SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 785, 27 December 1876, Page 2

SHIPPING.

• ♦ PORT OF LYTTELTON. Weather Report : Dec27 —8 arn , wind N.E, fresh breeze; weather, clear blue sky. Barometer, 30.24 ; thermometer, 62. High Water : To-morrow —Morning, 00.51; night, 1.20. ARRIVED. Dec 27 —Schiehallion, barque, 602 tons, Lavack, from London. Dec 27—Lizzie Guy, brigantine, 93 tons, Priest, from Hokitika. Dec 27—Fawn, brig, 216 tons, Brownell, from Adelaide. Dec 27—Christina, schooner, 58 tons, Edwards, from Whangapoa. Dec27—Jannett, ketch, 41 tons, M‘Donald, from Okain’s Bay. SCHIEHALLION, FROM LONDON. The Schiehallion, barque, from London, was signalled this morning, and anchored oh Ripa Island at 11 a.m. She brings a large cargo, and is consigned to Matheson’s Agency. THE YACHT SECRET* This handsome little yaoht arrived in harbor on Monday evening. Proceeding aboard we were most hospitably welcomed by her owners, Messrs Niccol and Hulme. She is a handsome vessel, very roomy for her size, and well able to contend with any ordinary weather, avid seems none the worse for her long and exceptionally stormy trip. She brings a great reputation with her from Auckland, and judging from her handsome lines and admirable equipment the the Northern colors will be right •worthily borne in the coming contest. The Secret left Auckland at 2.40 p.m on the 11th with a strong N.W breeze, Messrs C. F. Hulme, Robt, Niccol, and G. Cozens being aboard, besides mariners. She was off Cape Colville at 9 p.m, a heavy sea running. The next day Tuesday there was lio-ht airs and calms, and Tauranga was made at 4 a.m on Wednesday, the anchorage being reached at 7 a.m. Having taken aboard Mr Thos Niccol, who is not only part owner of the yacht, but also designed and built her, the Secret left again at 5 p.m and had light airs all night, but next day had a fine westerly breeze, passing East Cape Islet at 6.30 p.m on Thursday 14th. It then fell calm, and all Friday the vessel was laying off Gable-end Foreland, but at nighta S. W gale sprang veering to South, and it was deemed advisable to run for shelter under the Mahia Peninsula It was a pitch" dark night, and the owners of the yacht desire to state how much they were benefitted by “Happy Jack’s” light, which enabled them to pick up their anchorage In the exceptionally thick and heavy weather that prevailed. Here (he yacht lay till Monday, the 10th, when she again proceeded, but when about twelve miles south of Portland Island another southerly buster struck her, and a thunder storm came on. accompanied with a deluge of rain that soon filled the waver casks-the sea was very heavy, so after beating against the breeze till night it was determined to run back for -Happy Jack’s,” which was accordingly done. On Tuesday the wind still continued, and our yachtsmen went ashore and proceeded to Walker’s station, where they procured fresh provisions for the ship—we need hardly say they were most hospitably received. On Wednesday, at 6 a.m, another start was made, and at noon Portland Island was passed ; light airs and calm" prevailed all night, but or. the next morning, Thursday, the 21st, encountered another southerly gale, which increasec as the day wore on, and (he gallant little craft was hove to. She was head reaching all night, and in the morning was right off Cape Turnagain, and next day Castle Point was passed. On Saturday, the 23rd, the wind shifted to N.W and blew hard, the vessel being off 1 Cape Palliser at 4a.m; attempted to run across Straits, but alter travelling twenty miles had to heave io with head to the S.W. the vessel making good weather under close reefed storm mainsail ana storm jib. While hove to a schooner running before the gale passed the yacht, and although not close enough to read her name, was without doubt the Columbia. At 4 p.m the wind moderated and sail was clapped on her, and she ran before the breeze for two hours, when she fell in with the tail end of a southerly gale. The sea was very heavy, and to add to the disagreeable state of things it fell calm at midnight, and there was a nice rolling match. On Sunday the breeze was S.W, and the Secret came up with the schooner that had passed her on the previous day. It then fell calm, with light airs, after which a N.E breeze carried her to Kaikoura, under which point she lay becalmed, in company with three schooners and a barque. At 8 p.m a strong southerly breeze sprang up, and at 4 a.m on Christmas morning the Peninsula was sighted fifty miles distant. The wind veered to S.E, and the Secret was able to lay her course lor Port Cooper. As they neared the land the wind came from E.N.E, the beads were made at 4 p.m, at 5.30 they were passed, and a few minutes after 6 the Secret dropped anchor for the first time in the placid waters of Dampler’s Bay.