SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2282, 26 July 1881, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OB' LYTTELTON. WMTEia Baronr—July 26. !) x.m. ■—Weather, cloudy. Wind, calm. Barometer, 29.95 ; thermometer, 39. Sigh Water-Tomorrow. Mornics, 1.4 j evening, 4.27. Arrived—July 25. Bowen, 8.3., B*4l tons, Darke, from Wellington. Call and Graham, agents. A brigantine was signalled from the South this morning, about seven miles from the Hoads. THE S.S. BOWEN. Toslirday afternoon the above-named steamer came ;n from Wellington, after a tventy-four hour.-' run, a very good passage when the fact that her propeller had but one blade upon it is taken into consideration. The Bowen was first signalled at about two o’clock. She is ono of tbo boats that wore built expressly for the Eastern and Australian Mail Steam Company, and though her mail-carrying days have been superseded by other boats, she has made a reputation for herself such as no company south of the lino need he ashamed of. It may be within the recollection of the readers of the Press that her name became rather noted in connection with an attempted piracy on the part of her crew come time ago. Upon her present voyage the- Bowen has been rather unfortunate with respect to weather, She left Poo Chow fortytwo days ago, and in the S-E trades met with very bad weather. Before she reached Auckland her propeller was stripped by racing of ail but one blade, and down the coast she has had Uttie else than the worst of southerly gales, exceptionally bad weather even for this season of the year. Her steaming capabilities appear to be very good, her average speed from Poo Chow up to the time of tbo accident she incurred being twelve and a half knots. Tbo model of the vessel is perfect, beautifully fine lines, and strongly built. Her appearance, allowing of course for extra tonnage, top hamper, &c . very much resembles the Government steamer Hinemoa, and as both steamers were built by Messrs James Keid and 00., of Glasgow, the similarity in that respect is probably the more apparent. The Bowen was built in 1875 for the company to which she at present belongs, especially for the Australian and China mail service—in other words, more with a view to speed than capacity for cargo. The contract for mail carrying expired in October last, since which she has been altered in her various compartments to suit the requirements of commerce. At present she is capable of carrying about 1800 tons of tea, when fully loaded, that quantity being on board when she left Poo Chew for New Zealand in June last. The crew of the Bowen is composed of men of almost all shades of caste and colour, and it is wonderful the wages some cf tbem are in receipt of. Firemen (Arabs) are paid from 15 to 17 dols per month. The quartermasters are Malays at larger wages considerably than this, and all the deck hands are Chinamen, to whom from 10 to 18 dols per month are paid. One carpenter (a Mongolian) draws his 25 dols per month, and is reputed to bo a first class man. Mr Peebles, the chief engineer cf the steamer states that he would not wish for bettor firemen than he has, and while admitting that twelve Europeans would be as good as sixteen of thorn ho considers them well suited to the trade in which the steamer is engaged. 3he Chinese, as deck hands, were complimented upon thuir efficiency by the officers generally. '1 ho dimensions of the steamer wore supplied by Captain Darke as follows: Length, 281 ft; breadth, 32Et ; depth of hold, 23ft ; The vessel’s gross tonnage is 1508 90 tons, from which after deducting engine space and crew’s space a not register tonnage is left of 814.16. Her power is 250 nominal, capable of working up to 1000, and her stroke 42in. She is capable of making an average speed of twelve and a half knots, upon a consumption 'of 22 tons of cool. Her saloon accommodation is commodious, and on her trips up to China is generally fully engaged. On the return trip the cabins are used for other passengers in the shape of chests, half-chests, and boxes of “ New Chop Young Hyson, Souchong, &e., &e.” The company to which the Bowen belongs is having two new boats built on the Clyde of great power, and capable of carrying 3500 tons of tea. At present, besides the Bowen, the company has only the Brisbane and Menmnir running, having sold two of their steamers to make room for the new ones expected. Before tbo Bowen made the heads yesterday she was boarded by Captain Galbraith, who came np with bar direct to the Gladstone Pier, where she was berthed at once, drawing 19 feet 3 inches aft. Tho following is a list of her officers : Surgeon, Dr. Hoskin; chief officer, Mr Peebles ; chief engineer, Mr Speedie; second officer, Mr Connal; second engineer, Mr Me One; third officer, Mr Weedles ; third engineer, Mr Thompson ; fourth engineer, Mr Bandall. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

Auckland, July 25. Sailed—Australia, for Sydney, at 6 p.m. ; Hawea, for the South, early forenoon, with the Southern ’Frisco mail. Hawea, for South. Passengers for Nelson—Mias Milno, Miss Milne, Mrs Collins and child. For Lyttelton— Mr and Mr and Mrs Hoskings, Mr and Mrs Pnllnam, Mr Hope, Misses Boulders (2.) For Dunedin— Captain Laing, W. Spears.