FUSIBLE SHIPPING DISASTER.

WRECK OF THE SHIP LASTINGHAM.

Seventeen Persons Drowned

(BY TELKGKAWI— SPECIAL KKI'OKTKIi).

Wellisgtox, September 5. I -FOUM a-non was received here this morning that the ship Lastingliam, bound from London to Wellington, had b.cii wrecked a. Jackson's Head, Cook Strait, and seven teen lives lost, including the captain and his wife. Tho Lastinghnm was an iron ship of 1,200 tons burthen. She left London for Wellington, under the command of Captain Morrison, on 28th May, with two passengers nn-J twenty-six of a crow. The captain s wife was also on board. Or. Monday night the vessel encountered a terrible gale, which Chief Officer Ncaledoscribes n. the fiercest in his experience. The ship was driven ashore about 10 o'clock, close to 1.in.1, and broke up within two hours afterwuiv-s. Somo of the crew saved themselves by jumping and swimming on shore, tho rocks being so close as to enable some to jump tho distance.

List of tho Drowned,

The names of tho drowned passengers are—Meakins, Russell, Naish, -McGinn, and Davis. Thoso of the orew lost are—Mor rison fcaptain), and wife, Henry Groves 3rd officer), Peter Maguiro (cook), John Murray (sailmaker), Barnard Lambert, Groutqp, Loe, Mathews, Watson (sailors), and tw"b boys, Sharp and Pierce. The sur vivors, were nearly tnived to death, having only a littlo cornflour and oatmeal on which to subsist. They were without sleep for 36 hours. The/ managed to find a littlo water in a hole which allayed their thirst.

Names of tho Survivors.

Those saved are:—John Hcalo (chiof officer), John Barton (second mate), Bidloy (steward), Robertson (carpenter), and Groves, Conbairo, Chambers, Munro, Donaldson, Chalmers, and Alvarez (sea men), Thomas and i'ryer (apprentices). The loss of tho Lastingliam is one of the most painful and distressing that it has ever been my ill-fortune to record. The vessel was near the com pletion of a lengthy voyage, all hands were congratulating each otoer upon the pleasant prospect of being at their journey's end before another 24 hours had elapsed, and'the possibility of the catastrophe did not occur to the mind of anyone. It was under these circumstances that weather of a truly fearful description was experienced, and the vessel was driven into a bay on the leeshore,andthelandwhichshouldhavobeen so welcome was seen in such a position and a: such a time that could only inspire fore bodings and fear. The gale increased, the vessel could not weather the point, and was gradually driven on to the lee shore. The econe on board appears to have been a pain f'.l one. Where all had been hustle in anti cipation of early and safe landing, everyone was now waiting with bated breath for the shock which would be the death-knell to many, and would also mark the destruction of another noble ship. The shock came quite Boon onough, and tho hands, number ing more than thirty souls, gathered together in groups to await their d om. One party was assembled in the forepart of the vessel, and finding the ship's head had run on to rocks, thoy rlambered on to the bowsprit and reached land in safety ; others who were aft were un aware of the good fortune that had befallen their comrades, remained on «ie poop Until all chance of eseaDe was trone, and perished with the ill-fated ship. It is always ensy after a catastrophe such as that which has just sent a thrill of horror through the length and breadth of the colony, to sit down calmly and suggest what could and should have been done. In the present cose, readers would naturally ask why one of those who escaped over the bowsprit did not return and inform his less fortunate fellow-pas sengers of the ehanco of safety within grasp, The only explanation is.that all being confusion on board, the official order being .every man for himself, what was everybody's business was nobody's business. It is. ad mitted that life is dear, but had anyone on that night returned to the poop after the discovery of an avenue of escape, he would almost certainly have secured the rescue of all, and at the same time performed a noble action that would have deserved a place in the brightest records of heroism. Those who reached the shore appear to have called frequently to their comrades on board, but tho howling storm must have drowned their voices, and the vessel drift ing off the rock on which 3he had previously been resting, brokeupin deepwnter, ISsouls —including five passengers, and the captain and his v ifi— perished with her. Some Very Affecting Sccnen

are reported. The captain, who was an elderly man without a family, retired to his cabin, where his wile was when the ship struck. He was afterwards seen with his arms round her waist, wait ing for death, which so soon overtook both of them. There were partings between those on board and the men who swani ashore which are, said to have been fearful in their sadness, the poor fellows uttering their " God bless you " and "We shall meet again" with husky voices and a depth of feeling that showed their hope was beyond the grave. The story of the privations end ured by the crow on land are also very painful. They were exposed for two nights with very few garments, and those saturated with water, to tho violence of a terrible storm ; so terrible, in fact, that all the men describe it as the worst ever experienced. Apart from the discomforts already men tioned, many of them had cut feet and contused bodies, and their condition when rescued was deplorable in the ex treme.- The papers here published very meagro accounts of the occurrence; and impressed with the fact that the people of Auckland would be eager to obtain the fullest possible particulars of the catas trophe, I went- off to the ship Zealandia, where the survivors had been taken from the ketch Agnes, with the object of seeing them. The chief officer refused, as he said, to allow the men to be tampered with until the inquiry had been held. This was scarcely satisfactory, and returning on shore, I was courteouslysupplled by Captain Babot (Shaw, Saville's ships husband) with an order authorising me to interview the men, and ask any questions, provided these did not affect the navigation of the vessel. Armed with this document, I returned to the ship, and

Interviewed Each ol tho Men

in turn. The statements of those whose narratives were given are heart rending. The men were dressed in garments given by the master of tho ketch, and to that worthy skipper (Jensen) all appear very grateful. They all showed the effects of the recent ex posure. Robertson (who is a very intelli gent man, and from whom I got the chief narrative) had been attacked by cold shivers,- and despite all his efforts, he could hot g6t rid of them. The authorities dis played neglect in not having the men taken ashore to more comfortable quarters, and having the injured attended to. One poor little fellow named Fryer (the steward) wus badly bruised on the leg, and the white of the eyo was contused to such an extent that medical assistance was desirable. It was pitiable to witness the delight of the poor fellows when they got their -letters from home, and to listen to their lamentations that others had perished and letters addressed by loving hands from the mother country must bo returned with the terrible endorsement which undor the circumstances is rendered necessary. The most complete and interesting narrative was that given me by the ship's car penter, a man of some 30 years of nge, named Robert Robertson. He was On deck some time prior to the catastrophe, and he witnessed the whole of

The Shocking Occurrence.

His own language is given as nearly as possible, the statement being <is follows. He says :—''" Tbe weather on Mon day night was very bad indeed ; there wero very heavy squalls and exceedingly thick weather. Lnnd was reported on the port bow about a quarter past eight o'clock, and all hands were to stand by with their oilskins in case they were required. The land we saw was Jackson's Head, which was about 4 miles distant. When the laud was sighted, we cut adrift the foresail and made sail. Alter standing on about half ■an hour, land wts reported right ahead. We immediately kept away from land, but were driven towards the leeshore by squalls, which were frequent and terrific. Gradually we reached the 'shore, and as the ship wonld neither steer nor weather, we saw WO would not clear the bay into which we ' had been driven, and all on board knew that the Bhip was going to strike. It was very thick and dark at times, and the land could only be seen with the greatest difficulty. The ship struck about 10.30 p.m., but not very heavily. I was at the main braces as sisting to Bquare the yards at the time. I h»-ard someone sing out, ' Lay forward,' and running forward I found that her jibboom Vas over the edge of the rocks, and that land Was very close indeed. The bpw of the vessel had, in fact, run right up on the

rocks, [Somebody said that tho chief officer had called out "Every man for himself," butl did not hear that order given. When I ran forward, the majority of the people on board were gathered on the poop, which, of course, forms the after part of tho vessel. I was with the man on the lookout. Kiddle, the steward, and one or two others, were scrambling out on to the jibboom, and I followed them. I found no diihculty in following their example, and dropping from the jibboom on to tho rocks, and as these rocks abutted from the mainland, I was soon ashore, and exposed to no further danger. A number of men had escaped by "this means previously, and wore standing on the rock waiting for others to como. Tho second-.mate and several banes followed over the bows. Peoplo on board were running about in all directions at the time, tho mate having given tho order "Every Man for Himself."

Wo called to a group of peoplo on tho poop with tho object of getting them to save themselves as wo had done, but 1 hoy did not appear to bo ablo to hear us. I believe tho group consisted of the captain, passen gers, and some of tho crow. The captain's wife was not on deck, but I believe she was in the companion. Wo all called out again and again to got these people to como iorward, but they remained on tho poop, and our voices were probably drowned by tho roar of the storm. Tho ship hung on tho rock for throo or four minutes, and then the bow clipped off the ledgo on which it was resting.and the vessel was in deep water. A terrible surf commenced to break over her, and she camo broadside on, and although not bumping much, rolled heavily and began to sottlo down. We could .still see the outlines of tho peoplo standing aft, and could also make out several human forms in the main rigging. We shouted to them to

Jump Overboard and Swim Ashore. Several did so, but wo could see nothing of them. It is questionable whether any others followed, and it is more likely that they preferred to tako their chance on board. Several men made tho attempt to reach tho shore with ropes round their bodies, but the surf wax so strong that, after being exhausted, they were compelled to call out that they could not go further, and were hauled back again. Scenes of a distressing and painful character were wit nessed every moment; and although in safety ourselves, wo were wholly unable to assist our fellow-passengers. This con tinued for some time, and then tho ship commenced to break up. The deck-house was tho first to go. A heavy sea broke aboard and carried away tho deck-house, taking it along tho deck and then overboard. Other equally heavy seas followed in rapid succession, and made clean breaches over the ship. All the boats on the bridge wore smashed up and carried away and the main'and mizzen-royal mast fol lowed. It was evident that in a few minutes the ship must go down altogether, and again and again wo called to those on board to jump overboard. It was just at this time tlyit some of our party found that Groves and Fryer, a seaman and apprentice, were being washed ashore, and as sisted them to a rock on which wo were. They had bcon carried into a crook where the water was calm. Wo could see that as the ship was lying broadside ' on.sho had formed a kind of breakwater to a small creek close by, and within this space the water was comparatively smooth. Our reason for urging those on board to jump overboard was that they would have been pretty sure to have been ablo to swim through this calm water and reach the shore. The blinding spray rolling off the ship and the extreme blackness of tho night no doubt prevented them from seeing this haven. Very soon after tho ship began to break up she took a heavy list to seaward, and the result was that her decks were much more exposed to the heavy seas that were breaking in. Tho disas trous effect of this change in position was ■ soon apparent, the mainmast being carried away in a very few moments. We could still make out people in tho af torpart of the ship, and could distinctly

Hear Their Calls for Help,

but it was impossible for us to render them any unless they managed .to reach the shore themselves. The weather was so thick, too, that, although people wero not far from us, we could not tell who or what they were, and could soarcoly distinguish even the outlines of their figure. The ship con tinued to break up rapidly,and tho foremast soon followed the mainmast. It tore up the decks and fell with a terrible crash in a sea ward direction towards which tho vessel had a list. The sea was covered for some dis tance with cargo and all descriptions of wreckage, and cases, portions of dock work, &c, were floating with large quantities into the creek. Theso were watched anxiously by our party in the hope that some of the crew or passengers might be clinging to them, but in vain. The painful scene continued for a short time longer, and then tho ship made two or three heavy lurches, and

Disappeared Wholly from View beneath the water. Tho mizzen-mast was still standing. We could see people going down with the vessel, and could still hear cries. Very little more than an hour elapsed from the time the ship struck until she went down. Wo remained where we were from that time till daylight, watching the surf, floating wreckage, and rocks, to see if anyone was washed ashore, but wro were doomed to disappointment. None but the two already referred to were bronght ashoro by tho surf. We made a further Efearch for dead bodies at daybreak, but did not find any, A tremendous amount of cargo and wreckage was floating about at the foot of the rooks. There was, un fortunately, no beach. If there had been we would have managed to save some of the things from the vessel, but as it was we could not. We required food, but the heavy sea prevented us getting any of the wreckage up to the rocks. We mounted a hill soon after daybreak, or it would be more correct to say that we crawled up it. The task was a very difficult one, as we wero allstiff, andcold, andnujnbed. Theclimbing of the hill seemed terrible the first time, although we did not seem to think much of it afterwards. We at once hunted over the island—at least we thought it was an island then —In search of some human habitation, but could not find any. Wo were hungry, but our anxiety to be rescued was so great that we did not feel hunger so much. Soon after 10 o'clock that forenoon we saw a steamer outward bound,and made signals to her with a counterpane tied to a stick, by waving our hats, and also by singing out. I cannot say whether those on board saw us. We were repeatedly disappointed in this respect, daring the course of the day no less than four other steamers passing within sight of us. We repeated our signals every time, but as no response was.made, I sup- , pose they were not seen. It was pre viously agreed that we should divide our selves into several sections, and meet together in the evening, when we conld compare notes. This was done; one party went down to the wreck to continue the search; another proceeded to a point in the hope of being able to attract the at tention of passing vessels, while it was arranged that a third should go some dis tance inland, in the hope of finding a human habitation. Evening found us at the appointed rendezvous all thoroughly dispirited and disappointed with the day's exertions, and

Wot, Cold, and Hungry.

Those who' w6nt down to the scene of the wreck were very unfortunate. The sea was still too rough to enable them to pick any thing up in the shape of food from the wreckage, and as nothing eatable had been discovered on the island, tho prospect was far from agreeable. We found great diffi culty m obtaining water. The third party had not even been so successful as tho others,as they had lost ono of thoir number. It appeared that after going some distance they saw some sheep, but as they were fatigued and had no boots, they, with one exception, did not attempt to follow them. The exception was a man named Ward, who was convinced that if there were sheep in the neighbour hood, then there must also be people to take care of them. He therefore pushed on in the hope of finding some track, and the others came back.

We Did Not See Him Again, and our number was then reduced from fourteen to thirteen. Our several ex periences were related to each other at tho spot indicated as the rendezvous on the lee sideof the island. There wore afewtreesat this spot, and as the rain continued to come down in torrents,wo took refuge under the protection they afforded from the weather. The falling rain was very slight, but we were thankful even for that. We would have lighted signal fires on the head, but none of our party had any matches, and consequently we were without any chanco whatever of attracting tho attention of vessels. Between- dusk and daybreak last night was one of the worst in my experience. It blew and rained terribly, and was bitterly cold. We slept under trees, or at least we could not sleep, but hung around waiting for morning. -We were subjected to extreme exposure, few of ue having very much clothes. Some, in fact, h-id only their shirts and trousers ; others were more fortunate in .haying- boots and "hats What clothes we had were saturated with

water, both on Monday and Tuesday nights. On Wednesday morning the weather broke, and turned out fine. Wo again divided ourselves into parties on the same prin ciple as wo had adopted on the previous day. Some went to the wreck, others to Jackson's Head, and the remainder went inland. I formed one of the party that went to tho wreck. The sea had moderated by this time, and we found a 41b piece of pork, two 41b. tins of oatmeal, and several packages of cornflour. Theheads wero out of tho oatmeal tins, and the provisions gener ally were damaged by sea-water. That did not, however, troublo us in our famished condition. Having boon

Fully Forty Hours Without Food,

wo partook of somo of the things at once, and then started back to tho rendezvous. Although it was then very early in tho day, wo did not reach the en campment until 4 o'clock. Tho others re turned about sundown, when a limited supply of provisions was given round, every man getting an equal quantity, and only one tin of oatmeal and a portion of pork and cornflour being usod. The reports from other parties were not so satisfactory as that which we had to give in. Those at tho Head had not seen the sign of a vessel, while others had not come across the. sign of a human being. They had kept a look out for Ward, who loft them on the previous day, but did not see anything of him. Our clothes had dried by this time, and we wore mono comfortable than we had been. Hav ing cut down a quantity of scrub, wo built a shanty, and being thoroughly worn out and exhausted, we all slept soundly that nieht. On Thursday morning we distributed the last tin of oatmeal and tho remainder of our pork. Our meals having concluded, two of tlio men, named Chalmers and Alvarez, proposed to proceed inland, as thoy had boots and were able to walk, while othors not beiug so woll off, could not. They started off, unconscious of the fact that

Assistance was Close at Hand,

and we have not seen thorn again. Several of our party went back again to the wreck, and the remainder returned to the point. While theso latter were in the act of rig ging a polo they saw a ketch, which afterwords proved to bo the Agnes, standing right up for Jackson's Head. Thoy signalled to her, and when she came under the leo of tho island wo wero delighted to sco tho little craft come up in the wind, and did not require the captain to wave his hands to toll us that we were seen at last. Tho ketch lowered her boat, which came to tho leo sido of tho land and took our party on board. She then stood some distance

along tho shore and picked up three others at the scone of the wreck, and so on till oleven were on board. Two who had gono inland that morning, and Ward, who hid strayed away on Wednesday, made up tho number of fourteen who had landed from the wreck. Tho ketch sailed along tho coast a considerable dis tance,' but saw nothing of the three missing mon. She then bore up for Wellington, which was roached about 7 o'clock on Friday morning." Kobortson concluded this statement with a request that I would give Captain Jensen and tho crew of the Agnes credit for their extreme kindness to them. They wero sup plied with all tho clothes on board, with food, and with everything else they re quired. Everything was done that could minister to their comfort or alleviate their sufferings.

Narrative of a Resoued Boy.

Tho next of the crew whom I interviewed was Arthur Fryer, a bright and plucky lad of fifteen. Ho related his experience as follows :—"I was aft on the poop when tho ship struck. The shock was pretty hard, but we were expecting it. Some one told

mo just after the ship struck that tho mate and some others had got ashore. A lot of seas came over the poop, and we hauled the companion over so as to keep the Wator out of the cabin. Immediately aftor the voisol struck the captain wont down into his cabin whero his wife was, and did not come up

again. Mrs Morrison had been on deck about ten minutes before wo struck. The land was very olose to us. Seas commenced to rush over the poop. As I went into the rigging a man named Watson made an attempt to tako a line ashore by swimming with a rope round his body, but ho could not manage it, and they had to haul him back again. Then I saw a seaman named Groves jump overboard and save himself by swimming. The sailmaker also jumped overboard, but I did not see him again, and I was told he had been drowned. I remained in the rigging about a quarter of an hour with Meacking, Barnell, Crondon, and another boy named Pierce. The seas wero then coming ovor the vessel so heavily .that myself and others were nearly jerked off the ropes. I said to one of the men ' I will try and swim ashore.' I then said goad-bye to him, and as I was going to jump a big sea came and washed mo overboard. I was under water for a time, and was carried round and round just as if I was in a whirl pool. I could not attempt to swim, the sea being terrible. It carried me along with it, and then lifted mo up and deposited me on some rooks a little way from shore. My eye was scratched by a rock, which caused a nasty cut, but the ball of tho eye was not injured. The rocks on which I was were about fifteen yards f_pm the shore, and were a little above the surface of the water. I could not see anyono on shore, but could s«o the shore itself. High seas were coming towards me, and would have swept me off the rock where I was, so I jumped into the water again and struck out for the shore. I swam to where some cargo was washing ashore, and supporting myself by getting each elbow on a case, I was washed by tho sea into a creek where the water was calm. I could see the men who had already reached tho shore looking for survivors, and I called to them. Ward, one of the seamen, handed mo a largo pieco of wood, and hauled me ashore to where ho was. I got up on tho rocks, and sat there all night. My leg was badly swollen, owing to the force of the blow when the sea washed me against the rocks, and I could not go about." Fryer, who is still suffering from a bad leg, is a native of London. This is his first trip. He was transferred from the Exmouth, training ship, at Grayes, Essex.

Other Narratives.

Thomas Groves, an able seaman, was the next interviewed. He said :" I was at the helm at the time of the catastrophe. I knew the ship was going to strike. I could see there was no hopo, as she could not possibly weather the point. She struck close to land, and I took off my clothes ready for an attempt to get on shore. I remained for some time on the poop with a number of passengers and crew, all of whom were drowned except Fryer. I stopped there about an hour, until I saw the ship was breaking up. No one had been washed off

up till that time. Two attempted to swim ashore; one was a sailor named Watson, and the other a passenger named Naish,

both making the attempt from the poop with ropes lound their bodies. They were soon exhausted, and were hauled back again. Seeing the ship was breaking up, I jumped overboard, and I swam all the woy to the rocks. The ship was lying broadside on, and this made a bit of a harbour, and it was not so rough between the vessel and the shore. I swam to the nearest rook, and there I stopped for breath. I had been there about two minutes, when a sea came and washed me away again, and I struck cut for shore. I could near the voices of those who reached land, but I could not sco the people themselves. They had seen me coming, and were there ready to pick me up.

How the Captain Died,

Before I left the poop I shook hands and said good-bye to all those who were gathered there. The captain and his wifo were both below, and a few minutes before I jumped overboard I went down and asked the captain's advice. He was sitting at the cabin table with his arms around his wife's waist. They were both sitting up to their bodies in water, and evidently waiting patiently for the death which was so soon to overtake them. The captain did not answer my question, so I went upstairs again. It was then that I jumped overboard.

The other survivor whom I interviewed was John Riddle, the steward. He said, just before the ship struck I asked the captain if he thought we could clear the land, and he said we could not. When she struck, I was slacking away the main brace. I at once let go, and walked in the direction of the poop, but remembering that when a vessel struck forward the best chanco of escape was forward, I changed my mind. I followed others on to tho bowsprit and dropped on to rocks. My feet were so severely cut that I could hardly walk. I went inland with the party from which Ward separated himself. Before he went he asked another man to go with him. He declined, paying it was better for them to keep togetttfer. Ward replied, "Everyman for himself," and went away. We did not see him again.

Tbe Three Men Found,

Tho three men who went inland have been rescued, and are none the worse of tho hardships they have undergone. Their names aro: Thomas Chalmers, a native of tho West Indies :C. Alvarez, a native of the St. Michael islands ; and George Henry Ward, a negro, born in the United States. Chalmers has often traded in the Sounds, and has been shipwrecked before In various parts of the world. Alvarez was once ship

wrecked off Mauritius from a cattle ship, and got ashore on ttie back of a cow, The three sailors were interviewed en Sept. f, and gavo long accounts of the ,*tebk 'Arid their subsequent advßrttur'es and privations till taken oil by a schooner, and brought in the steam launch to l'icton. Ward appears to have subsisted for two or three days on tallow candles, washed ashore from tho Vessel.

Serious Allegations Against tho Captain. All three men speak well of tho ship and officers, but Ward says the captain drank hard, and he has seen him unable to stand, though he cannot say how the captain was on tho night of tho wreck. Orog was served out to the men occasionally. Tho three men nono tho worso for the shipwreck, and speak highly of the kindness of tho captain of the schooner, Mr Jones, the settlor who sheltered them on Friday night, and tho authorities at l'icton. Ward's opinion is that .tho officers could handle tho ship better than tho cap tain, and that had the former had charge sho would now bo at Wellington Wharf. Ward was the look-out man on the Heads, Mid says ono of tho passing steamers was so close that he could distinguish the man at the wheel, and the officers on tho bridge. Tho Survivors.—A Rcmarkablo Darkey. Mr Jones, at whose residence tho missing men were staying, gives the following :— Ho did not know tho names of them. Ono was an Englishman, tho otheraGorman, and the third a darkoy. The report given of tho darkey loads to tho supposition that ho was a rather rcmarkablo man. He was the first to leave the main party in search of relief, and, being barefooted, his feet were sorely lacerated by tho jagged rocks and brush wood. Being, hungry, he made a temporary moal of rabbits and candles picked up from tho wreck. After searching some timo he found tho deserted huts, where he picked up a lead-pencil ami some scraps of paper. After resting for a night he resumed his journey, and found n well-defined sledge track. Although his hardships must have been great, he was not unmindful of his companions, and, in order to guido them as well as he could, ovory here and thoro along tho track ho wrote his name on scraps of paper, fixing thorn to sticks in tho ground. Ho then dis covered tho deserted huts in Kemp's Bay whore he found matchos. He gathered a lot of shell-fish nnd kelp, with which ho mndo for himself the first hearty meal he had had for somo dnys. The Englishman and German in tho meantime also broke oil' from tho party, and after a toilsome journey found tho darkey by tho directions ho had left on tho track. After thoy had refreshed themselves, tho Englishman volunteered to return with tho news of their success to tho main body, and after great, fatigue arrived at tho spot, only to find thorn gone. By certain trilling articles left by thorn ho made sure thoy had been rescued. Ho retraced his steps, reaching Kemp's Bay in tho afternoon, and was rather disconcerted to find that his two companions Iwd like wise disappeared without leaving any trace. A small craft then hove in sight, and in re sponse to thoir signal a boat was sent, nnd ho was taken off. Moantime, tho darkoy and his companion wore taken on by a passing vessel and landed at Turner's Bay. By this time it was late at night, and thoro was no use attempting to do anything until daybreak. Mr Jones's household busied themselves making preparations for a largo number of persons which it was expected tho Englishman would bring to Kemp's Bay. The stoora launch bolonging to the station was despatched in tho morning to the bay, but on her way fell in with the craft having tho last of tho three men on board, _o it was useless to proceed further.

Preliminary Inquiry,

A preliminary inquiry has been held into tho wreck before the Collector of Customs. John Nenl, chief officer, said nothing worthy of remark occurred during the voyage until thoy mado land, and sighted Mount Egmont, at S a.m. last Monday, the weather being fino with a strong breezo. At noon sighted Bapiti, with tho wind increasing and bringing rain. Shortened sail, and at 3 p.m. hovo tho ship to wind on the starboard tack, heading about W. by S. Kept this course till 8.15 p.m., when land was sighted. It was blowing a gnlo, the weather thick, and tho land seen was Capo Jackson, but did not know what landjit was. The land appeared ovor lee quarter. Wo at once made sail to clear it, and shortly after land was reported ahead. Wo then wore the ship to attempt to clear the land first seen, but found that was impossible, for tho lnnd loomed two or three points on our weather bow. We then attempted to wear ship again, and in tho act of wearing struck the land, and as all hope of saving tho ship was gone every one tried to save himself by clambering ovor the bows on to tho ro.ks. Tho ship then cautcd broadside to sea, and tho top hamper soon swept awny. It was about 10 p.m. whon wo struck, and in the course of an hour or loss the cries of those on board had all ceased and no trace of the ship could bo discovered. It was then properly my watch on deck, but all hands had been on deck atrospectivo stations from the time of sighting land, at 8.15 p.m., and tho wearing and management of tho ship was under the captain's directions. At day light all that was to be seen was a little wreckage, and on counting the hands only fourteon were found. John Leifo Barton corroborated tho evidonco of the first mate.

The Court, at tho close of tho enquiry, found that nn error of judgment was com mitted by tho master in standing on tack too long, and this, in their opinion, led to tho disastor. No blame is attached to tho officers before tho Court.

FIRES

At four o'clock on September 1 a fifteou roorned house, and a four-roomed cottage, in Antigua-streot, Christehurch, owned by Mr John Lamb, wero destroyed. The firo broko out in the largo house. Mr Lamb is away in Sydney, and the family wero out at tho timo. Tho cause of the fire is unknown. The building was insured for £200 in the Northern and £200 in the United. Mr Lamb's furniture was insured for- £250 in tho Australian Mercantile Union. Mr Allaway, who occupied the smaller house, was uninsured. The loss of the buildings destroyed is estimated at £700.

Shortly after four o'clock on August 29 smoke was discovered issuing from the collar of Messrs Hewin Bros.grocery store, at the corner of Queen and Wellesley streets, and an alarm was rung out on the city bells. The Fire Brigade under Superin tendent Hughes was promptly in attend ance, and in n very short space of time succeeded in extinguishing the fire, which was found to exist amongst some cases in the centre of the cellar. Examina tion showed that the fire had originated amongst some rubbish, tea wrappers, papor, &c, and had from this spread to some cases containing jams, &c. The damage by fire is not extensive, but the smoke and water has eonsiderabiy injured the stock, so that Mr Hewin estimates the damage done at between £400 and £500.

An alarm of fire was rung out by the city bells about 9.30 p.m. on August 27, owing to the discovery of an extensive firo on the premises of Messrs Vaile and Co., drapers, of Queen-street. The building was one storey high, and built of brick, being situated between two brick stores oocu pied by Mr Atkin, draper, on the one sido, and Clarke Bros., photo graphers, on tho other side. Constables Wild and McConnell were passing the building at the time mentioned, when their attention was attracted by the prevalence of smoke under Mr Vaile's shop verandah. They at once concluded that a serious outbreak of firo had occurred, and gave the alarm. The Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, and tho police, under Sergeant Gamble, were spoodily in attendance, and the locality of the fire having been discovered, they performed their respective duties with smartness. The roof of the building was of iron, with skylights, and tho fire having shown through the latter, ladders were erected and the hose was speedily play ing on the burning mass from abovs. The in6ide of the shop was then in a big blaze, but the steady stream of water which was laid on speedily put all further possi bility of tho fire spreading at an end, and in a very short space of time the conflagration was extinguished. When the premises were examined subsequently, the stock was found to have been very seriously damaged. Mr Vaile estimates the damage done to stock at £7,000, the insurances being as follow:—£4,000 in the North British, £1,000 in the New Zealand, and £1,000 in the Norwich Union. The build ing is owned by Mr F. L. Prime, and is insured in the New Zealand for £750. Respecting the origin of the fire Mr Vaile is of opinion that it must have commenced through a spark from the fireplace lodging amongst the goods packed under the counter a few feot distant. He says there was a fire lit during the day, and, as usual, it was extinguished before the shop was closed, but it is possible that a spark may before that have ignited some inflammable material in the stock, and this led to an. extensive fire.

THE NEW ZEALAND SUGAR REFINERY.

A Visit of inspection,

Or all our local industries none has started into life so suddenly, pushed forward its operations so rapidly and so .unobtru sively withal,and taken up so commanding a position within a short timo, as the Sugar ilelinery, whose works now form quite a feature of tho opposito shore of tho harbour. For fully a decade the press of tho colony, stimulated by tho example set in New Soufli . Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, vigorously agitated the question of establishing a Now Zea land refinery which should absorb tho raw product of tho South Soas, and mono polise the markets of the colony. It became a subject of inter-urban jealousy, and spas modic efforts were made at various times in each of tlio four lending centres of popula tion to take the initiative in starting it Com pany, which should definitely fix the location of Now Zealand refining opera tions, and at tho samo timo claim the bonus which a paternal Government had been induced to offer. These fitful attempts, however, led to nO practical result. In timo tho matter ceased to be talked of, each of the rival cities apparently resting content in tho belie: that none of tho others could steal a march upon it. During ISS'J, how ever, the subject was suddenly revived by the announcement that an influential Com pany had beon formed to commence opera tions in Auckland, and by its almost simul taneous application to the Harbour Board for a loaso of a prescribed portion of the foreshore.

Tho Company's Start.

Tho subsequent history of the concorn must bo fresh in tho minds of our renders. After sundry negotiations, in tho course of which tho Harbour Board, fully imprcssod with the magnitude of tho undertaking, made every reasonable concession, the Company socured at a peppercorn rental a lenso for 00 years of tho foreshore at Duck Creek. This was an uninhabited, , marshy portion of tho northern shore, between Kauri I'oint and Birkenhead, and immediately opposito Homo Bay, Ponsonby. It was peculiarly adapted for tho Company's purposes, however, from tho fact that it was the embouchure of a creek possessing a good How of water, and also because deep anchor age could bo obtained at a short distance from the shore. ISO acres of land extending up tho creek on both sides for a considerable distance wore also purchased privately from tho owners. Settlement then had hardly ex tended beyond Northcoto along tho harbour lino, and from that placo to Kauri I'oint the sceno was wild and bleak. Tho Company entered with vigour upon oxtensive excava tion works, involving tho employment of about 150 labourers, for whoso convenience the ferry sorvico was extended to Duck Creok. Very soon dwelling houses begun to appear upon tho fern-clad spur above the sceno of operations, and as tho cliff was pierced and lovollcd, and a largo portion of tho marsh reclaimed, large buildings of brick began to roar themselves aloft, since then, tho fow scattered houses have been joined by others until v doublo row has been formed, constituting a broad and well defined street of 35 cottages, a shop, and a school-house, whilo a lofty chimney-stack, surrounded by a pilo of brick factory build ings and approached by wharves and jetties, suggest at onco their raison d't'tre.

While these operations were going on, wo were twice enabled to publish somo interim information concerning the progress of the works, but it was represented to us that a full description would bo host given after they had boon fully completed. As this stage has now been attained, wo gladly ac cepted an invitation on Saturday, August 30, to pay a visit of inspection to tho works.

First Impressions,

Leaving tho Queen-street Wharf by tho 11.46 steamer,we enjoyed a pleasant trip up tho harbour, and iv tho course of half-an hour, having mudo calls at Northcoto and Birkenhead on tho way, wo mado fast to the outer jetty of Sugaropolis. As our littlo ves sel steamed up to the wharf, wo had timo to recognise ami wonder at tho vast changes which have beon made Tho high cliff has been cut through and lovellod, other land reclaimed, and a congories of substantial brick structures with gal vanised iron roofs erected close up to tho lino of foreshore, whilo two wharves run out at different points, tho moro westerly one terminating in tees, which extond somo distance on either sido. Tho wharves are fitted with iron tram-rails, cranes, and jiggers, and underneath thoir flooring runs hydraulic piping connected with tho refinery and all its associated machinery. Everything betokons careful preparation under a practised oyo, and sug gests a good idea of the magnitude of the operations ou which tho Company are about to enter.

Our Rocoption,

On the wharf we met with a genial wel come from Mr James Muir, tho Company's working manager, who at once led the way to his residenco on the slopo of tho hill, to tho west of the refinery, where an appe tising refection was duly discussed. The road thither lies through what was once tho orchard of Mr Matthews, and, as tho trocs wero not removed, several of thorn are buried up to their upper branches—now luxuriantly blossoming—by tho earth, with which tho thoroughfare has boon formed. Mr Matthews' house has been moved to a position midway between Mr Muir's and the refinery, and has now been fitted up for tho accommodation of MrJudd, tho Customs ofiicor, who has boon appointed to take chargo of tho bond.

Tho Wharves and Offices.

Under tho chaporonago of Mr Muir, we returned to tho wharf in order to tako up our tour of inspection from tho beginning. An idoa of tho difficulties of tho Company s preliminary operations may bo gained from tho fact that in forming tho site 120,000 cubic yards of clay had to bo shifted, and that by means of two pug mills part of this clay was worked up into a million and a-half of bricks for tho buildings, dams, etc. Then two dams had to bo constructed, buildings and cottagos orectod, mossive machinery placed in position, and two wharves run out, each 210 feot long, with an outward jotty of 330 feet. The wharves stand on the solid rook, the holes for the pilos having had to bo blasted out with dynamite, and thoy command a depth of 21 feet at low spring tides. All this work has been accomplished since January, 1883, when the Company first broko ground. Of the two wharves, the eastern one is exclusively designed for tho discharge of coal, which is thence conveyed over a tram lino to tho depot in iron trollies, worked by hydraulic power. In fact, every thing in and about the place is worked by an application of water power according to the most improved methods patented by Sir William Armstrong and Co., of New castle-upon-Tyne. The shipping wharf is provided with a long-jibbed hydraulio crane and hydraulic jigger, which are capable of discharging cargo at the rate of 200 tons por diom. Hydraulic piping for supply and return water is carried up on the outward jotty, and thonco along the t.vo shipping tecs. When the water has performed its office in moving the hoisting plant to action, it returns again to the engine and accumulator, to bo once more compressed for use, so that none of it is lost. These jetties are fenced in on all sides, so that the danger of accidental drowning by falling into the water from them is minimised. At the shore end of the jetty, and close to the sugar stores, is placed one of Pooley and Sons' largest sized weighbridges, over which all sugar, both inward and outward, is run. By an ingenious arrangement,- the lever of tho bridge has been brought within the office, so that the weighing indicator can be read at one and tho same time by the weighing clerk and Customs officer. Tho oilioe is divided into rooms for the manager of the refinery, the engineer, delivery and weighing clerk, and Custems officer. At present a tramway is being used between the vessels and the bonded store, but Mr Muir considers that ho will be able to do the work more cheaply and efficiently by rail.

Her Majesty's Bond,

Having made a hasty survey of all these outer precincts, we bent our steps towards the pile of buildings, for tho purposo of enter ing upon tho internal inspection. Mr Muir, with characteristic love of method, had resolved to follow up the various stages of the process of manufacture in their due order, and, as a consequence, we began with tho bond whither tho raw sugar is taken as it is landed at the Company's wharves. It is a large and spacious edifice on the western extremity of the block. At the present time it contains between three and four thousand tons of raw sugar and possesses storage capacity for fully half as much more. One would naturally incline to think that this should prove amply suffi cient for a considerable time to come. The directors judge otherwise. Already seven vessels heavily freighted with the crude material are on thoir way hither from Java, and the erection of an additional brick store at the western side of the present one is being rapidly proceeded with so as to anticipate their arrival. When this extension is completed the Company will he enabled to store no less than than ten thousand tons of raw sugar. Our entrance into tho bond was delayed in an unexpected manner. Mr Judd, with a due sense of i.ltic-ial responsi- ) bility, produced the patent key, fitted it

into the lodfe, and, after a momentary pause td explain its Special merits, bailed attention, ,to the smdothness of its \Mtking. But unfbHiihately the lock would not budge. Tho key was te fitted, and again turned, but with a similar result. It was then turned in opposite directions, rattled against the lock, wrestled with, coaxed and persuaded, but all to no purpose. Mr Muir essayed his practised hand, but tho difficulty proved worso than a Chinese puzzle to him. Mr Judd came smilingly up to scratch for a second trial, was again placed hors de combat, and gracofully retired in favour of the manager. n the plan of ono up and ono down, the struggle with the refractory look continued for some time, until at last tho magic "Open Sesame" was hit upon to effect tho desired result, Mr Muir, by means of a splinter of wood, carefully fished out a miscellaneous assortment of soft goods from tllo cylinder of the key, and then, after shaking up the lock ngaih) shot the bolt home: -We entered tho building, and found it lofly, spacious, and scrupulously clean. Tho roof is about 38 feet from tho floor, and on both sides of us wore ranged pockets of sugar, stacked up horizontally to a height of 32 feet. Those aro tho shipments that have so far arrived from Java. The most recent consignment was that whioh came by tho Androklos, and it was easily distinguished from tho rest by the moist appearance of tho pockets in which it is contained. A -sample of tho raw sugar was shown us. It was a soft, sticky masM, suggestive of perspiring tody, mid redolont of molasses and rum. Tho same odour was diffused throughout tho building, but thefreo circula tion of fresh air tonos it down. Occupying various positions on tho vacant spaco beyond tho door aro three largo jiggers used for stackhg purposes. Those, as well ns a lifting cage at tho eastern wall of tho building just opposite the door, aro worked liy hydraulic power, tho main water pipes pasning in a supply there on their way to the wharf crane unid jigger.

Sugar Melting.

Tho lifting cage works from tho floor of tho bond to the raised floor of tho adjoin ing building, to which tho withdrawal of a sliding door mounted on wheels affords con venient access. In imagination we followed tho raw sugar up the swiftly working cago to tho platform upon which it is discharged, but in reality we adopted tho moro pro saic method of leaving tho bond, walking round to tho eastern sido of the adjacent building, and mounting by several flights of stops to tho raised platform. It resembles tho bridge of a steamer, from which the visitor looks down on ono side upon tho piled-up contents of tho bond, and on tho other upon a mass of machinery, tho various divisions of which are connected by platforms and approached by steps. Tho raw sugar is delivered by the cago at tho rate of a oouple of tons each timo to the raised floor, or " cutting-in " platform, as it iH callod, from the fact that horo is performed tho oporation of cutting open tho flax pockets containing tho sugar. By moans of the hydraulic cago, 100 tons per diom may be lifted from the bond to tho plat form. After being cut open the contents if tho pockets aro shot through a trap door iv tho floor into tho "blow-ups" or melt ing pans, where tho initial oporation in tho refining process takos place. These pans are two in number, circular in shape, with a holding capacity of six tons of sugar each, and they are charged every half-hour." Thoy each contain 120 feet of solid drawn five - inch closed copper coil for tho purpose of heating by 6te'nm, and thoy aro supplied with hot and cold water pipos, as well as syrup and sweet-water pipes. Tho sweet water con tains tho sugar refuse, and, on tho principle of allowing us littlo waste us possible, it is preservod for the sake of the saccharino matter which it holds in solution. At tached to each of tho malting pans aro a couple of 4-inch Bteam inlot valves and outlot steam traps. They are also provided with revolving iron agitators which pro mote tho liquefaction ol the sugar just in tho samo way as tho stirring of a spoon in a cup of tea subsorvos tho samo purposo on a Hinnllor scale. This agitation is neces sary, for tho sugar has to be molted at tho low temperature of liiO degrees Fahrenheit —great boat being exceedingly destructive to crystallisation. As all salts in solution will form into crystals under tho influenco of extromo cold, Mr Muir considers that refrigerating apparatus might bo used with advantago for an improved method of sugar manufacture. Tho molt ing pans aro fitted with false bottoms, which, whilo allowing the saccharino liquor to run off rapidly, retain such grosser impurities of tho raw material as bits of cane, gravol, sand, and other dirt. In tho pans tho liquor is worked up to a donsity Huitablo for filtration ; usually from 2,i to .'lO Baumo gango. Thence it passes by tho outlet traps on to cloth filters, technically known as tho Taylor filter, situated In -

Tho Refinery Proper.

This is a building with two sides of brick, and two of cast-iron columns, 00 feet by 00 feot, and, like tho other structures, roofed with galvanised iron. Among its contents aro "blow-up"pans, bagtiltere, bagwashing tanks, vaouum pans, heaters, two vacuum enginos and pumps, ono largo pumping engine for injecting water drawn from ond of coal wharf to vacuum pans, four largo contaifugal machines and ongines, and a railway from the heaters to the machines. Tho raised platform is high up on its western side. To revert, however, to tho liquor which wo loft running its rapid course from the molting pans to tho filters. Theso aro a novel mid ingenious arrange ment of pipes similar to tho moulds of n candlo frame, and thoy aro fixed in the roofs of certain square cast-iron compart ments bearing some resemblance to a series of railway carriages. Inside the compart ments tho pipes look like the necks of so many bottles fitted into holes in tho ceiling. To theso bottle-necks are tiod filtering bags made of tho bost Orleans cotton, double twilled, each ono being about 2 foot in diamoter, and 7 feet long. Tho cloth is so closely woven as to retain tho minutest particles of mechanical impurity, while permitting tho purified liquor to freely exudo. Each bag is encased in a flaxen sheath, and when distended they bear a striking similitude to pud dings of plethoric proportions. In order to facilitate the process 61 filtration, they have to be surrounded by an atmos phere of steam, to keep tho liquor hot, and hence it is that the workmen who aro employed in this department have to adopt a costume which may be described as Central African in its primitive sim plicity. Each bag presents a large extent of filtering surface, and as it gradually fouls with impurities, the percolating fluid is driven to tho clean surface When thoroughly foul, they nro removed and thoroughly washed in tanks specially set apart for that purpose. In England the residuum is utilised, but here for tho present it will be allowod to run to waste. Each of the cast iron compart ments already referred to contains 170 of these metal bottles, from which the filtering bags depend, and a door gives access to each of them. The bag filters are provided with run-off valves and gutters, steam coils inside and steam connection outside, while the tanks for cleansing them in have hot and cold water connections and mangling rollers driven by steam power. From the bag filters the purified liquor is conducted by iron gutters to cast iron receivers fitted into a sunken collar, whence it is pumped into immense cast-iron receivers at the top of the char cylinder or char filtering house.

Tho Char Department.

Having inspected the refinery proper, we next proceeded up some seven or eight flights of steps — each suc cessive flight narrower and steeper than its predecessor —to the top of the char cylinder house. It is so named from tho fact that it contains 20 immense cast-iron cylinders, each 10 feet in diameter and 18 foet deep. Tho building is entirely constructed of heavy brickwork, and is about 90 feot high by 60 feet square. It has two roofs, and is surmounted by a kind of Chinese pagoda, to which many people have affected to take objection on .-esthetic grounds. We understand, however, that it was not planned for ornamenta tion, but that its entire design, even to the very ball with which it is crowned, was shaped with a single eye to practical utility. It may not bo generally known that animal charcoal, made from tho calcined bones of animals, plays a very important part in the ultimate purification of sugar, but so it is. When the purified liquor leaves the iron receivers, it still contains many intangible impurities which must be removed, while its subtle colouring matter must also be purged from it before a s sugar it is fitted for the markets of the world. Filtra tion through animal charcoal is the only means whereby this result can be satisfac torily attained. The charcoal, after having done service once, is re-burned or re-vivi fied in kilns, to bo described anon, and as the purified article is delivered from the kilus on the bottom floor, it is blown up through a shaft to the pagoda on the second roof by means of a powerful blast fan. Under tho pagoda, the blast of air which raises the charcoal at the rate of 25 tons per hour, begins to expand itself andfinds vent through two openings at the sides of tho pagoda. The charcoal is blown up through a blast pipo twenty" inches in diameter, and in its rapid tuipeut it becomes thoroughly cool

and aerified, From the interior of the pttgoda it drops into a receptacle, whence it runs off through shoots to the twenty strong cast-iron cylinders, there to refloat itd function of clarifying the liquid Sugar, B$ merina of this process of revocation the charcoal, which is in j^^xnd finely-granulated particles, maybe made To serve tor fcL'y two years Under the second roof tho dust is sep,-_';. tod tl' om tho charcoal, inasmuch as its tendency would bo to hinder the work of filtration. Having now explained the use and purpose of charcoal, we return to the char cylinders, which are filled with charcoal and ready for action. The sugar liquor has found its way into largo cast-iron receivers that aro super imposctfovor the char cylinder.., and in duo cotlrse it runs from the receivers into the cylinders. Once charged, tho latter for several days afterwards keep delivering the twice purified liquor, now clear in col"Uf and cleansed of all impurity. A3 each cylinder, when fully charged with char coal and liquol', weighs 50 tons, it may be Understood lio'w maslsi'.e are the prllarS which are required to sustain the' exceptional weight of such a floor. rlho cast-iron liquor recoivcrs are also supplied with receptacles for hot and cold water intended for washing the char filters and for ful filling many other requirements of the refining processes. This water is carried about every where in a perfect network of cast - iron arid copper pipes, and its necessity may bo perceived when it is stated that 1,000 gallons of water ate used in tho production of every ton of sugar. After filtering through tllo charcoal, tho purified liquor is conducted back by an arrangement of Byphon pipes to receivers placed in tho building where it had pre viously undergone tho molting process.

80-viviflontion of Charcoal,

Boforo, however, following it further in its progress towards the stage of crystallisation, it will be convoniont at this stage to make a short digression In order to explain moro explicitly how the charcoal, after being saturated with impurity, is cleansed for further action. Each ton of charcoal Is oxpocted to purify a similar quantity of sugar liquid, and after that amount is acted upon it becomes moro or less clogged. When it has, therofore, completed its pro soribed quota of work, it is withdrawn from the cylinder by means of a door tit the bottom, and conveyed to kilns, where the agency of lire restores it onco moro to its pristine efficacy as a lustrnnt. A passage 5 foet wide runs between the two rows of cylinders and an iron carriage in sliupo like an enormous sugar scoop depending from a wheel, which travels along a circular railway overhead, conveys the charcoal from the various cylinders to the kilns —this method being adopted as the granulated particles are easily pulverised. The char kilnhouse, which is connected with the cylinder house, is 60 feet in length by 42 feet in width, and is constructed entirely of brick and iron. Fully 000 tons of iron have been used in its erec tion. There are eight kilns, each containing 68 vertical pipes of oval shape. The pipes are subjected to intense boat, the equalisa tion of which over their entire surface is so cu red by moans of the numerous dampers with which they are fitted. As the charcoal, after undergoing the process of re-vivifica tion in this fiery purgatory, must be cooled without exposure to the atmos phere, every vertical pipe has opposite to it, under "the furnace, a cooling pipe. The revivified charcoal finds it way from the vertical to the cooling pipes, which are sup plied with an ingenious contrivance by means of which the quantity burned and cooled every half-hour is accurately regis tered. Having received its discharge from the measuring apparatus, it drops into a large receiver, from underneath which it is carried on an endless canvas " creeper," travelling on pulleys, to the blast pipe, whenco, as already described, it is blown up through the blast pipe to the rcccptaclo under the pagoda, once more to find its way to and perform its required functions in the char-cylinders. Thus goes on in regular sequence the processes of filtra tion and purification for further agency in filtration, On the same floor as that con taining the char-cylindcra is situated a hydraulic pressure pipe, which works a cage whose principal use is the raising of coal to the kilns. The mills in which the charcoal Is prepared from the bones of animals aro placet! on a cast-iron floor under the char cylinders. In fact, nearly all these floors are flagged with cast iron, as littlo combustiblo material as possible being employed in the construction of tho buildings. There are no less than 300 tons of cast iron used up in the char filters or cylinders alone, about 1,200 tons in tho whole department, and about 2,000 tons in tho entire refinery. The bottom floor of the cylinder house contains tho blast fan and its feeding apparatus, the travell ing "creeper" from the kilns, and a large horizontal engine to work tho machinery of this department.

Sugar Boiling.

Leaving tho bottom fkor of this char dopartmont of which we have just given an inventory, we return through a door-way into tho presence of tho Taylor filters, and proceed to again follow tho courso of the liquor which wo left in the receivers after its puriiication by tho charcoal. Wo pass the vacuum pans, ascond a flight of steps, and cross a span bridge on to a detached raised platform. Tho purified liquor has been conveyed by pipes through tho wall from the adjoining char department to a spot below tho flight of steps just mentioned, whenco the finer quality of it ascends by other and smaller pipes to tho platform upon which wo now stand. Hero there is an arrange ment of pipes, valves, and gutters for carrying the refined liquor into various other receptacles. It is now ready for crystallisation in tho two vacuum pans, each of which contains 400 feet of solid drawn copper coil for steaming purposes. Thoy aro made of copper throughout. Each pan is designed to turn out seven tons of crys tallised sugar at every "skipping." The pnns have large air pumps and condensers attached, and they aro worked on the Torri collian principle. Tho boiling ranges from 90 dog. to 170 dog. Fahronheit, as required. Those vacuum pans aro perfectly air and stonm tight, for tho very delicate process of sugar boiling must bo performed in vacuo, as the slightest excess of heat may prevent tho proper crystallisation of the sugar. Leading from the upper dome of each pan there is a large pipe communicating with a condenser, into which cold water is continu ally rushing. The cold fluid intercepts the ascending vapour from the boiling liquor in the pan and condenses it; then, having fulfilled its mission, it is withdrawn by a pump. While the liquor is thus boiling in the vacuum pans at a comparatively low temperature, the sugar boiler superintends tho operation. His is perhaps the office which calls for the oxercise of the nicest skill, for it is his duty to determine when the sugar is properly boiled. This skill is only acquired by long experience. By an ingenious appli ance he can, from time to time, withdraw from the vacuum pans portions of the boil ing sugar for inspection It is undergoing the process of concentration into crystals, and the art of the sugar boiler is shown in the uniformity of tho crystals which ho can produce. Ho tests the samples which he withdraws from the pan by holding them up between his eye and the light, and by tho regular addition of more and moro liquor to the boiling mass as the crystals increase in size, he has brought it up to the consistency of thick gruel by the time the pan is full. It Is then run off into two semi - circular dishes called tho heaters, which are situated under the pans. These dishes are supplied with strong mechanical agitating gear, which keeps the semi-fluent sugar mass from coagulating. Passing to the bottom floor, we next see tho liquified sugar conveyed in a waggon over the hanging railway from the heaters to the centrifugal machines. Theso machines are drums of somo 3 or 4 feet in diameter, and from 12 to IS inches deep, revolving with groat velocity upon vertical axes. As soon as the half-liquid sugar is emptied into them, their revolution hastens the escape of the mother liquor or syrup, and the purged crystals are then discharged through the bottom of the machines into the waggon, which conveys them to the lifting cages in the fine-sugar store. Meanwhile, the escap ing syrup has passed away in a gutter from tho bottom, to bo further operated on in tho refinery for the purpose of yielding an inferior class of sugar. The building wherein these latter operations take plaoo contains two air-pump engines, one large diagonal engine for centrifugal ma chines, one large pumping engine for in ject ing water to pans, Sir William Armstrong's hydraulic engine and'accumulator, and one vertical engine for liquors and water. The steam, after actuating the engines, is used for all the cleansing and boiling work of the refinery. The Fine-Sugar Store.

We arrive next at that department of tho refinery which is termed " the fine-sugar store." It is also a brick building, with kauri floors and strong cast-iron columns, and contains four flats or floors. Into it the refined sugar is lifted to the top floor from the contrilugal machines by a pair of com bined hydraulic cages, the sugar beinf conveyed to theso cages in trucks. Tho truck having been landed on tho top floor, its contents are emptied through a hatch way on to a perfectly clean .floor underneath, which is divided' off into large compart

ments or bins, so that the different qualities of sugar may be classified. These bins will hold from 20"to 40 tons each. On this floor, in which cool currents of fresh air are always circulating, the heated sugar slowly gains its normal marketable temperature, and is then despatched through shoots into pack ing bags affixed to them on the floor beneath. Thence the bags are conveyed to the delivery floor on the basement, where they may bo either stacked or delivered as occasion requires.

Sundry Machinery. Outside the refinery block there are placed five 30 h.p. steam boilers, Green's patent fuel economises, and a chimney stack, which is 120 feet high by 9 feet internal diameter, also two benches, retorts for making animal charcoal and gas to light the works, gasometer, &c. It is intended to illuminate tho entire works and town _lsip,as well as tho wharves.with this gas. In addition te the machinery just enumerated, there arc a Workshop with lathes, pinning machine, drilling machine (actuated by a Tatlgyn engine and boiler), and engineer s storo for general goods. The coal wharf is <_50 fOet long, and on it are worked two sOlf-disciiarging 2-ton trucks, drawn up the inclino by fin hydraulic Winding-engine. The trucks stand tin a weighing machine at the ship's side while b'ei_Vg loaded.

Sundry Notes,

The charcoal department is tho largest Of tho three refineries south of the line, and is a very costly piece of work, In the char filters or cylinders alone thero are 300 tons of enst iron, and the department is equal to an output of 000 tons of refined sugar \Vefcl,'l,y. For some time to come, however, the Company' vf ill b? .satisfied with an out put of 200 tons Weekly. Six retorts, each two feet in diameter, and similar to thoso used in the gas works, arc employed for tho manufacture of charcoal. In order to prevent the admixture of foreign matter with the charcoal, the retorts arc fixed in front and charged at the back. Tho gasometer which is used in the manufacture of gas from bones, is 20 feet in diameter by 12 feet deep. At the suggestion of the manager of tho Auckland Gas Works, oxide of iron is used for the purification of tho gas, and on the 20th ult„ tho manufac tured article was burnt for tho first time. As the Company offer £5 per ton for bones, the supply should be plentiful and continuous; The makers of the refinery plant are Mirilees* Watson and Co,, Glasgow (the well-known furnishers of sugar factories), J. and K. Houston, Blake, Barclay and Co., McLean, Angup and Co., all of Greenock. Joseph Clayton, of Preston, England, supplied the steam boilers. The laboratory plant now in course of erection ill the offices, Customs street East, was obtained from well known English makers. The engineer's tools were supplied by Tangye Bros., and Auckland herself has executed orders for timber and further goods to the extent of £30,000 or £40,000, while £30,000 more has been paid in workmen's Wages.

Tho Dams.

In order to make sure of a reliable supply of pure water at all seasons, the Company took the precaution to secure the sole rights to the creek. This was done by the acquisi tion of the land on cither side of it from the private owners. While tho refinery build• in^s were in course of erection two ditinfl of great enpaeity were constructed. Tho lower one, from which the boilers are fed, is of irregular shape, and fully two acres in extent, the " batter" of the embankment being faced with brickwork. A roadway has been formed up the course of the creek, by the side of the lower dum, and as f »v us tho upper one. The water in the upper dam is reserved for sugar refining purposes. It is 20 feet deop, and holds a million gallons of water.

Tho Township,

The workmen's houses on the spur above the factory, number 35, as before mentioned, every one of which stands on a CO feet section. In size they range from two to five rooms each, but the average is four rooms, viz., two bedrooms, sitting-room, and kitchen. The engineer and the two sugar boilers occupy the three best houses in the street. In addition, there is a store run by private enterprise, for the Company do not believe in the truck system, while a lady from Auckland has anticipated the Educa tion Board by establishing a day-school on lior own account. A second store has been started on the northern side of the town ship. Provision has also been made for a Sunday-school, the Anglicans have secured a site for a church, and already divine service is held at the sugar works for the benefit of tho employes. These at present number 150, of whom nearly 100 live in the township, many of the single men boarding with the married people. Tho remainder live on this side of the harbour. As soon as refining opera tions, however, are in full swing, the number of men employed will not ex ceed 100. Landowners on the northern side Of ihe harbour have largely beneSted by the Company's enterprise. Property has doubled in'value since its advent, and while no one previously entertained the idea of making a home in such a cheerless spot as it then was, houses and villas are now springing up in many directions.

The Company Itself.

Many persons lf>ok upon the Company as a foreign combination. The idea, however, is quite erroneous. It is a New Zealand Sugar Companypureandsimple. True, the Colonial Sugar Company, of Sydney, and the Vic toria Sugar Company, of Melbourne, hold a sleeping partnership in it, represented by one-third of the shares each, but the re maining third is held in the colony, and the Company is designed to supply the demands of the Now Zealand market. It will be powerfully assisted by its connection with the Colonial Sugar Company, whose ramifications extend throughout tho world, and whoso agents are ever ready to buy in tho cheapest market. The latter company has 5 factories in Now South Wales alone, 4 in Queensland, and 1 in Fiji, besides having extensive estates in both the latter colonies for the growth of the cane. The output for this year alone was 30,000 tons, It is intended that tho head office of the New Zealand Sugar Company shall remain in Auckland, where the financial manage ment of tho concern is in the able hands of Mr Brewster, who has had good banking experience. Although hitherto the Com pany has purchased its raw sugar in Java, which was the cheapest market, it has made arrangements for growing its own sugar in future. For this purpose an es tate of 4,000 acres has been purchased on the Ba coast, at Fiji, and already coloured labour to the extent of 2,000 hands is en gaged in preparing the first crop. These particulars will convey a pretty correct Idea of the magnitude of the operations to which the Company has committed itself, and the benefits which the colony in general and this city in particular may expect to derive from them. Only the other day, when the advent to office of the Stout- Vogel Ministry was heralded by the report that they proposed to increase the sugar duty, the Company paid a sum of £17,000 by way of duty on the sugar which it has at pie3ent in bond. This represents only 3,700 tons, while 6,000 tons more are expected from Java, besides 2,000 tons from Fiji. , The scope afforded in this colony for the : Company's operations is indicated by the fact that the total quantity of raw sugar imported into New Zealand last year was only 577 tons, while the colony's consump tion of refined sugars is set forth in the fol lowing table of imports in that commodity alone for the past three years :— Total From Total Duty Year. Imported. Australia. Value. Paid. Tons. • Tons. £ & 1881 22,011 8,688 555,023 73 098 18«2 15,552 7,661 478.00S 79 us 1883 19,819 8,327 601,101 86,388 The Working Manager. Any notice of the sugar refinery would be incomplete which did not bestow a few remarks upon Mr James Muir, the Company's able and energetic working manager. No better or more capable man could have boon obtained for the purpose. Ho is thoroughly conversant with sugar refining in all its branches, and many of tho largest refineries in the world have boon erected under his superintendence. He hails from Greenock, Scotland, and entered the first sugar refinery in 1857. He is a nephew of the late Mr Blake, sugar refinery architect and engineer, whoso firm have erected many of the" best rofincries in England and abroad. Tho firm of Blake Barclay and Company have just finished a very large refinery in Hong Kong. Mr Muir came to Melbourne in 1872, in order to erect the large refinery at Yarraville for Joshua Brothers, of London. Thence he was transferred to the Colonial Sugar Com pany's employ, and for them erected Pyr mont refinery in Sydnoy, and Broadwater factory on the Richmond River. Mr Muir is most popular with his workmen, and his employers could hardly have a more skilful and trustworthy servant. It is but right to mention that Mr Muir was assisted in the building of the refinery by MrG. A. Turner, engineer of tho rofinory, and Mr William Lockmgton, foreman carpenter, both _;blo and eificiont men. Mr Turner has been engaged in the Colonial Sugar Company's works in several places,' but has only lately come to Auckland to assist in the erection of the refinery. Mr Lookiugton was for a long time employed as contractor on the West Coast of this colony.

THE AUCKLAND tffflttrt& STAR, SATUftPAfr, SEPTEMBER IS, 1884,

6



"ROUGH ON CORNS. '-Am ... «'.n«'»" rtonsli <ra Coma." Qill.k ..li.-.1. .„■ etc, _~ti,-i.i.,;t cult 'Ann. Willis, tttiiicua. ____.. Ktu-uitlumie, l'_o__or A Co.. Vgcals, Auckland.., '



limiuLua. ' ' v- on", * >r-' w. ■—. -»- Keu'vUionio, r«»_«r 4 Co., A«eut>, Autklaud.



Sporting. __ iio.ooo «^a £io,ooo t^ gojofl jm 20,000 Members at 10s. JJVSw _£- MELBOURNE CUP, 1884 ? •*** To bo run Tuesday, Nov. i. -j-j B ** O Will Close 30th OCTOBER, 1884. O TT — XJ _JJ 402 -PRIZES-402 -r% __%. _ ■ ' -*-*- "M mNominations. 2booashPrizes. ___ ZA First -£•»« IatIOOSICO p* E Second .. 120(1 lat 50 200 XL. ThirdT -• 600 10 at 25 250 _~_ Starters Idiv. 20 at 20 400 f* C aboutlfficl) 750 Mat 15 300 C b^br Non-Starters 20 at 10 2CO y-r TJ N,abou U lsen)l 5 15 Igoat , gj X £7095 209 £2905 can at all times be tracer. loff/ o h r u? e PX|°™l sender Two s amps Mfl™£™» TS&iSS One Shilling added as exenonj,'Y „■■ rvmwr' cheques, which must be certified »>%" rE?*L ffitU' ticket lias Nino Chances, thei V.JJP wing drawn first, after which the marbles are au re n acid each time till the Nine Drawings are SmpletedUhuS giving one ticket the chance tf "SOB JhW«™<» and A..arcsses of too HeaQ InlS! pr jncii.al Winners in Cupi ami four principal Cash Prize can bei ob tained by Subscribers on application. Dewing Ir fittended by the Press (members of the Presa caS freely inspect Ada's books) Managers of papers nt a dislanco cr.n appoint a responsibly agent in Diinedin, to whom all information will bo furnished, thus giving to Subscribers a truaranteeof the bono- fide character of this pursues in Dunedin. The Cupio d of 18,000 Subscribers, who contributed iJOOO. Namcsof Committee furnished to Press on ap pUCati°ADA MANTUA, ~ , Care of Mr. Abraham, Box 351. Post Off icb, DPKBDIS. £10,-000 _A.ID.A- 3^l-A_JN-TTT__S_ Offers a Speeiitl Prizo of jeiooi Which amount has been deposited with the Editor of Olago Witness, and Will be paid ts any person in New Zoiffand who can name the placed horses in Melbourne Cup, in the order as race reported in Olago Witney. Each letter Will be dated when received, and money paid to first "tipster." Competitors not restricted to on« triS?Wit can try as often as they please, and it Xt compulsory to have tickets in Consu ta- , tioS thus glviiig anyone the chance of obtaining the above valuable prize. In the oveutof winners XiV tipped, the £100 will be equaUy di vided between the Otago Benevolent Institu lon and Industrial Seboo (Cnverehnm). It will be SbserveeUhat Adaisdismterosted, h^OPlacf the money beyond her control, and, it must be her declining tertcem lips herself, for she will not accept any. will be received until 27th Uc«.„ andm stbcaddressedoßlyteSroßTiNOEDiToC S»™. Dunedin. Please keep.copy. at Uvb Winner must apply for prize within ene» month after race. Tt/TELBOt/RNB CUP, 1884. ADAM BEUE £3 NOW FORMING A.SERIES OB■ WM PANIES ON THE ABOVE GREAT EVENT, 2,000 INVESTORS AT .51 SAOH. To be divided as follows :— First Horse -' - - "^'SS? Second Horse - - - "■ SK Third Horse - - - - ™ Other Starters (divided) _ _ 300 Non-starters (divided! - .- -• J* Total - - -" . -«MX» It is particularly requested that early appHea tlon for shares will be made, as each list will bo drawn as soon as filled. Results will bo for warded to Subscribers immediately after draw ing, and tho nejet list proceeded with. - . Any Subscriber drawing a horse in. any list will bo allowed, if he so desires it, to invest to tho following list any sum not exceeding three Pounds without remitting any further cash, this amount to bo ultimately deducted from prize m The acceptances for this race are declared in August. Before that date, all Drawings will contain the whole of tho horses entered, and every horse will receive a prize, but after tnat date the acceptors only will be drawn. ; NO. 1 NOW OPEN. Application by Letter only, enclosing Two Stamps with exchange on Cheques, or by Money Order, Bank Notes, or Draughts. Registered Letters or Teleurams will not on any account be received. I£ bank notes are sent, plcaso use two envelopes, one sealed and placed inside tie other. P.O. Orders preferred when procurable. It will greatly expedite business if an addressed envelope is enclosed with application. Address— „„„„ ADAM BEDE, Care of H. N. ABBOTT, BOX NO. 2. POST-OX FICE. AUOKIAWD. .. - _fc Jb A , ________ FIDELITY COMPANY'S: ANNUAL PROGRAMME ON THE MELBOURNE CUP, To be Run atlMelbourne on Ith NOVEMBER. - 12,000 Programmes at 10s. 133 Horses and 195 New Zealand Bonds, divided as follows :— First Horse «.«» - Second Horse .. - 800 ;\ Third Horse ....„«. « 300 Others divided .. .. 1.100 Total for Horses £3.000 V 10 New Zealand Bonds at £100 each.. £1000 10 do do 50 do .. 50il 25 do do 20 do ._. 600 ; 50 do da 10 do .. £00 . 100 do do 6do .. M 0 183 Bonds. Total.. £3,000 Total Amount of Prizes,-36,000. » Will CLOSE on or about 30th OCTOBER. '' ' EACH 10s Voucher has SIX CHANCES. ".'; I 328 PRIZES. 328 12,000 Programmes at 10s. Please add stamps for reply and result. _t_rßemittanoeß can be sent as follows:— ;Y 1. Cheques, P. 0." Orders, or Bank Notes. 2. Make orossed cheques, with Is added for e_c-; change, payable cither tea No. or simply to ■ bearer, as printed, but not to any particular» person. If cheques or bank drafts are payable either to a particular person or to order, they will be returned to ihe sender. 8. Post-oflice Oi 'era may be sent, but they must be made p., able to Fidelity Companyl only, and not to an > particular person. i. Registered letters or telegrams cannot be replied to. A Address only as below :— FIDELITY COMPANY. Care of Alfred A. Cameron's Box. 251. ; rost-ofllcc Dunedin, f A LEO'S CONSULTATION. • LIST No. I, ON THE ' Y3 MELBOURNE CUP, 1884 2,000 INVESTORS AT £1 EACH . '-', To be divided as follows: First Horse £1,000 Second Horso .. .. 300 Third Horse HO Starters and Non-Starters (Divided).. 600 Total £2,000 It is particularly requested that early appli cation for Shares will be made, as No. 2 List will be opened immediately this one is filled. Results will be forwarded to Subßoribers im mediately after Drawing. . Any Subscriber drawing a Horso can invest in No. 2 last to tho amount of Four Pounds without further payment, that amount to be deduoted from prize money. . The Drawing will bo conducted by a Com mittee, to which tho Press will be invited to attend. ■ Application by Letter only, enclosing Two Stamps, with oxchauge on Cheques, or by Money Order, Bank Notes, or Drafts. Registered Letters or Telegrams will not on any account be received. If Bank Notes are sent, please tae two envelopes, one sealed and placed inside the other. P.O. Orders preferred when procurable. It will greatly expedite business if an addressed envelope is enclosed with application. Should it bo deemed advisable after Accept ances are published to re-arrange Programme No. 2. the same will bo notified by circular and advertisement __,„ „_.„ Address-A. LEO. caro ALFRED KIDD, Shortland-street, or Box 237, Post-ofiioe, Auck land. WELLESLEY'S CONSULTATION No. L-MKLBOURNE CUP, 1884. 2,000 TICKETS, AT 10s EACH, DIVIDED AS FOLLOWS.•- UtHorse...^ £250 Starters 42M 2nd Horse 150 Non-Starters SOU 3rd Horse 100 - — £1,000 Apply by letter only, enclosing two stamps for reply and result, to A. WELLESLEY, Care Chas. F. Andrews, Tobacconist, Wei lesloy Billiard Rooms, VVe!ic3lej'-3troe_, Auok land. HBLBNSVILLE TIMBER COMPANY. Depots— . NEWMARKET RAILWAY STATION. MOUNT EDEN RAILWAY STATION. First, Medium, and Second-class Building Timber. . ■ Si Flooring, Lining, ami n'lier Dressed Timber, __■.•& Shingles, &o. -. .. AM COI-ONUI. ny&QWQ&i