SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 110, 7 October 1874, Page 2

SHIPPING.

POET OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. October 7—Hopeful, barque, 332 tons, Lnby, from Newcastle. October 7 —Queensland, barque, 414 tons, from Newcastle, with coal. October 7—Kestrel, ketch, 23 tons, Clarkson, from the Bays, with firewood. SAILED. October 6 —St. Lawrence, ship, 1313 tons, Johnson, for San Francisco, in ballast. Passenger —saloon : Mrs Johnson. October 6—Sea Shell, barque, 219 tons, M'Arthur, for Newcastle, in ballast. VESSELS IN HARBOR. Steamers—s.s. Bruce, Alhambra. Ships—Dorette, Cathcart, Taunton, Inverallan, Merope. Barques—Auriga, Mallard, Especulador, Hopeful, Queensland. Brigs —Woodlark, Transport. Brigantines and schooners —Esther, Pyno, Colleen Bawn, Reward, Edward. Alice Jane, Maiden City. Ketches—Linnet, Minnie, Catherine, Elizabeth Ann, and Kestrel. The pilot at the station reports that a large ship was seen this morning about 35 miles off the land. She will probably prove to be the Hamburgh ship Gotenberg, with Scandinavian immigrants. It may, of course, Erove to be the Endymion, but the Gotenerg is long overdue. Two barr|ues arrived from Newcastle this morning, the Queensland and Hopeful, with full cargoes of coal.. DEPARTURE OF THE ST LA.WRENCE AND CANTERBURY. Two more of the fine ships that lately have been an ornament to our harbor sailed yesterday, we again regret to say, to seek freights elsewhere, viz., the St Lawrence and the Canterbury. The St Lawrence and the brig Rio Lose sailed early in the morning, the St Lawrence bound for that Eldorado for fine ships during the coming grain season (San Francisco). The Canterbury did not start till about 3.30 p.m. yesterday afternoon. She was saluted by the Merope, Cathcart, and other vessels, as under the charge of Pilot Reed she swept down the harbor under a heap of canvas. "We wish Captain Strachan, her amiable and hospitable commander, a speedy passage to Calcutta, where, no doubt, such a fine vessel will get a freight that will amply repay her for her passage. THE NEW ZEALAND STEAM SHIPPING COMPANY. (From the "New Zealand Times.") The announcement will be received with pleasure by the public that the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, not having disposed of its fine fleet of steamers, will continue to run them in the businesslike manner, and with the regard to the interests of the colony that have hitherto been displayed, and will, at the earliest possible opportunity, have the two fast and favorite boats—the Wellington and Taranaki—fitted with engines on the compound principle. Then, should this prove a success, an alteration of a like character will be made in the other vessels, or new ones of the most improved design will be introduced. Some time ago the company, which has done so much to develop and foster, not only the commerce of Wellington, but also that of the entire colony, sent to England with praiseworthy foresight, for specifications and estimates of the cost of altering the two vessels that have been named; but as similar work of a most satisfactory character has been executed in Auckland and Sydney, the local contractors will have the first opportunity of executing the proposed transformation. If ttiey be able, as there is very little doubt they are, to do the work required by the directors of the company at a reasonable cost, they will have the preference, and the loss of much valuable time will be saved thereby. Their tenders will be received in the course of a day or two, and it is to be hoped these may be of such a reasonable nature that they may be accepted.

The history of the steam shipping companies of Wellington, which have so largely contributed towards making this port that of the colony, lias been a singularly chequered one. The first company started with the Wonga Wonga, s.s., and after acquiring the Stormbird, had to be wouud up. The directors and proprietors were, really, men slightly in advance of the times they lived in. Plus is proved by the fact that there scarcely could be a more successful company than the present one. The boats are excellently found, it is a pleasure to travel in them, and the time of their arrival at a port, and departure from thence, is known all over the colony by means of the admirable system of telegraphy that has been established. It has been frequently said that a passenger bytheCunard line from New York may order his dinner in Liverpool, and vice versa, with little probability of the equanimity of the cook s temper being disturbed by his want of punctuality. Very nearly the same thing may be said in the case of a passenger by the boats of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company who should wish to meet his friends at any principal port in the colony. The first company bought the Stormbird with the large profits derived from the charters of the Wonga Wonga by the Government during the war, for the conveyance of troops. But when it collapsed, the new company bought both vessels and also the Ahuriri, the Kangatira, the Wellington, the Queen, and Ladybird. The Queen was wrecked on Cook's Kockin the Strait in 1867, and the Taranaki being wrecked in Tory Channel on August 19th, 1868, made it appear desirable to the directors and share holders to discontinue operations. But then a Wreck Eecovery Company was formed, and m twelve months' time the Taranaki, with her machinery in almost a perfect state of preservation, but with her timbers rotten, was raised. She was then thoroughly repaired, but as the company could not sell her, nor could she be run solus profitably, the present company was devised. The Wellington was purchased, and then sold by the promoters to the new company. Mr J. Martin, who has taken such an active interest in the affairs of the company, and whose name will long be associated with it, was at that time running the Phoebe, and he was offered shares in the company to the extent of the value of that vessel, and the bargain was concluded. The Manawatu was built in Auckland for the company, and the Kangatira and Ladybird were bought; the company assuming its present name and title. The Phoebe and Ladybird were sent to Svdney, altered, and fitted with new boilers, &c, at an expense of £32,000. The company was to have had a capital of £16,000, consisting of 1600 shareß of £lO each, but not more than 1416 were taken up. How successful have been the operations undertaken is manifested by the fact that the property cf the company, consisting of freehold and leasehold estate, the barque Ann and Jane, arid its six steamboats, is valued atfrom£So,oooto£loo,ooJ. That it may go on and prosper will be the sincere wish of everyone who Ims the welfare of Wellington and the colony iit heart; and that the directors may at some period be able to add to their fleet steamers as powerful as those of McMeckan and Blackwood, take the Polynesian trade in hand, and contract for the conveyance of the San Francisco mail, is not an unlikely contingency. Of the recent attempts to sell the vessels by auction or by tender, little need be said. At the auction sale no sum proportionate to their value was offered. No tender of a satisfactory character was received. Now the vessels will be sent to the various ports in the colony with the old despatch, and they will be vastly improved in speed.