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Typhoon in the China Seas.- Interruption of the Voyage of H.M. Steamer Driver in Progress to New Zealand.- Her Majesty's war steamer Driver, arrived at Singapore from Sea on the 22nd instant, and as some particulars of the cause of her unexpected visit cannot fail to prove interesting, we are enabled to present our readers with some account of her cruise. It appears that the Admiral received orders from the Admiralty to increase the force at present engaged in philanthropic endeavours to exterminate the aborigines of New Zealand, in consequence of their recent disastrous proceedings at the Bay of Islands, in endeavouring to recover their independence. Her Majesty's ship Castor and the war-steamer Driver were ordered to prepare with all despatch for the service at New Zealand, notwithstanding that the boilers of the latter were represented to be (and as the result proved to be correct) in an unfit state for so distant and important a service - however as a survey was held on the boilers of both steamers, Vixen and Driver, at Hongkong, and the latter reported as the more effective vessel of the two - there was no alternative but to despatch the Driver immediately. The Driver accordingly sailed from Hongkong on the morning of the 27th September, intending to take the Eastern route to New Zealand : the Castor sailed from Hongkong, at the same time, for the route through Anjer Straits and to the southward of Australia. The Driver arrived at the Island of Batan, the largest of the Bashee Group, on the 30th September, immediately set about getting a supply of wood, to enable her to prosecute her voyage. Batan, the capital of the island of that name, is inhabited by Spaniards and Malays, in all about 5000. The Executive at Manila sends a Military and Political Resident and soldiers every three years to relieve the garrison stationed there; the force consists of an officer and thirty men. The island produces vegetables, maize, tobacco, and bread fruit, the whole of which, with goats, bullocks, and poultry of all sorts, are remarkable cheap and abundant ; good fresh water is also to be obtained. The natives are for the most part Christians, being under the spiritual control of a Padre at each district; there is a convent situated at Batas. The whole island contains about 11,000 inhabitants. They are happy, peaceful, indolent, but sadly addicted to liquor, which they extract from the sugar cane. The Governor, who is represented as a most energetic and kind person, bestirred himself and his people in such a manner that in three days the Driver had upwards of 180 tons of wood on board, and accordingly sailed from Batan on the 3rd instant, intending to make the island of Guam, her second " place of call." On the 6th, however, having got 250 miles from Batan, every thing indicated the approach of bad weather, and towards evening the breeze which had been fresh all day, increased in violence, and at midnight it blew a perfect hurricane. Every storm sail which was attempted to be set to steady the ship was blown to ribbon, and for twelve hours she was left to the mercy of the wind and waves ; no canvas being able to stand the violence of the wind. Towards the evening of the 7th, and on the morning of the 8th, the gale abated and settled into a moderate breeze from the S.E. The typhoon commenced from the N.E. and gradually drew round to S.E. The sea, is represented to have run terrifically high ; the ship behaving remarkably well - but several of her bulwarks and rails, hammock beltings, cook houses, &c., were washed away, also the gig and life buoy from the stern, as well nearly drowning all the live stock on board. On the afternoon of the 8th the Driver commenced steaming, when shortly after a leak was found to some extent in the midship boiler, which was accordingly shut off. At 10 p.m. however, a great rush of hot water was observed from the space between the starboard and midship boiler; at this juncture the chief engineer with great risk and difficulty happily succeeded in opening the safety valve and drawing the fires, and thereby prevented a greater injury than would otherwise have occurred. The war steamer was now in rather an awkward condition, being without either steam or sails. Upon examining the injury the boilers had sustained, it was found that four days would be required for their temporary repair, and not having sufficient fuel to reach Guam in her then crippled circumstances, it was deemed advisable to bear up, which was done under the square sails, these being the only ones which the typhoon left unscathed. On the 14th she again commenced steaming, but finding a leak in the bottom of the midship boiler, which working at full power greatly increased, she steamed from the north end of Luzon to Singapore with the expansive gear, which the admirable slide valves of Messrs. Seaward and Co., the makers of her engines, enabled her to do with such advantage, that she averaged upwards of seven knots an hour, consuming very little more than half the quantity of fuel which she would have done working at full power. We hear that her repairs will take five or six days, when she will proceed in prosecution of her voyage, we suppose through Torres Straits, as the most practicable passage for a steamer at this season of the year. The barometer at the height of the typhoon fell to 29¼ in., and we hear that even working expansively as she did, so great was the leak in her midship boiler, that the temperature of the water in her bilge was 185, indeed cold water had to be let frequently into the ship to prevent the officers and crew from being parboiled. We wonder that the Bashee Islands are not more frequented by ships, especially as stock and provisions at Hongkong are so very expensive. The Governor and inhabitants are represented to be anxious to trade, and vessels frequenting that neighbourhood maybe assured of an hospitable reception from all, not excepting the worthy friars inhabiting the convent. As a specimen of the price of provisions, on the authority of our intelligent informants, we may observe that bullocks are to be had from 7 to 10 dollars each; goats, 1 to 2 rupees, which are said to be very fine; and pigs at about a rupee each; vegetables, fruit, &c., almost for carrying away, for such is their abundance that scarcely anything is demanded for a sufficient amount for a ship's use. ^ back to top ^ |