For some years the mail service in the bay has been performed by steamers, but singe the Ist of this year tho Government have taken the matter into th«ir own hands, and although they bound their late contractors under heavy penal ties to employ steam, they have at once levlved tho old system of using open boats, to the danger of loss of life, as also that of the maib In consequence of the fearful gale which raged throuehout the day, the railway steamer Kangaroo was unable to perform her trips «ftor the first yesterday morning — At g abmJt < four o'clock yesterday afternoon, signals of dis tress were setn flying from the American ship Snow Squall, at anchor off Gejlibrand'i Point, when tho steam-tugs SopWa and Hercules immediately proceeded to her ass stance, and found that during one of tho vary luwvy squalls, iho had. parted one of her anchors and was dragging, and that she required a pilot, also an anchor and chain. The steamers proceeded to Wil- Uarnstown and obtained from the harbour, department the oSr and chain required. A pilot also proceeded on board. ~Her" Majesty's colonial «teom stoop Victoria returned to Hobson'l Bar at about noon yesterday, from a cruise She left this on Th2.day, tho fith iritant, with stores and provisions for Cane Otwar lighthouse and the telegraph, station there, anchor^ offQueSiscllff that erenlng.and at five, o'c och .on the foSowinif morning got under way and proceeded to Cape Otwav^Fmdin7that,in consequence of the fieavr surf running, it wShnpowlbi. lo and, she returned to Apollo Bay, where she remaSicd until the following morning, when she went to the entrance of the Parker Biver. The heavy surf «tWroUJng in she was obliged aram to return to Apollo Bay, where she rXtaedUU th* aftewon of the 10th tatant whenshoagata proceeded to theOtwajr, and succeeded with Oiffloultv in land- Jmi \ whaleboat load of stores. She remained tUere that night, iZftope. 61 accomplishinc the work on the 'oUowtog morning but the weather stUl contWins unpropiUous, sho wm obliged to stand out to sea during the afternoon. On the morning of the 12th, the weather hating moderated, oommenoed dwem- JMU-Wngstorw, which wai Mcpunjljiliwi with fre»t dJffloulty,

Postponements.— Wo aro obliged to hold over several original communications. The ' Airedale,' with tho Soutlieru mail, is due to-day, when further news from Tarauaki may lie expected. Mn. 