ARRIVAL OF THE ASTEROPE.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 252, 29 October 1870, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE ASTEROPE.

A SEAMAN DROWNED,

The ship Asterope—an old trader to New Zealand —arrived in harbour yesterday afternoon, after an average passage from London of 100 days. The vessel is commanded by Captain Homer, and comes into port in a clean and orderly condition. She brings about 35 passengers, and a general cargo, the greater portion of which is for Napier. Nothing calling for special mention occurred during the voyage, excepting that one of the seamen was drowned during a severe storm, while the ship was running down her easting. During the first part of the passage the ship was favored with moderate winds, crossing the Line on the 31st day out, and the meridian of the Cape on the 53rd day at sea. No land was sighted after leaving the Start until making the coast of New Zealand. The Asterope left London on the 19th July, and had fine weather down Channel, taking her final departure from Start Point on the 23rd. Fine weather continued, and the island of Madeira was passed on the Ist August. On the 3rd of the same month, in latitude 27 deg. N., longitude 23 deg. 50 mm. W., fell in with the NE. trades, which proved very light, and were lost in latitude 18 deg. N., longitude 26 deg. W. The ship was then detained for five days in the "doldrums," after which fresh breezes from the S.W. and S. favoured her till crossing the Equator on the 24th August, in 25 deg. 30 min W. longitude. The wind then gradually veered from S S.E. to S.E., the trades continuing moderate. They were carried as far as 25 deg. S. latitude, when the wind hauled to the northward, with rain. Thence had westerly breezes and fine weather until passing Tristan D'Achuna on the 9th September, when a fearful N.W. gale, with heavy sea was encountered for several hours. The meridian of Greenwich was passed on the 11th September, and that of the Cape on the 15th. Had strong westerly winds to the parallel of 30 deg. east longitude, when she encountered a strong N.E. and E. gale, which continued for three days ; thence had moderate westerly breezes till the Ist instant, when another severe gale from N.W. was encountered, with constant rain and heavy seas breaking over the ship. During this storm one of the seamen fell from the jib-boom into the sea, and was drowned. The sea at this time was running mountains high, and it was impossible to render any assistance to the unfortunate man. Tha weather was also very thick, it being almost impossible to see the length of the ship. The Asterope ran down her easting on the parallel of 44 deg., which was characterised by moderate westerly winds and fine weather. The meridian of Cape Leeuwin was crossed on the 9th of October, and Tasmania on the 14th. Very light winds with remarkably clear weather then prevailed for four days, when another stiff north-east breeze, which subsequently increased into a gale, was met with, during which the ship labored heavily. The wind then veered to north-west and west, and on Monday last, the 24th, the Three Kings were sighted. Thence light variable winds and fine weather prevailed, passing Tiri Tiri at midnight on Thursday, and arriving in harbour yesterday afternoon. Passengers : —Mr. O. G. Bouker, Mr. T. M. Lewis, Mary, and Hannah Lewis ; John and

Ann Smith, Mrs. Lipsteine, W. C. Rickets, Hannah lrwing, Mrs. McPherson, Mr. Thorpe, John Angrove, James Lawn, John Smith, Eliza Wheeler, William Large, Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Boler, aud family (6) ; James Harris, B. Schink, H. T. Lifford, Charles Thomson. W. Dickson, George Dickson, Martin Power, George Schofield, James Judge, W. H. Haughton, A. W. Sawyer, Abraham, Thomas, and Benjamin Hughes. The Asterope is consigned to Messrs. Cruickshank, Smart and Co., and, we understand, will shortly proceed to Napier.