ARRIVAL OF THE P.S. SOUTHLAND, FROM THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 247, 16 May 1868, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE P.S. SOUTHLAND, FROM THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

The following are the particulars of her visit to the Auckland Islands, as given in the Southland Times: — The p.s. Southland arrived in harhor at 9.35 a.m. from the Bluff, which she left at 5.30 p.m. on the sth. She brings a large quantity of machinery for this port; after discharging which, she will be laid on the berth for Hokitika.

The Southland left Bluff Harbor on March 7th, for Auckland Islands, at 11.45 a.m. Experienced a very heavy sen, with strong southerly gale ; bore up for Lord's River, Stewart's Island ; left again on the 10th; had a very heavy S.W. gale, with fierce squalls, and run into Pegasus Bay ; left again on 14th,; found a very heavy sea out<side, and the ship shipping a great quantity of water, bore up for Wilson's Bay ; left Wilson's Bay at 4 p.m. on the !:15th ; sighted Disappointment Island at 11.15 a-.m. on the 17th, six miles off; rounded Enderby's Island at 5 p.m., and anchored in Sarah's Bosom at 6.30 p.m. From the 17th to the 12th, lay in Sarah's Bosom, experiencing frightful weather, several times having to get the steam up for the safety of the ship. On the 30th, at 5 p.m.. steamed to Port Ross; rounded the N.W. cape of the island at 8.15, and steamed through the inside passage between Disappointment Island and the mainland; proceeded along the coast until abreast of a large cave ; stopped the engines and lowered a boat. Mr Teer supposed this to be the cave where the General Grant was lost. Found too much sea to venture into the cave with the boat; returned to the steamer and backed her into the cave, as far as prudent; took soundings, and found from 16 to 25 fathoms inside; finding the divers could not do anything on account of the heavy sea, steamed out again for North Harbor. On April Ist had to get steam up, with both anchors down in North Harbor, for the safety of the ship, it blowing a perfect hurricane, with a heavy sea coming in. April 3rd —Left uorth Harbor, not deeming it a safe place for shelter, on account of

heavy swell, and steamed for Port Ross ; anchored there at 3p m. On April the -sth left Port Ross for the wreck, but found the weather too boisterous ; came to an anchor in Carnley Harbor. April the 9th, left Carnley Harbor and passed through the western passage of Adam's Island, it blowing a hurricane, with a heavy sea. Pound it impossible to do anything at the cave ; proceeded to the end of the strait and -anchored there. April 13 th, got steam up and proceeded to the wreck, but found too heavy a sea on the coast, and bad to mrn for Carnley Harbor. April —Capt Kirkpatrick, tie divers, Chief Engineer,and Mr Teer, proceeded overland to the cave, to see if it was possiblo to do anything at the head of the cave, but found it impossible, and returned at 5.20. p. m. April 21—Steamed for Port Ross; but had to run into Smoky Inlet for shelter. April 21— Got steam up for the -safety of the ship, it blowing a hurricane witn very fierce squalls. April 30—Left Port Ross for the Bluff ; passed through the channel between Enderby Island and mainland ; had a very westerly gale, with heavy sea, for two days ; hove to for fifteen hours off Stewart's Island, and arrived at Bluff at noon on 3rd May The Southland left a six-ton boat at Port Ross, near the depot, for the benefit of unfortunates. They also found a plentiful supply of pigs, ducks and seal ; the latter animal they uitlised for fuel, which they found a very good substitute.

A Shock. —"Walking one day along the streets of Auckland, we observed before us a tall, graceful-looking figure, the folds of whose black silk dress were duly distended; a crape shawl and stylish hat making up a perfectly unexceptionable toilette. Involuntarily, our pace quickened, and we began to speculate upon the beauty of the, countenance which another step or two would doubtless disclose to our glance. Suddenly a shop window attracted the fair one's attention; she stopped and turned—oh horror upon horrors ! what a sight met our gaze ! A dusky face, very masculine features, tatooed lips, with a short black pipe in her mouth—in short, a Maori belle. Tears have elapsed since then, but the shock our feelings then experienced has not yet been forgotten.—Blachtvood's Magazine, for January. A Large Pile op Buildings, called " Belgrave mansions," have been built on Lord Westminster's West-end estate. The rooms are let singly or in suites as unfurnished apartments, each tenant having the liberty, of course, to furnish and fit them up as he pleases. The company provides all necessary service and there is a coffee-room for the use of the tenants. There is no obligation, implied or understood, that the tenants should take their meals in the house; they are free to live just as they like. It is expected that these residences will meet the wants of a large class who do not care to have large establishments, and yet desire to live in the fashionable quarter. Last Moments oe Sir David Bbewster.—Sir James Simpson, who was Sir David Brewster's doctor, gave some account at a meeting of the Royal Society in Edinburgh, on Feb. 17, of Sir David's death. He said, "To Mr Phin, and other clerical friends, he freely expressed in these his last days the unbounded and undoubting faith of a very humble and very happy Christian* No shadow of dubiety ever once seemed to cloud his mind. Like my former dear friend and old school companion, Professor John Eeid, he seemed to be impressed with the idea that one of the great joys and glories of heaven would consist in the revelation of all marvels and mysteries of creation and science by Him by whom ' all things were made/ and who, as Professor George Wilson held it, was not only the Head of the Church, but the head and origin and source of all science. 'I have,' he remarked to me, ' been infinitely happy here, but I shall soon be infinitely happier with my Saviour and Creator." As death drew more and more nigh, the one idea of his Saviour, and of his being speedily and eternally with Him grew stronger and more absorbing. As a physician, I have often watched by the dying, but I have never seen a deathbed scene more full of pure love and faith than our late president's was.— Home News Prison Labor in Prussia.—Efforts are being made at this moment in Prussia to organise a monster petition against the competition made by prisoners to private industry. The association of Hanoverian artisans have determined on suggesting a remedy—namely, that prisoners should be paid for their work at the current rates in the locality, that the sums so earned should be applied in part to cover the cost of their maintenance, and that the surplus should be given to them on their liberation.

A traveller can now perform the journey from the Atlantic seaboard to the Rocky Mountains, a distaaco of more than 3000 miles, in one and the same railway carriage. The line crosses the Mississippi and the Missouri.