Shipping.

Evening Star, Issue 3186, 7 May 1873, Page 2

Shipping.

HI«H WATER. To-mobkow.

Heads I Port Chalmers 4 Donedin 12.3 p.m. ' . 1/1.18 P-m. CUSTOM ItOtfßE, DUNEDIN. This Pat. INWARDS. Excelsior, 92 tons, Joiner, from Wangapoa.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. City of Bombay, for London, May 10. Maori, for Lyttelton, May 8 Redcliffe, for Moeraki, May 10 Glencoe, for Auckland, May 10. Lutterworth, for London, May 17 Rangitoto, for Melbourne, May 14 Albion: for Northern Ports, May 14 Storm Bird, for Bluff, May 8 Friendship, for Moeraki, early Samson, for Oamaru, May 8 Pretty Jane, for Port Molyneux, May 10 Spec, for Oamaru, May 8 Awarua, for Bluff, early Excelsior, for Auckland, May 10 Wellington, for Northern Ports, May 13

Vessels in Port Chalmers Bay this day : Ships: Lutterworth, Oberon, Wild Deer. Barques : Hadda, Sydney Griffiths, Frowning Beauty. At the Railway Pier : Ships : City of Bombay,' Euterpe, William Davie. Brig; Speedy.

The schooner Msry Van Every, which was loading at Oamaru for Wanganui, had a narrow escape from being driven ashore. She reports the new schooner Mary Ogilvie on the beach ; and at 7 a.m. yesterday she was high and dry, and the cargo being taken out. During the afternoon tne gale increased, when the Mary Van Every parted one anchor and slipped the other, and was just able to beat out of the hay. She left the three-masted schooner Margaret Campbell at anchor, and passed the Samson off Oamaru Heads at 9 p.m., and arrived in Port Chalmers at 7 this morning. One of the heaviest gales from the N.E. that we hive had for some been blowing for the past two days; but we are happy to say no damage has been done to the shipping. The Oberon and Wild Deer have been unable to haul in to the railway pier.

SHIPPING TELEGRAM.

Bluff, May 7 : Claud Hamilton, from Dune* din; Claud Hamilton, for Melbourne, at noon.

A SEA SNAKE,

We are informed by Captain Baumann, of the schooner Margaret Campbell, now anchored in the Roads, that his vessel, which it will be remembered was towed out to an offing on Saturday, 26th inst., there being no wind and n heavy ground swell in the Bay, was lying becalmed on the Monday following about eight miles off the land. While pacing the deck an object caught his eye, lying on the surface of the water only a few yards distant from the ship. Its rapid movements soon made him aware that it was some living thing, and curious to see what it was he inspected it through a f'lass, and found it to be a snake about eight feet ong, and apparently about three inches in diameter. It was of a brownish color, with white markings on the sides. Calling the mate’s attention to it, he went to his cabin for pencil and paper to take a drawing of it, and on returning to the deck saw the creature swimming rapidly away with a zig-zag movement. It passed right along the broadside of the schooner in full sight; and Captain Baumann has no hesitation in affirming that it was a hona fide snake. Where it came from matters not, but there it was, and there was the veritable sea-serpent so often spoken of, though shorn of its fabulous dimensions. We may add that we have perfect confidence in Captain Baumann’s good faith.—if. Otago Times. MORE ABOUT THE NORTHFLEET. The London correspondent of the Burning--ham News supplies the following incidents connected with Captain Oates and Captain Knowles:— „ For more than seven years, Captain Dates has, he tells me, been fretting and fuming in the toils which the Tichbourne case cast around him, as being an important witness against the claimant. Captain Oates is the only man living who saw Roger Tichbourne safe on board the Bella, at Rio, bound to New York, and he was subpoenaed by the council for the young heir as soon as the claim of the popularly esteemed Sir Roger was put in. When the Northfleet was ready for sea Captain Oates secretly feared detention; but as he had already made a deposition, which was in the hands of the leading counsel for the prosecution, he put a bold face on matters and went on with the preparations for the voyage as if no subpoena were hanging over his head. When the lawyers heard that the Northfleet was about to sail, they intimated to Captain Oates that he was “wanted” in April, and must not sail, under heavy penalties. “Fine me L2OO or L3OO if you Kke,” said Captain Oates, “but I must sail in the Northfleet on .Saturday next” “No,” said Mr Hawkins; “we must have your body in court, and if you attempt to sail you will be arrested. The Northfleet was to have sailed on Saturday, the 11th instant and only on the previous Friday Capt Oates, from information received in the shape of sundry formidable instructions of the law, said it was impossible for him to sail. After a hasty consultation with his brother owners (Captain Oates had a share in the shin) it was decided to give the command to Capt. Knowles, who had sailed with Captain Oates for live years, and of whom a very high opinion was field. AU the personal effects of Capt. Oates And Mrs Oates were at the time on board the vessel, and were hastily removed to give place to those of the new captain and his bride. Mr Knowles had been engaged for some time to be married, but had always said he would wait itill he got a command. The waiting was so long that about Christmas he determined to tarry no longer, and here with wonderful good luck, as it appeared to the poor fellow, a command tumbled into his hands when he bad fceen married oply a few weeks. He and Mrs Knowles gave up the apartments which they lutd past taken and furnished, and on Wednes •day week Mrs Knowles joined the ship at Crrsvesqpd, taking up her residence in the superior cabins which Captain Oates had specially fitted up for himself and his wife. Ihe rest of the story the world knows; but there are some curious incidents connected with it which Captain Oates has communicated to me, and which have not yet been published. About seven years ago, Mr Knowles being then chief officer, an emigrant ship outward bound from London was lying in the Downs, when his ship was run into t>y a steamer and cut down to the water’s edge. Fortunately assistance was at band, and she was towed back safely to London, and there underwent repairs. What adds greatly to the remarkable character of the coincidence is that George Brock, the pilot in charge of the Northfleet at the time of her being run down, was also in charge of the other emigrant ship of which the hapless captain was chief mate.