j. ■ Wednesday, Bth March, 1876. (Before His Honour Deputy Judge Williams.) -

Action brought to recover L9OOO, salvage on behalf of the owners, master, and crew of the , steamer Express (promoters), against Jamea Galbraith and Co., owners of the screw Bteamer Taiaroa (respondents). ■ Mr James Smith, with him Messrs W. D. Stewart and Sinclair, for the promoters ; Mr B. O. Haggitt, with him Mr Stout, for the respondents. The taking of evidence on behalf of the pro* motors was continued. It- William Cunningham, prinoipal lighthotro keeper, Dog Island, said that he saw the Taiaroa before she struck on the 10th Decem ber, and after she struck, he observed the burgee lowered, and he then went off to her assistance. As he approached, he noticed the captain was steering dead in towards the rocks. He waved his hat to keep her off; but the steamer went very slowly astern. When he got on board, he asked the first well-dressed man he met if he were the captain, and the well-dressed man replied that he was, The latter asked where was the bsst place to beach the vessel, and witness asked if he, could not reach the Bluff. The Captain said he was afraid not, and on questioning the engineer, the latter said, the steamer would float only some minutes. The captain waa the coolest on board; in fact, he waa the only man left on board. The head of the vessel was then turned towards a beach with a sandy bottom, but, owing to the tide, they did not reach that point, and the steamer was beached on what witness believed to be a rooky bottom. He had a conversation with the captain about getting assistance, and told him that the Ex press was at the Blufl. Witness said she would have to come out, or he would have to send for her. The captain told witness to signal for the steamer, and he did so. He then returned to the steamer, and found her on the ground. He looked down the after-hold, and Haw that the water was over the flooring. He saw a sheep and two or three hens passed up from the forehold. Shortly after boarding the Taiaroa for the second time, and before he saw the boat containing Captains Logan and Thomson, he observed the smoke of the Express. 