The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-14 00:00:00

NAVAL.

SHIPWRECK OF H. M. SLOOP OSPREY. —W e regret to
state that accounts have been received at the Admiralty,
communicating the total !mot the Osprey, 12, Ca?t. Patten,
on the coast of New Zealand. The following ire the par-
ticulars:—

On Tuesday, the 10th of March last, the Owes, was off the western
ton t of the altoverrentioned colony, returning to England. Tbs
master had taken an observation, which proved that she was in the
latitude of liokianga; but the weather coming on thick and hazy, inn
was kept of the land till the evening, when it cleared away. She the.
stood In and fired two guns, to announce to the pilot at Hokianga that
the ship was off the harbour, but again stood to yes for the night. On
the following morning, on nearing the coast, a high southern head-
land, similar to Hoicianga, was seen, with what was presumed the
pike's boon, but which subsequently proved to be a white spot on the
cliff Soon afterwards, seeing a flag run up, it was confidently antic&
pated that it was the entrance of the Ifokianga, and the ship stood an,
over the anti, bringing the northern and southern heads In ens.
Alter crowing the breakers, which were
the
to be the three
of the llokianga, the mewl touched the ground ; bat it w
thought that she was just merely on the bar, over which an would
soon forge, but almost immediately she struck again, with increased
violence, and a succession of shocks brought the alarming conviction
that she was on shore, and that it woe not the entrance Is /I
but that of there-Km°, or False llokianga, situate siglitera=
from the real harbour of /Inking's. The guns (14sseeelaalselly,
thrown overboard, and the masts wens cut away, w WM
the sails set towards the shore, dragged the On
the bear!. On the title receding, the vessel being about half-way be-
tween high and low water mark, the officers and crew were enabled
Is had about two o'clock on the morning of the 12th, with their small
Rum, and some dry ammtudtion, which had fortunately been saved
in deck, the greater part having been thrown overboard. The vessel
Blood upright in the sand, and appeared but slightly Injured ; it is
hared, however, that she can never be got off, owing to the ,!cremes
of the coast. The natives rendered every passible seillanse em the
officers and crew. The accounts give that they are tinny sail
peaceable. The Raerhorse had been despatched from New Zealand,
to bring back the unfortunate ship's crew. A court-martial will be
avointed to to the master for the loss of the vessel.
The Board of Admiralty are still at Devonport. Os
Saturday the Earl of Auckland laid the foundation-stone of
the new docks being built at Morice Town, which it is sup-
posed will be one of the finest docks I. the world. In one
part of the ground was an immense marquee, beautifully
decorated, where Mr. Baker had provided a dejeuner for
their lordships and 1.50 of his friends to celebrate the occasion.
There was an immense number of persons present, and the
contractor provided good accommodation for them to obtain
a view of the interesting ceremony. The royal marine band
was in attendance, which added much to the enlivenment of
the scene. After their lordships left the government works,
the workmen, about 800, dined together in a tent, erected in
the ground, the dinner being provided for them by Mr.
Baker. In the evening their lordships dined at Sir Samuel
Pam's residence, in the dockyard, and Lady Pym also gave
a very grand entertainment. Yesterday their lordships at-
tended Divine service in the dockyard chapel. This morn-
ing the Earl of Auckland will lay the foundation-stone of the
Royal Naval and Military Free Schools; and in the evening
there will be a grand ball at Moorshead's Hotel, Devonport,
in aid of the above charity, under the patronage of their
lordships. It is expected their lordships will leave Devon-
port on Tuesday evening.
The Eleounter, steamer, screw propeller, constructed by
Mr. Fiachnin, hi;. been launched at Pembroke. The fol-
lowing are her principal dimensions:—Length between the
diculars, 180 ft.; length of keel for tonnage, 157 It.
feirrir breadth extreme, 33 ft. 2 in.; breadth for tonnage,
32 ft. 'lO in.; breadth moulded, 32 R. 2 fit. ; depth in hold,
20 ft. 10 in. ; burthen in tons, 89440-84ths. She is in dock
being coppered, and will, when rigged, be sent to the river
to be supplied 110th machinery. The Black gape, steamer,
sailed from Portsn:nuth on Saturday for Woolwft,.h. The
engines of the Penek"e, 22, steam-frigate, were again tried,
in a trip round the anchor: Re at qpithead, on Friday afterno,,n,
under the inspection of lifee.7s. Bellamy and Murray, the As-
sist.-Master-Attendant, and Chef Engineer of this dockyard.
Her Ik(sig‘ty's ship Na.r, formerly a 74, has so far progressed