Shipping.

Evening Star, Issue 4124, 16 May 1876, Page 3

Shipping.

HIGH WATER.

PORT CHALMERS. abbived. May 15.—Jessie, ketch, 29 tons, Lyders, from Catlin’s River, put in. SAILED. May 15.—Kestrel, ketch, 52 tons, Bern, for the Bluff. Jno, s.s., 29 tons. Cleverly, for Shag Point. May 16.—Samson, p.s., 124 tons, Edie, for Oaniaru,

Comerang, p.s., 156 tons, Best, for Southern ports. schooner, 66 tons, Francis, for Hokitika, via Oamaru. An Revoir, brigantine, 138 tons, Firth, for Melbourne.

The brigantine An Revoir, with cargo for Melbourne, sailed this forenoon with a light S.W. tareeve

Tue schooner Benclonch took advantage of the light S.W. wind this morning, and sailed for Hokitika, via Oamaru.

Yesterday, Captain Thomson, harbormaster, accompanied by Pilots Kelly and Stevens, proceeded to the Heads in the Harbor steam launch Yire, for the purpose of taking soundings in both channels at low water. It being dead neap tide the soundmgs were taken with the following results:—ln the Eastern or direct channel there were 17ft 2in, and in the Northern Channel 20ft. Soundings were also taken on the Spit between the two channels, when more water than usual was found, there being 16ft instead of 12ft as usual. Being such a low neap tide yesterday, the rise and fall were only 4ft 6in, which would give at high water 21ft Biu in the Eastern Channel and Sift Ciu in the Northern; while with spiiag tides there would ho 2ft more water in each channel. Capt. Thomson attributes the comparai ive shallowness of the channels to the lata easterly weather decreasing the scour. Tlie new ketch Alpha complefc* d her fit-out yesterday, and hauled alongside the ship Cathloch this afternoon to take in a cargo of cement, and will sail to morrow on her maiden trip to Oamaru. There is something in a name, notwithstanding all that has been said to the contrary. One of the latest instances is furnished by the extraordinary career of the ship Foundling. It is now nearly two years ago s : nce a ship hound for this port sighted a largo vessel on fire, and after heaving to, in order to render assistance if requisite, found that the crew had previously abandoned her. From that

time up to September last a derelict hull haunted the track of Australian liners, was described by them in a variety ef guises, and many were the suppositious as to her narco, as piece by piece it haddisappeared from her stern until only LIY remained. Captain Wagstaif, of the Loch Lomond, who saw her in D. comber. 1874, furnishes a sketch, the subject of an illustration published in the ‘Sydney Mail ’ upwards of a year ago. The Foundling was then in latitude 28dcg. south, loneitude 28deg With no hand at the wheel—if such a thing remained—no sails to set, if she had a crew to man her, she travels steadily over the trackless deep, unMl oh September 7th the Promptipso saw her in 24deg. south, 43deg. west, the hull then almost level with the sea,. A little later the smack Dolores fell in with the skeleton cruiser, and her skipper would have taken her in

tow if his craft bad been a little move powerful. Doling the first week in October the port captain of Paranagua (Brazil) was astounded to see riding in smooth water inside the hat at that port the hull of a huge ship. On closer examination the hull was seen to be perfectly watertight, the railwoy material, the firebricks, the letters LIY, and the white figurehead of a woman with a child in her arms, seen so often by passing craft, were there as means of identification. The islands outside the port, the bar within, had been passed in safety, and there in a secure haven was the Foundling, true to her name, discovered, after having drifted some 20 degs. of longitude. Had thera been left aboard some fated being, such as the Ancient Mariner, to describe in Coleridge's poetic language all he saw, heard, and thought during the cruise, what a tale he could have told.—‘Echo.’

SHIPPING TELEGRAM. Wellington, May 16.—The Eashy arrived this morning from Sydney, after a fine weather passage. She sails south this afternoon.

To-mocoow. Heads. I Pt. Chalmers. I Dunedin. 9.04 p.m. I 9.44 p.m. | 10.29 p.m.