The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-14 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THIS DAY, Four o'Clock.
By her Majesty's ship Pilot, 16, Commander G. K.
Wilson, arrived yesterday at Devonport, we have ac-
counts from the Cape of Good Hope to the 20th July.
There is no news of farther hostilities with the
Kaffirs since the repulse of the British troops between
Barn's-hill and Fort Hare, on the 15th of Jane; but
there was a report that the Boers near Port Natal
were preparing to rise against the British govern-
ment. Sir Henry Pottinger was upon the frontier.
When the Pilot left the Cape her Majesty's ship Pre-
sident, 50, Capt. W. Stanley, with the Bag of Admiral
Dacres. and her Majesty's brig Brilliant, 22, Capt.
B. B. Watson, were at Simon's Bay, and her Majesty's
stsam-sloop liosamoad, Commander J. Foote, at Table
Bay.

We have papers from Western Australia to the 7th
April, which communicate, however, nothing import-
ant. The depredations of the natives were mach
complained of. The Inquirer reports the return of
Mr. Drummond, the naturalist, and party to Perth,
from an expedition to the south, which had been re-
warded by the discovery of several specimens of en-
tirely new plants. From a comparative statement of
the trade of the colony for 1846, it appears that the
imports amounted to 23,9591. 4s. 4d., and the exports
to 20,222/. 15e. 4d., givingg an exam of impoi ta
amounting to 6,7381. Its. eamiarkalde het,"
Says the Inquirer, " observable in these tables is, that
almoetthe whole of this great increase inourexportshas
taken place in our transactions with the colonies,
and not in our trade with England, which shows
very little increase; while the other has grown from
997/., the amount in 1844, to 1,919 in 1845, and in
1846 to 7,2881., or nearly eight-fold in three years.
This is a trade which had scarcely an existence before,
and which has arisen in a great degree from that in-
crease of energy among the settlers and merchants—
the growth, we must admit, of dire necessity—which
has led them to open up new markets and try new
articles of produce, instead of sitting quietly down, as
In the olden time, folding their hands and deciding
" it won't pay," without taking the trouble to make an
experiment, or scarcely even a calculation. It
must also be remembered that byfarthegreaterpart of
the oil, and no email share of the wool,of 1816,has not
yet left the colony, and will therefore go to the credit
of the exports of 1847 ; which year will also have the
honour of our first considerable venture of timber, and
during the first three months of which we have already
exported_ double the quantity of sandal-wood that we
did in the whole of last year."
A very interesting and encouraging display of
colonial wine had been held at the commercial rooms,
Perth, where several specimens of claret were pro-
duced, which were highly commended by compe-
tent judges. The export of wine is considered likely
soon to become an important item of colonial trade.

THE LATE FATAL EXPLOSION

ON THE RIVER.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.—Pttrettaill to adjournment
from Monday week, Mr. Bedford and the jury re assembled
at eleven o'clock ,this morning, at the St. Martin's-
workhouse. In the meantime, the engineers appointed
by government, se well as those employed by the owners of
the boat and the makers of the boilers, had made their offl- ,
dal inspection of the relies of the machinery ; and their res-
peetim reports were looked forward to with some anxiety.
Mr. Montage Chambers again appeared to watch the case
on behalf of the company ; and Messrs. Joyce were repro.
seated by Mr. E. James.
The Coroner, on taking his seat, said he presumed there
would be no objection to putting in evidence the names of
the owners of the boat. —Mr. Chambers said this would have
to be proved on oath ; but the witnesses were not yet in
attendance.—Mr. James said he was prepared with his en-
gineering evidence; but the coroner said it could not yet
be received. He believed the whole of the evidence on the
part of those who had made the engineering inspection was
not yet ready.
The first witnese abed, was Japhet Edwards, of Ratcliff-
highway, stoker, who deposed; I joined the Cricket at
Greenwich, in June, 1846, as stoker, and remained
there 'ix weeks. I joined her again in the begin-
ning of April last, and remained about a month,
occasionally driving the engine a journey or two,
in the absence of the engineer. I have bees some-
what accustomed to that employment. Last wanner I
drove the Ant for nearly a fortnight, acting as stoker
at the tune. I saw nothing
.particular in the engine of the
Cricket beyond its being a high-pressure engine. I was told
this by Mr. Kent, the engineer, who partieularly cautioned
at not to touch it in his absence. This wet when I fleet
joined the venal. While Kent was there, I saw nothing
wrong in the machthery ; everything wu in excellent condi-
tion, till Kent was succeeded by Thomas Clark as engine..
driver, in April last. After Clark had been there a few 'elye-s,
the boat began to low her speed very much, and there was
• great escape of steam from the trunnions. I account
tie this by the packing not being properly attended
ID The packing is composed of flattened spun-yarn.
The captain and superintendent made frequent complaints
of the boat fattiest off her
isid ; and Clark then commeneed
to tie down both the s -valves. This was about the
Middle of April. He got a p eee of spun-yarn, and I saw
hire tie them. The strings were tied to the end of the lever,
entaide the weight; then brought down in front of the boiler,
lad attached to nails in a beam of the vessel. The string
was so tight when tied that it was impossible for the valves
to art. They were almost continually in that condition for
Zirof a fortnight ;by chancehe would let them go
h alongside the pier, but never when the boat was
ceder weigh. I have frequently set them at liberty
myself, when we came alongside the pier, In the
essence of Clarke ; but, when he came on board,
has secured them again. The moment he noticed
them, or heard the steam blowing off, he would
tenth them again, and reprove me for letting them go. I
bare oftenwarned him of the danger of this, and said that
oweething seriotu would be the consequence; his answer was
that his life was usweet u mine. I have pointed to the
tonstreetion of the engine, and warned him of the danger;
lis told me to mind my own business, for I knew nothing
sheet it. This has occurred several times. I frequently re-
lurked to hint that I beard noises in the boiler; and the
"gill. would get so hot, owing to the pressure of the stow
that it would not take the waist necessary to con-
mos the steam. This only Named Wes die Wives
wars tied; it would oecur ter• at Om Yam ea
hot Mei; When we have been wafting three et kit
glide a pier and the Imam has bees ker up, the
"Ike would Noe