Shipping.

Evening Star, Issue 3230, 27 June 1873, Page 2

Shipping.

high water. To-mobrow. HUM | POST CHAUCIBS DP™DTO 8.10 pun. 8.40 p.m. | 6.26 p.m. PORT CHALMERS. SAILED. June 27.—Isabella, 82 tons, Priest, for HoldUk«» Ot)STOM|HOUSE.|DUNEDIN. This Dat. TOWARDS. Pretty Jane, 101 tom, Chrietian, from Molynear. . Maori, 118 from Tiraaru, OUTWARDS. Hope, 21 tons, Scott, for Oamaru. ?BOJKCTED DEPARTURES. Alhambra, for Northern Ports, July 5 Beautiful Star, for Lyttelton, July 1 Isabella, for Hokitika, early Pretty Jane, for Port Molyneux. June 28 Rangitoto, for Melbourne, Julv 8 Storm Bird, for Bluff, June 29 Taranaki, for Northern Ports, July 1 Tararua, for Northern Ports, June 28 Wanganui, for Northern Forts, July 10 Vessels in Fort Chalmers Bay. yesterday flhip ; Wild Deer. Brig; Derwent. At the Railway Pier; —Ships; Naomi, Michael Angelo. Barque: Horatio Sprague, and the steamer Tararua. The only departure from Port Chalmers today was the topsail schooner Isabella, which sailed out in the morning, bound for Hokitika. With reference to two of Messrs Money Wigram and Sons’ ships, the Somersetshire and Norfolk, a peculiar coincidence has occurred. The steamship Somersetshire left Melbourne on the 27th of March, and arrived at Plymouth on the 11th inst. The Norfolk left Plymouth on the 27th of March, and arrived In Hobson’s Bay on the 11th inst. , „ Victoria has not been successful in her first efforts in the whaling business. The first whaler sent out from the port of Melbourne was the Victoria, which was equipped some three or four years ago by Messrs Osborn, Gashing and Co., and was placed under the command of an experienced master. She went on her way. In due time a quantity ef oil was received from her, and she voyaged on to those far-north seas where the American arctic fleet usually flsh. Luck was against her. She had several whales, and would have returned to Victoria after a successful trip but that she was embayed during a. storm in Behring’s Straits, and wrecked. The master and a number of the crew escaped, and wintered with the natives. The spring released them, and they were able to return to Melbourne. Then the same firm which owned the Victoria resolved to repeat the adventure. They bought the barque Maiy Hamilton, of Sydney, and fitted her out in Hobson’s Bay in the best manner. She was placed in command of the master of the wrecked Victoria, and great hope was entertained that her voyage would be successful, and would lead to the establishment of a whaling fleet from the port of Melbourne. These expectations, unfortunately, have not been realised. The Mary Hamilton went to eea, and was not heard of for some months, when a Hobart Town whaler, returning to harbor, spoke of her as having been signalled “ dean.” Weeks afterwards she was reported as with only one whale. This was bad enough, but worse remained behind. On Saturday the news from New Zealand, telegraphed from Sydhey, reported the Mary Hamilton as having been wrecked at Norfolk Island, of all places under the sun! It was understood when the ship sailed that the dangers of the Arctic Seas Were not again to be tempted, and Colonial Pwhaling men do not seem to think that the Antartic Ocean is worth visiting. The Mary Hamilton was upon what is known as the middle grounds, which Americans,. Tasmanians, and Frenchmen alike visit in search of the sperm whale. No other catastrophe has been reported by the whalers in those seas for many years. Only one of the Hobart Town fleet, now numbering some thirty-eight or forty vessels, bas been wrecked for years past ; and then it arose from the vessel being driven from her anchors during a gale in Queen Charlotte Sound. It is strange, therefore, as well as a matter of regret, that the first efforts of Victorian whalers should hare been so unsuccessful .