Billy, Benedict, Mokarakara, Spofforth, Little Jack, Prospero, Tongariro, Naita.

Dunedin, Monday. Tho Waimate's passage occupied 101 days, She spoke to the barque Embleton, from Auckland to London, in latitude s°. Tho collections in the first church for the erection of a monument to the late lato Lindlay Mackie amount to £ll2. Wellington, Monday. Tho steamer Hawerafai her last trip from New Plymouth to Nelson, had a very narrow escape from going ashore in Cable Bay. From. tho statements made by .passengers it appears that the vessel left New Plymouth at 8.30 on Wednesday, the. wind blowing a. gale from the N. W„ with a heavy sea. As the wind was a fair one, the foretopsails and foresails were set, and as the vessel was travelling at a good rate, every precaution seems to have been taken, And instead of one patent log being used, two were put ont when abreast of Cape Egmonfc, At about 6 o'clock the sails were taken in, and a good lookout kept for land, as it was thought land was scon on the port bow, and as the weather was thick mid cloudy no great distance could be seen. Knowing that they had made excellent running, andthatthey would beappioaching'land, at 7 the captain put her at dead slow, himself and the second officer keeping a look out, In fact, they never left the deck. Logs were examined, and showed they were still a considerable distanco from Nelson. Notwithstanding this, tho vessel was kept slow about four or five miles an hour. The loom of land was again seen on tho port bow, and whilst tho Captain was still watching for signs of land, the second officer-reported land on the starboard bow. The captain instantly stopped her, but, suddenly, as it coming out of the mist, land was seen in front and on either; side of the steamer, The order, full speed astern, was given, but it looked as if getting -the steamer off

the Bhore was an impossibility. Full speed as stem meant, in such heavy weather, a.hard fight, and sea after sea oame over her stern, the sudden plunging stern forward forced the waves to break over her deck, wetting the saloon and making the passengers who were sick get out of their berths smartly, and forget their little complaints, The stewards were busy baling the water from the smoking room, and on deck everything was done coolly. All the crew were called and the boats got ready. For about an hour the steamer remained backing, shivering from stem to stern with every sea, The force of the waves smashed the thick glass in the stern lights, and the carpenter had to block one up to prevent the saloon filling. Both crew, passengers, and ladies kept . very quiet, although anxious; The .first soundings taken were 5 fathoms, after a quarter of an hour's steaming 6 fathoms, then 8 fathoms, After an hour's fight, the Haweagofc far enough out to be put headtoseai The passengers give the captain' and officers, especially the second mate, great credit. The current and westerly wind must have set the vessel over to the east, and thus made Cable Bay.