MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 381, 22 October 1874, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Information has been received of another collision off Dungeness, not far from the spot where the illfated Northfleet went clown, and which, though happily not attended with such an appalling loss of life is still sufficiently serious. Instead of Dungeness being crowded with weather-bound merchant shipping, through which an outward-bound steamer had to thread her careful way on a dark and dirty wintei's night, ther.e was a harvest moon shining brilliantly, while lights on the French coast and those of Folkestone could be seen from Dover Pier with the greatest ease. The vessel in question was the Millbank, of Sunderland, a small screw burquebuilt steamer of 130 tons, 150-horse-power, trading from Carthagena for Sunderland, with a cargo of zinc ore, and a fine China trader, also a screw of 3,332 tons, and 500-horse-pOwer. This one, the Hankow, was outward-bound, and as the vessels approached each other from opposite directions an error in steering must have occurred on board one or both, for it seems pretty evident that they were both seen by the men on the look-out. A collision of frightful violence ensued; the Hankow, from her superior weight and power, struck the Millbank like a ram on the starboard side, knocking away her mainmast, and crushing into her decks as far as the hatchways. The water poured into the ill-fated ship aft ; she gave a terrible lurch, and immediately went down. The crew, which consisted ofr^ 1 hands, were, with the exception gflthe watch.,? '-in their hammocks, and of these t^n were drowned, no) doubt, in their berths. The- captain and chief mate with their wives were also lost. The Hankow succeeded in rescuing twelve, including the second mate and engineer, who climbed up her sides before she got clear, and four others were picked up by a boat's crew. The Hankow cruised off the spot until morning, and a Deal lugger succeeded in finding the body of the captain's wife, which wiis put on board and subsequently conveyed by steamer to London. The names of the saved are Robfert Bird (second mate), Mr Hall (engineer), Frederic Hodge, George Foster, W. Seaton, J. Blacky- GL Bagman, Robert Bryant, Edward Schultz, W. Ransome, John Mooney, Fritz Elliek, Henry Bomet, Thos. Rogers, Thomas Ryde, and H. Latham. These men were conveyed to London by the Hankow, with the exception of the second mate and engineer, who were landed at Dover. The Wellington correspondent of the Hawkis Bay Times says : — The Premier, previous to his departure for Auckland, received a semi-official notice from Dr Featherston that her Majesty was willing to confer upon him the honor of knighthood. Among a list of prizes awarded at the recent Waikouaiti Ploughing Match was the following new feature, viz. : — " Best looking Ploughman — a pair of socks, given by a young lady, upon her own judgment — John Maxwell." Happy John Maxwell !