SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 61, 10 August 1874, Page 2

SHIPPING.

ARRIVED, August 9 —Wellington, 5.5,262 tens, Carey, from Wellington. CLEARED. August 10— Wellington, s.s., 2691 tons, Carey, for South. August 10 —Barque Iris, for Newcastle, in ballast, VESSELS IN HARBOR. Steamer —Atrato. Ships—Ballochmyle, Northampton. Stonehouse, Hereford, Eastern Monarch, Peeress, Wennington. Barques—Fratilli Gaggtno, Ornati, Union, Corrido, Syren, Joliba, East Lothian. Brigs—Emily, Byron, Brigantines and schooners Pear], Camilla, Mary Webster, Helena, Nautilus. Ketch —Jane Elkin. The s.s. Wellington sails for South this evening. The barque Iris will sail to-night if possible. The barque Hopeful cleared the Heads this morning. SUPPOSED WRECK IN BASS’ STRAIT. [From the “ Argus.”] In consequence of a paragraph to the effect that Captain Duncan, of the barque Palace, from Wancraroa, New Zealand, had seen lights on one of the Sisters Islands, in Bass’ Strait, which lie supposed to have been shown by shipwrecked seamen, the Hon the Commissioner of Customs issued instructions to the chief harbor-master to have full inquiries made, aud if nece-sary, at once despatch the steamship Pharos to the spot, in order to render assistance. In th'e course of the afternoon, the following report was submitted to Mr Cohen:— “Department of Ports and Harbors. Melbourne, July 15th, 1874. Relative to the paragraph in today’s‘Argus,’ and the conjecture _ that there are shipwrecked people on one of the islands in Bass’ Strait, 1 would report that 1 have seen Captain Duncan, who says that the light seen on outermost or east most Sisters was uot a fire to attract atten tion, but a bright light in a lantern, similar to a ship’s riding lantern. When Captain Duncan first saw it, the Palace was about two miles oil. The people on the shore could have seen the Palace two hours previous to her passing, Captain Duncan says he is sure that no signal whatever was made previous to bis passing; it it had been ho would have lowered a boat to ascertain what was the matter. The light was not one for ttie purpose of attracting the attention of a passing ship. Captain Johnson, of the schooner Yarra, as well as Captain Duncan, of the Palace, saw the light, aud is of opinion that if they had been castaway seamen they would have made a smoke of some kind, which would have attracted attention two hours previously, or they would have waved the lantern ; but at the time he passed it was a steady light. The Palace passed just at dusksix o’clock ; but the vessel could have been seen in daylight. When the Yarra passed (two hours afterwards) no.change, bad taken place in the light as first seen by the Palace. I think, under these circumstances, there seem to be no grounds for supposing they are shipwrecked men, but that they are most probably sealers, who are known to frequent the islands at this season of the year.— Charles B. Payne, Chief Harbor-Master.” To litis report the Assistant Commissioner attached the following memorandum —“ Under the above circumstances. Captain Payne and 1 agree that it is not necessary to despatch the Pharos, unless the Hon the Commissioner should specially desire it.” The report by the captain of the barque Palace as to the supposed existence of shipwrecked mariners on one of the Sisters Islands, has caused attention to be directed to the fact that the ship Rhoderick Dhu, which left Melbourne for Newcastle twenty days ago, has not yet been heard of. The Rhoderick Dhu was a large new iron clipper ship of 1643 tons, built at Sunderland, for Messrs Williamson, Morgan, and Co, of Liverpool, for their Calcutta trade, but was chartered from them for a voyage to Australia. She arrived here in command of Captain Calvert, on May 24th, consigned to Messrs Connell, Hogarth, and Co, and after discharging a large and valuable cargo at the Brcak-water-pier, left this port for Newcastle, en route to San Francisco. Site cleared Port Phillip Heads on June 25th, and since then has not been heardof, although it was expected that she would have made as good a run round as tiny of the large iron clippers which left here about the same time for the same destination. Heavy gales from N.W, to S.W. prevailed in the Strait about the time she sailed, but they were not of such violence as to itave imperilled the safety of so line a vessel. When the Harlech Castle left this port some time ago, aud no tidings were heard of her at Newcastle, it was thought that the captain, taking advantage of strong fair winds, had stood right away for S u Francisco, or that the ship might have got dismasted, and would probably be heard of at some New Zealand port, and similarhopes may now be entertained concerning the Rhoderick Dhu.