McLeod for traffic on the Kawakawa river, and in order to facilitate the opening of the coal mines of that place. She is highly spoken of for excellence of build and steaming capacity. We regret to have to record the total loss of the Auokland cutter Nautilus at Whale Island, on the ioth • instant. The cutter was bound here, via Mercury Bay, to load timber at the latter place, and took shelter at Whale Island on the day named. The gale increased and the vessel dragged both anchors, and in less than five minutes she struck on the bank and unshipped her rudder, and shortly afterwards was driven on to the boulders, where she became a total wreck. The crew succeeded in saving the sails and gear. The vessel was built by Mr. Beddoes at the North Shore about 18 months ago, and was the property of Mr. Antonio Martin, of this town. She wa» insured in the New £ooth Wales office for £500. Commodore Rowley Lambert, C.8., has been Appointed to the Australian station in the room of Commodore Maguire, and arrived at King George's Sound, en route f&r Melbourne and Sydney, on the *th instant. On' arrival at the latter place, he will hoist his pennant on board H.M. s. Challenger and "assume command of the squadron. The ship Siata was the only vessel for Auckland during the month of Jtfrie. The Merrington is now 1281 28 days out, and anxiously looked for. The Southern Cross lost one of her seamen, named William Miles, during the trip. He was accidentally drowned. Mr. John Adams, of Norfolk Island, fur nishes the following respecting the doings of an Auckland vessel, to hand per Southern Cross:—"s :— " I am'of opinion that the doings of the schooner Blue- Itfell *t trie islands will not bear scrutinising closely, ■he having been engaged, after landing her cargo at New Caledonia, in the nefarious business of trap ping the'poor natives at some of the islands, to be Sold it so much per head to some European or 2ftfrerican ait the Fijis. The captain of the Bluebell has' openly made" his boast here of how they were dWgWUow they were' fe&V and how they were sold. 