The Messageries Maritime Co.'s steamer Sydney, which left here on Saturday with the homeward mails, put back on Monday with one of the couplings of hor shaft broken. The accident occurred on Saturday evening, soon after passing Gutzladf. Just previous to the accident the engineer on watch had been into the tunnel and examined the shaft, there being apparently nothing the matter with it, and it was immediately afterwards that the breakdown occurred. The engines were stopped int once and the ship anchored, and finding that nothing could be done'on board to remedy the accident, a boat was despatched to Gutzlaff and a telegram sent tothe company's agent hero requesting that tugs might be sent to her assistance. In reeponee to this request the tugs Whangpoo and Fuhle were sent down on Sunday and the disabled steamer towed back to Shanghai. Those on board at the time of the accident say that until the engines were stopped it seemed as though the ship were scraping over a rock. The Yarra has been put on to replace the Sydney, and will be despatched at 7.30 a.m, on Thursday next, the 27th instant.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.