Shipping.

Evening Star, Issue 4251, 11 October 1876, Page 3

Shipping.

POST CHALMERS. DEBITED. October 10.—Glimpse, ketch, 25 tons, Lee, from Timaru. Flora, schooner, 130 tons, Sullivan, from the Auckland Islands. October 11.—Express, s.s., 136 tons, Christian, from the Bluff. Passengers: Mr Justice Ward, Mr and Mrs Dank, Mr and Mrs Foster, Mr ardMrs Ayling, Mr Price, and sixteen in the steerage. 3Shag, 31 tons. Wing, from Shag Point. sailed. October 10.—Taiaroa, s.s., 228 tons, Peterson, for Timaru. October 11.—Wellington, s.s., 261 tons, Lloyd, for the North. Passengers: For Lyttelton Mrs Lackey, Mrs Lindsay and three children, Messrs Isaacs and Blunt, and four steerage. For Wellington —Mrs Eva, Mrs Luhning and child, Misses Hertslet, Lulming, and Sullivan, Rev. Mr Ward, Messrs Eva, Roberts, and Lewell, and two steerage. Nelson—Mr Everett. West Coast—Forty steerage. The Customs authorities in Wellington state that the Matau ou the trip she was last took no more passengers than were allowed in the trade between Australia and New Zealand, and that her deck cargo only consisted of twenty cases of kerosene and three iron tanks. THE STRANDING OF THE BEAUTIFUL STAR. The finding of the Court, delivered after we went to press yesterday, was That the caauality was the result chiefly of an error in judgment of William Hsssett Casern, iu getting too close to the land in his course, and that he was in fault in not being more careful in looking at the bearingof Shag Point on the vessel, and checking his course on the chart, as well as neglecting to report the position of the vessel to the master. In the whole circumstances, the Court decided that the certificate of Casern be suspended for two months, and that he bear the costs of this inquiry; and that the certificates of the master and engineer be returned. As a rider, the Court expressed the opinion that a look-out under night at the bow is imperatively necessary, and that a suggestion should be made to the Government to render it imperative by law that all steam vessels should have the steering wheel upon the bridge, as all the vessels that are now constructed are built. The aft compass, it has been proved by the evidence in this inquiry, is liable to be prejudicially affected by the motion of the screw, and, therefore, that would be avoided by the steering wheel in all steamersßbeing upon the bridge. That wot. a matter for the Marine Board. Casern inquired whether Captain Thomson had aken the difference between the compasses into consideration. The Court replied that all the circumstances of the case hod been carefully considered, and that it was the duty of mates to report to the master all circumstances of difficulty and danger. ' The s.s. Express returned from the Bluff at 7.30 this morning. After lauding her passengers at the railway pier she steamed up to Dunedin. She left the Bluff at 4.20 p.m. yesterday; had light northerly winds along the coast to arrival. The ship Mataura and barque Anazi commenced to discharge at the railway pier this morning. The barque Columbus will sail for Napier the first S.W. wind, at which port she will load wool for London. THE GENERAL GRANT EXPEDITION. The schooner Flora arrived from the Auckland Islands yesterday, and sailed up the Port Chalmers harbor as far ns the Quarantine ground, where she anchored, having on board a quantity of powder. The Flora is a fine topsail schooner of 113 tons register, and was purchased and fitted out at Sydney, in Juno last, for the purpose of exploring the Auckland Islands, for the place of the wreck of the ship General Grant. No expense was spared to equip the vessel properly, including diving dresses, tools, blasting powder, and lithofracteur. Messrs Taylor and Stevens, two of the promoters, accompanied the vessel to direct; operations. The cliffs were too steep to permit their approaching from the land side the cave where the General Grant was wrecked—some of the precipices being 1/.00 feet high—and owing to the heavy winds and dense fogs which prevailed the boats were unable to enter the cave. Nearly three mouths were thus expended unsuccessfully, and during a heavy gale the schooner narrowly escaped being wrecked. The Flora left Sydney on July Ist, and anchored at Ross Bay on July 16. Landed Mr Taylor and a party of men, who proceeded to cut a track to the cave where the wreck was supposed to lie. The cutting of this occupied same fourteen days, and meanwhile the schooner made a trip round the islands; but owing to the boisterous weather no satisfactory survey could be made, and she returned to Ross Bay. After remaining one month it was found that Ross Bay was useless as a starting point, and the vessel was shifted to the east side of the island, to Smith's harbor. Another track was cut to the west side, and several weeks wore occupied in exploring the coast. Amongst the party was the second officer of the General Grant, when that vessel was wrecked, Mr Cornelius Drew, who discovered a cave, which he believed to be tho oue whore the ship was wrecked. Owing to the steepness of the cliffs they were unable to approach it, but they found pieces of wreckage about the shore, and therefore believed the General Grant had brokeu up. fhe weather being against them, and their supplies running short, they decided to give up the enterprise, and, owing to a heavy gale setting in, they were compelled to leave Carnley Harbor and proceed to Port Ross. At this place they supplied Mr and Mrs Nelson (who are iu charge of tho place for Dr. Monckton), with a quantity of stores, which they greatly needed, they havin'-: been compelled to support life ou the flesh of seals and shell fish. Tho Flora remained there for two days, leaving on Wednesday last, and next day encountered a strong N.W. gale, thence to arrival light variable winds, SHIPPING TELEGRAMS Wellington, October 11.—Sailed, 9 a.m.. Australia, for Lyttelton.