SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 3547, 6 July 1874, Page 2

SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

Wellington, July 5. Arrived, the Wishart, barque,from London and Plymouth, after a passage of 102 days, with 267 immigrants. There was ■ nine deaths on the voyage, all children ; the rest are well. Arrived later, the Queen off Nations, ship, from Liverpool and Belfast, 103 days out. There were •three deaths ; the rest were well. She has 367 immigrants. July 6. - The City of Adelaide arrived yesterday morning, and sailed in the afternoon for Auckland. The Challenger sails for Auckland to-day or to-morrow morning. Auckland, July 4.—Arrived, Craig Ellachie, from Dunedin; Elderslie, from Oamaru.

, 'Bluff, July 6. —The Halley Bailey is passing, bound for Dunedin, irom Hobart Town.

TOWING A DISMASTED SHIP IN A • GALE. The following report of the passage of the steamer Western and the ship Southern Belle, worn Rockhampton, appears in the ‘Brisbane Courier’ of the 29th ult.“The steamer Western having been engaged to tow the dismasted ship Southern Belle, 1,290 tons, to Sydney, arrangements were made on the steamer to perform the work in a very efficient manner. The chain cable was passed from each side forward through a beam extending over each quarter, the bight being round the stern, thus forming a bridle. To this a new 11-inch manilla hawser was shackled, the other end being shackled to the bower end of the ship. A travelling messenger was fitted on the warp as a means of communication between the vessels, and a simple code of signals arranged in •vent of the messenger breaking. On Thursday, the 21st inst., at 1 a.m., the vessels started from Mud Island, Fitzroy River, and at 5 a.m. rounded Cape Capricorn. Throughout the day it blew hard from the southwest, but the litttle steamer did her work well, going at the rate of five to seven Jniots, according as the wind came ahead, or the fore-and-aft sails drew. Bustard Head fight was, sighted in the evening, and Lady Elliot s Island light at midnight. On Friday, the 22nd, at 4 a.m., the light on the Sandy Cape was visible, and at 9 *a.m., when some distance off the land, it came on to blow hard from the south, with heavy S.E. sea. Stood to the westward for an hour, when getting less sea, again stood south, blowing hard from the S.S.W. At 8 a.m. on Saturday, the 23rd, Double Iron Point bore west, and at 8 p.m. of the same day passed Captain Moreton. At noon on Sunday, the 24th, Point Danger was passed, the wind still continuing from the south and west, with fresh gales and heavy sea from S.E. At 10 p.m., sighted the lights at Richmond River, the steamer towing the ship very quickly southward, but during the night the wind veered more to the south and sea increased. At daylight of Monday, the 25th, it was blowing a very heavy gale from south, with very high S.E. sea, rendering it necessary to cast the ship off, Clarence Peak, bear ng west, distant twenty miles. The Western, by keeping her screw slowly revolving and some canvas set, kept her position well, but thennfortunateSouthern Belle drifted very rapidly out of sight, appearing to labor very heavily, and making had weather of it. Her drift was carefully noted by those in charge of the Western. At noon the sea was fcsavy and dangerous, but the steamer was kept

away on a N.N.E. course, running from ten to twelve knots, and at four o’clock sighted the ship, when both vessels were wore round on the port tack, and were again soon out of sight. During the night the gale continued, and the sea was very heavy and dangerous. On Tuesday at daylight, the steamer was again kept way, on a N.W. by N. course, arid after running from forty to fifty miles again got the , ship in sight, but in a very deplorable condi--1 tion. Her sails had blown away, vind the vessel sprung a leak, keeping the.men at the pumps throughout the nighty Though the wind was still blowing a gale, the sea had gone down a little, and while the steamer was engaged picking up the towline Captain Symons and Captain Banks went on board the ship. A consultation was held, the conclusion arrived at, for the safety of the vessel it would b*e advisable to , bear up for the nearest port—viz., Moreton Bay; The towline was again shackled to the little steamer, and not slipped until the vessel was safely anchored last night. in Moreton Bay. The gale still continues, and it ib well for the Southern Belle, in her present crippled state, she is not outside.”