The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-14 00:00:00

SURREY COMMERCIAL DOCK.

The half-yearly general meeting of this company
was held yesterday at the offices, Fenchurch-street;
Mr. J. Mews in the chair.

The Secretary read the report, which stated that
the tonnage received into dock in the current year
up to Aug. 31 showed that there were 681 wood-
laden vessels of 256,751 tons, 585 grain and seed
vessels of 130,981 tons, and that the aggregate of
vessels of all classes was 1,640 in number and of
483,887 tons. The additional landing ground to be
acquired through the improvements in progress was
coming partly into use, and the directors anticipated
that the autumn business would be conducted with-
out the heavy outlay in lighterage and extra labour
incurred last year. The East London Railway Com-
pany baying applied in the • session of 1865 for
powers to construct their line through the western
part of this company's property the directors had
made such arrangements with that company as
would not only leave the existing accommodation of
the docks intact, but would give facilities for a con-
siderable increase of landing space in the most eli-
gible part of the premises. Provision had also been
made for placing these docks. by means of a siding,
into communication with the important systems of
railway with which the East London line would be
connected.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, said they had about the same tonnage, or
rather more than they bad last year. As regarded
the wood-laden vessels there had been-a falling off,
but, on the whole, during the present season they
had been as fortunate as they could expect. They
hoped to be able to bring into profitable use a great
deal of the land on which a large sum of money
had been expended.

The report was adopted unanimously. A dividend
at the rate of £3 per cent. for the half-year was de-
clared on the ordinary stock; £3 per cent. on the A
preference stock; £2 10s. per cent. on the B prefer-
ence stock ; and £2 10s. per cent. on the C prefer-
ence stock, payable on and after the sth of October
next.

The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks
to the chairman.

Another Steam-Ship Collision.

We have to record another of those fearful and
extraordinary steamboat collisions, similar in most
respects to those which so recently happened off the
coast of Suffolk, wherein the Bruiser and Ross Man-
gles steamers were both totally lost. It took place
late on Wednesday evening last in the river
Thames, off Barking, between the City of Dublin
Steam Navigation Company's steamer Foyle, 800
tons register, commanded by Captain Young, and
the London and North Shields coasting steamer Col-
lingwood, iron-built vessel, nearly 700 tons register,
in charge of Capt. T. Green. The former sustained
such serious injury that she afterwards sunk. The
Foyle was from Dublin. She had a cargo and some
GO passengers, and was coming up the river, a pilot
having the care of navigating her up. All the regu-
lation lights were alight and burning brightly. The
captain was on the bridge with the pilot, and two
men were on the forecastle. The Collingwood,
which was on her way to North Shields, had also a
pilot on board, and her lights were exhibited and
clear, with a look-out kept. The evening, though
dark, was fine, without fog, and there appears to
have been no obstruction on the river to prevent
them seeing each other approach. Both were steam-
ing in mid-channel, it being slack ebb, when at
about half-past 7 o'clock a great shock was felt on
board both steamers, and almost immediately a tre-
mendous crash told they had come into collision.
The Collingwood's bowsstruck the Foyle amidships
on the port side, and cut completely into her down
to the water's edge. The terror among the passen-
gers on board the Foyle was dreadful, but they were
speedily satisfied there was no danger. On the Col-
lingwood backing out Capt. Young saw instantly
that the Foyle was filling. He ordered the engines
to go ahead, and he ran the vessel aground on the
north shore, or what is termed Barking Shelf, in
order to prevent her going down in deep water. A
sailing barge which happened to be near at the time
was at once hailed to come alongside and take on
board the passengers. This was carried out imme-
diately, and fortunately all their baggage was saved
and put on board. Another barge opportunely came
up at the same time by which the crew were able to
save most of the Foyle's valuable cabin and saloon
furniture, when the steamer's stern went down,
leaving the fore part out of water. At flood tide she
was covered—only her masthead and flunnel were
to be seen. The barge with the passengers then pro-
ceeded up the river, and arrived off Miller's Wharf,
East Smithfield, at 4 o'clock yesterday morning.
The Collingwood received damage in her bows, and
was compelled to put back. From the appearance of
the Foyle last evening it would appear that she has
glided down the bank, and lies in deep water. The
Thames Conservancy have placed one of their signal
barges near the wreck to caution shipping from
running into danger.
It is understood that efforts will in a day or two
be made if possible to raise the sunken vessel. The,
largest portion of her cargo was sugar, which is of
course totally lost. It is expected the Board of
Trade will order an inquiry into the cause of the
collision.

Wreck of the Cawarra Steamer, with Loss

of Fifty Lives.

Advices from Sydney, dated July 14, gave the
subjoined details of the total loss of the Australian
Steam Navigation Company's steamer Cawarra,
with all her passengers and crew (with one excep-
tion, a seaman named Hedges), off the coast of
Newcastle.

The Cawarra was one of the finest steamers in
the colonies, with a large and valuable cargo, and
over 50 souls on board. She started on her voyage
from Sidney, for Brisbane and Rockhampton, on the
afternoon of the 11th inst., and within 24 hours, at
one fell swoop, ship, cargo, passengers, and crew,
passed away ; and that, too, within sight of hundreds
of persons willing, but, alas, unable to render the
slightest aid.
Shortly after one o'clock of that day the Cawarra
was signalled to the northward of Newcastle. At
this time a fearful sea was running, and it was blow-
ing almost a hurricane, from the south-east ; the
signal was made to "stand off." The vessel ap-
peared to steam slowly, and did not make the port
till two a.m., at which time the sea took her near
the Oyster Bank on the north shore ; she struggled
with the elements for some time, and seemed as if
she would again succeed in getting out to sea, but
judging from appearances, being very much down
by the head, she must have filled forward. At
about three o'clock she struck on the Oyster Bank
and became unmanageable. The steamer was ob-
served to turn about two or three times, and she
then settled down with her head to the north. The
passengers and crew were seen huddled together on
the poop, and some made for the rigging. Extra-
ordinary as it may appear the lifeboat was not sent
out. A few minutes after the funnel went over
the side, and three men were seen in the water.

At about 3.15 the fore part of the vessel was under
water, and in a minute after the mainmast went
over, carrying with it every living soul in that part of
the ship into eternity. At 3.25 the foremast went,
on which some three or four men were seen climb-
ing. In a few moments not a vestige of the ill-fated
Cawarra was to be seen. One man only was saved
from the wreck; he drifted alongside the red buoy to
which he clung until taken off. His name is F. T.
Hedges, and he states that he was in the main rig-
ging, and was washed over at the same time the
funnel went over the side. He believes the same sea
took Capt. Chatfield off the deck. No intelligence
can be obtained from him as to the cause of the acci-
dent that can be relied on. The following is a list
of the passengers. For Brisbane (steerage)—Alex.
Brash, John Marsden, George Seaward, Michael
M'Lennan and seven Chinese. For Rockhampton
(cabin)—Mrs. Cramp and child, Miss Anderson, Mr.
A. Anderson, Mr. Machefer ; (steerage) Mr. and
Mrs. John Paterson, Samuel King, and six Chinese.
The list of the crew are—Captain Henry Chatfield,
late of the Boomerang (steamer) ; chief officer, Mr.
M. Dowell, who commanded the steamer Florence
Irving on her passage from England to Sydney ;
second officer, Mr. Burrows, leaves a wife and six
children ; chief engineer, Mr. Fountain ; second en-
gineer, Mr. Harkencross ; Miss Kate Crozier
(stewardess), John Darwen (steward), S. Goddard,
(pantryman), Murray (fireman), J. M'Diarmid
(cook). The Cawarra was built in England about
two years ago.