(From the China Mail ith July.
The Goldjinch yesterday arrived in Port Jackson with the homeward-hound pennant fying, and came to moorings in Farm Cove, The gunboat sailed from Sydney on the 14th of May, and proceeded to Nouméa for the purpose of exchanging an officer with H.MLS. Wallaroo at that place. After a stay of 10 days the Goldjinch sailed for Auckland, and made a stay there of 14 days. She left the New Zealand port for Sydney on the 24th of June, and had fairly tine weather until the evening of the 27th, when the wind came from the east ward, and by 1 a.m. was blowing wit hurricane force, splitting all sails, and doing other damage.
Huge seas crashed aboard the ship,, the deck being in a continual state of flood. The saloon and several of the cabins were flooded, there being over a foot of water in them at times, The ship's furniture was ruined, nnd two of the boats were stove in, thus rendering them useless. The captain's cabin suffered greatly, as it was knee-deep in water throughout the storm. All his belongings were damaged, and the ship's book, containing her history since the day she was lnuuched, way also spoilt. It was kept in a wooden box in the Captain's cabins the bos was broken and the book was discovered Hoating about the cabin.
To make matters wor leak wax discovered near the s-okehold, and pumps were set to work to keep the' water under, and continued until arrival in port.
One huge sea broke aboard and washed 20 men along the deck. They were saved by clinging to the ropes which were sre ed along the deck. This occurred during the watch of Lieutenant N. McC. Lew and he had the misfortune to he exnzht the sea, which washed him along the deck. He put out his hand to save himself, and received a violent blow on the fingers from something floating about, smashing one of his fingers.
The storm abated fora few hours, and was succeeded by a gale which sprang up from the south-west, and much difficulty was experienced in keeping steerage way on the vessel, the engines racing heavily. More sails were blown away during this gale. This weather Insted until voaring the port.
The officers state that the weather was the worst ever experienced by anybody in the ship. It was so bad at one stage that grave fears were entertained of the vessel Weathering the storm. The speed throughout the trip averaged about two knots, whilst the greatest speed attained was about three Knots.
The Goldfinch will k here, and is tu sail about the 20h homeward bound vid Thursday Island," Singapore, and Batavia. The Lizard will relieve the Goldfinch, and is expected to arrive shortly,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.