SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 526, 24 February 1876, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. Feb. 24—Strathnaver, schooner, 53 tons, Jorgenson, from Picton. Feb. 24—Hawea, s.s., 462 tons, Wheeler, from Dunedin. Passengers—saloon : Misses McPherson, Goby, Evans, Brooks, Mrs McPherson, Master Tolmie, Messrs Meek, Mclntosh, Butterworth, Pierce, Donaghy, Hombrook, Lawrie. Steerage—3, and 23 for North. CLEARED. Feb. 24—Hawea, s.s., 462 tons, Wheeler, for Northern ports. Feb. 24-Beautiful Star, s.s., 146 tons, Pieterson, for Dunedin, via Timaru and Akaroa. Feb. 24 Natal Queen, barque, 230 tons, Rapp, for Hobart Town, in ballast. Passengers —Mrs Rapp and family (3), Mr and Mrs Henry and child, Messrs Firth, Edwards, Nichol, and Johnstone. Feb. 24—Kate McGregor, schooner, 65 tons, J. Smith, for Auckland. SAILED. Feb. 24—Courier, ketch, 31 tons, Sinclair, for Pigeon Bay. »'.The a.B. Beautiful Star did not sail yesterday as intended, having been postponed for the purpose of taking sugar, ex Queen of the South, to Timaru, She sails this afternoon. The fore-and-aft schooner Alert, Captain Hays, arrived in port yesterday morning from the Kaipara, with a cargo of timber. The schooner Jessie is shortly expected from the Kaipara, timber laden. The Columbia schooner arrived in harbor yesterday, after a passage of six days from Napier. She will load here for that port. The Langstone has 2470 hales of wool on board. She was to have hauled out into the stream to-day, but it has been determined to leave her at the pier till Monday. . The ship Crusader broke bulk yesterday at the Gladstone pier. The Orari is expected to complete her loading by Tuesday next. She sails on Saturday week. The following address has been presented to the doctor of the snip Jessie Osborne “ Emigration Depot, Christchurch, 19th February. 1876.—Sir,— We, the passengers by the ship Jessie Osborne desire to offer you our most sincere thanks for your medical aid and care as doctor of the ship during our passage from the Clyde to Fort Lyttelton, also while we have been in quarantine on Ripa Island. In discharging your onerous duties you have ever manifested so much kindness, patience, and courtesy towards all parties, with unremitting care over the cases of sick children and others requiring such care, as to endear you to the hearts of all, especially of those parents who have so often called upon you for aid and advice.—ln name of passengers, respectfully yours, John Leckie, Morgan LawBENSON.” We are requested to state that, owing uO the hasty manner in which the immigrants were removed from Ripa Island, they were unable to publish the above address earlier. The brig Isabellas, Captain Friend, arrived on Tuesday afternoon. The captain reports leaving Newcastle on Feb. 7th with strong northerly winds, which gradually hauled to the eastward in the run across. Made Cape Farewell on the 16ih, and came through the Straits the following day; thence had light variable winds and calms to arrival as above. The Isabellas brings 456 tons of coal consigned to Mr Thompson, who was a passenger in her from Newcastle. The favorite steamer Wellington, Captain Carey, arrived in port yesterday at 11.30 a m, and was moored at No 2 wharf. Mr McCormick, the purser, informs us that this smart little boat left the Mnnakau at 4 p.ra on the 19th : arrived at Taranaki at 7 45 a.m on the 20th ; left at 11 am; reached Nel- ■ son at 5.15 a.m on the 21st; left at 3 p.m; arrived at Picton at midnight 22nd; left 1 a.m; reached Wellington at 7.30 a.m , left 4.30 p m, a:id reached this port as above. Had tin • weather throughout run, and carried many'passengers, having no less than 84 on her arrival at Wellington, and 42 on reaching this port. She sailed South at 2 p m yesterday. THE S.S. HIBERNIA AND EDINBURGH. THE LAYING OF THE CABLE. The “Nelson Daily Times” of Feb 21st reports as follows: — The s.s. Hibernia and Edinburgh, Captains Cato and Manning, left England on the 17th November, 1875, and, after an ordinary passage, arrived oft the Australian Coast on the 28th of January, 1876. Before proceeding to Sydney a good look was taken at Botany Bay, after which the vessels proceeded to Sydney harbour, and anchored in Neutral Bay. Here they were coaled with the product of the Bulli Bulll mines with despatch, and on Tuesday, February Ist, Captain Cato went round to Botany Bay In the Government steam tug to examine the laualno* place, and place a buoy for the guidance of . the vessels. On February 4th, in the afternoon, the cable Ships weighed anchor, accompanied by Captain Hixon, President of the Marine Board. Thu Hibernia was then drawing 27 feet of water, and at about 5 p ra. the anchor was dropped opposite to the cable house, at the place previously marked by the buoy. The next morning (February 51h), everybody was up and doing; by 4 o’clock the anchor was lifted, and the vessels took up a favorable position for landing the shore end ot the cable. To effect this the Edinburgh sens her boats, well manned, and a good Manilla rope having been previously run out to the shore, a sufficient quantity ot the cable was payed into the first boat, which, by means of the rope, was hauled to the land, seven or eight boats supporting the cable (as they did at the landing already described ) During this time, on account of the wind, the steamer Mystery was fast to thestern of the Hibernia, keeping her in position in line with the cable house. At eight o’clock the ahoreend was successfully landed, and the Hibernia proceeded carefully and slowlv out of Botany Bay, teepino* well toward the south head to avoid the Bumbora Rock, the monuments erected to Captain Cook and La Perouse, serving as first-class land marks to shape the course by. By 10 o’clock, the five miles of heavy shore end (14 tons to the mile) was paid out. The first Intermediate cable was then commenced, the weight of this is 4 tons to the mile, and the twelve miles of this being laid the second intermediate, of less weight, was commenced at noon. Observations proved the vessel’s position to bo 34*16T7 south lat, 161*24*25 east long. All the time this was being paid out the Edinburgh was keeping the position assigned to her on the starboard quarter ot the Hibernia, and the latter ■vessel exnerlenced strong southerly currents, for which due allowance was made. The second intermediate cable being exhausted, the deep-sea cable was started (this weighs 35cwt to the mile), and the Edinburgh was signalled at 3 o’clock to go ahead and take soundings; an hour later she reported 774 fathoms, but a few hours afterwards the bottom suddenly deepened to 2600 fathoms, the greatest depth sounded during the voyage. (A greater depth was obtained once on the passage, hut as there is some doubt about this it will be verified on the return to Sydney). This sudden deepening caused some apprehensions as to the sufficiency of the cable, but everything went smoothly, and the cable paid out like an ordinary rope. The course laid down in the chart was kept, and solar and stellar observations were assiduously taken. The wind increased to a brisk breeze, the two vessels keeping well in company. The utmost care was displayed in taking meridians to ascertain the strength of the currents, and at noon on the 6th it was happily found that a direct course had been run, the position being 34.45 south lat., 153.49 east long. The vessel’s run from midday of the sth being 120 nautical miles, the quantity of cable paid out being 156.2 allowing slack for covering in case of accident. On the 7th experienced cloudy weather with strong wind, the Edinburgh still maintaining her position on the starboard quarter. At 7 a.m. arrived one of the critical times in cable Jaying-when it is necessary to shift from one tank to another; on this occasion the deep sea cable in the aft tank was exhausted, and the change was made to the tank forward. The change was made quietly and quickly, and proved the men engaged experts at the business. The vessel was stopped during the time the alteration was made and then I*she 1 *she steamed ahead. At noon, lat. 35.30, lone ‘136 20 was reached, the vessel having kept the St course laid down In the chart the 24 hours run being 131*5 nautical miles, and the quantity of cable paid out 148*6. The current was tested during the day by the surface water, and a variation in Jpmnprature of six degrees in hvc mmutes was disSrcd In the evening the Edinburgh parted eomminv to sound. On the Bth nothing noteworthy occurred; the steamers passed a British whaling wnue steering east, and at noon observation.* defined the vessel’s position at lat 36.19, long 158 58, ♦ho distance run in the 24 hours being 137 miles, ipjjgth of cable payed out being 155.4. borne t was felt at the non-appearance of the ivHnhurvh but this was allayed when that vessel JJsSJ®daSterato the wureeof the afternoon,

and she gradually drew up. The Hibernia was then paying- out at the rate of six miles an hour. In the evening the Edinburgh again went ahead to sound. On the 9th the vessels experienced a light breeze, with cloudy weather; at seven o’clock passed close to the Edinburgh, from which vessel the Hibernia received soundings—23oo fathoms. The observations at noon were, lat 37-4-26, long 161*41. The vessel had made a 72 degree course, run 138 miles, and paid out in the 24 hours 152-2 miles of cable. At 8.30 the vessel was stopped through the cable in the fore tank becoming exhausted. A shift was then necessary to the main tank, and this was managed as expeditiously and well as on the former occasion. On the 10th, at six o’clock p.m., the Edinburgh was again sent ahead to sound, the weather being pleasant and fine. At noon the position was determined to be, lat 37-32-41, long 164*40, a 70-degree course having been kept, the run being 150 miles, and the cable payed out being 156-3 miles. This was the fastest twenty-four hours’ run made during the passage. At 5.45 p.m. the Edinburgh signalled soundings 700 fathoms,and the tidings were received with much satisfaction as a proof that the deep water was successfully passed. At this time, however, the weather was threatening; the wind increased until it blew a-fresh gale with a heavy southerly swell. Ou the 11th the weather continued rough and thick with a high sea; it moderated towards noon. .Latitude 38*36, longitude 167.35, by order of the Superintendent on board, on behalf of the Cable Company, the course was altered slightly to the northward to get into well defined soundings. About noon the wind shifted in aheavy squall to the south-west. At 5 p.m the vessel stopped to splice on to the second intermediate sized cable in the aft tank. While this was being effected the Edinburgh took soundings in 267 fathoms. This time the splice was made in the unprecedently short period of one hour and ten minutes, and in less than one hour and a half from the time the vessel stopped she was again steaming ahead. On the 12th the Edinburgh was again sent ahead to sound, and at noon the observations shewed the vessel’s position in 39*21 41 lat, 170 43 long, with a 72} course, the distance run being 148 miles, the length of cable paid out 157.4. At two in the afternoon the Edinburgh signalled 200 fathoms, with a strong breeze and fine clear weather. At 4.30 rounded to and at 4.50 stopped; at 5.5 buoyed the end of the cable in lat 39.1 lon 171.19, A marked buoy was placed about half a mile to the northward, and the vessels stood off for the night. At 1.40 a.m stood back to the buoy and waited for daylight, when it was found that the sea was too high to w rk the boats, the vessels steamed into Golden Bay. and there, in comparatively smooth water, the transhipment of the staff of electricians to the Edinburgh was effected on the morning of the 14th. On the evening of the 14th the vessels changed position, and the Edinburgh, attended by the Hibernia, steamed out of Golden Bay to the place where the cable was left buoyed. On the 15th, at ;8.40, the Edinburgh picked up and spliced the cable, and then took up the work hitherto performed by the Hibernia, of paying out. The Hibernia went ahead to the place marked in the chart, as the probable termination of the deep sea line, in lat 40*16, long 173*18, and here, in 140 fathoms waited the arrival of the Edinburgh. The latter vessel came up and the two vessels proceeded together, the Hibernia taking soundings, until 7.55, when in forty fathoms the end was buoyed, and the two vessels came on to Nelson, The steamer Hibernia is a magnificent vessel, specially adapted for cable laying; her length is 380 feet, with a breadth of 42 feet. At starting she carried 1800 tons of dry cable, but it has to be kept continually under water, to maintain its temperature, and prevent the lower coils being crushed by the top weight. The tonnage of the vessel is 3500. The Hibernia will leave shortly for England, the Edinburgh will stay in the colonies (most likely at Sydney) for three years, to be in readiness to repair any break that may occur in this or in the Queensland cable, both the property of the same company. A large amount of spare cable remains still on hoard, [We are indebted to Mr Moody, the Navigation Officer, for the foregoing report.]