It is being brought strongly before the eyes of the colony that some sort of regu* lation is required for steamers going through the celebrated French Pass at night. It was only a few nights ago a Nelson steamer got out of the jaws death by the skin of her teeth in thi s narrow pass haring, as nearly as may be, been run down by the Waitaki as she was rounding the shai’p and sudden point at the north entrance. The Nelson steamer managed to swing round by dexterous management on the part of her captain, and thus he was able to clear the Waitaki by all that was wanted to save his steamer and the one that was passing him, but a few feet more, and there would have been but little hope that either one or other of the steamers would have been saved, and considering the ugly character of the dangerous pass, the narrowness and depth of the channel, and the frowning cliffs on either side, the chance of rescue for the passengers would have been well nigh hopeless. The occurrence was the first of the kind that we remember in many years, and perhaps it was because people set it down as one that might pro bably never again be repeated, the chances being so much against two steamers meet ing in the French Pass, that after the first surprise created by the event, there was no more notice taken of the affair. On Saturday night last, however, we learn that almost an exact repetition of the scene occurred, the steamers this time being the Nelson steamer Charles Edward, and the West Coast steamer Grafton. We are told by a meagre telegram on the sub ject that the Charles Edward just managed to back out of the p>ass in time to allow the advancing Grafton to emerge into clear water. 