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Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 155, 10 January 1867, Page 2

We have to announce tlio arrival in the Grey of a small screw stcamor, the Halcyon, which will prove a valuable addition to our coasting fleet. The Halcyon is a handsome vessel of 65 tons, builders' measurement, and 25 tons register. She was built and is owned by Messrs Wing Bros., of Manukau Heads. She is SOft. Gin. long bptweenthe perpendiculars, and S3 feet over all, with a breadth of 13ft. 4in., and depth of hold 6ft. 4in. She has carrying capacity for about 30 tons of cargo, and draws when loaded sft. Gin. of water. She is fitted with two disc mnocting engines of 25 horse-power nominal, and twin screws, her average speed being 8 knots, but can do 10. Her engines were constructed by Messrs Hasfcie and Co., of Greenock. The vessel is built of the most faithful materials, her keel being iron bark, her timbers picked pohutakaua, and her planking heart of kauri. .She is an admirable sea biat, aud well adapted for the trade for wliich she is intended, viz., Fox's Paver and th 3 Pakihi. The Halcyon left the Manukau on the evening of Friday, the 4th instant, sighted Cape Egmont next morning, and was off Farewell Spit on Sunday morning. Arrived off the Grey on Monday morning, and steamed over the bar yesterday morning. The Halcyon brings twenty-one passengers, and reports that the steamer Tasmanian Maid may be expected shortly from the Manukau to be laid on for the West Coast trade. Fox's River Shipping.— We take the following from the Brighton Times of Saturday : —We have again no arrivals of shipping to chronicle, with the exception of the cutter . Hope, now lying in the roadstead, but no opportunity of discharging, the weather being too wet. Vessels in port are still the pchooners Enterprise, Three Friends, and Emerald Islo. All these have been nearly a fortnight here awaiting a favorable opportunity to clear out ; their chance of getting » way would at present appear quite as remote as it did a week ago. It is to be hoped that the weather will clear up as the tides are now becoming daily more favorable for their departure. The cutter Volunteer, which vessel it was anticipated would be pot off, is still lying in the sainq position a little to the south of the river mouth. Some slight attempts have been made at repairing the planks she had started, but it is no longer anticipated that .she will be cot afloat again. Wkeck of the Schooner Princk Consort '—We regret to have to record a deplorable accident which occurred in our rcadstead on Thursday evening last, in tho complete wreck of the schooner Prince Consort, of 35 tons register, Captain Ritchie, which arrived here last Sunday, from Lyttelton, with about 60 tons of eorgo. On Tuesday she discharged her cargo, and the captain was awaiting instructions from her owners, Messrs. Laurie and Gannon of Lyttelton, as to whether he was to keep his schooner here for the next month or two- to he employed in lightering wool off to theMelita, now loading ; Captain Beswiok, manager of the Landing Service, having applied for the vessel for that pur. pose. All Thursday ie was blowing stiff from the north-east, and there was a good deal of surf running on the beach, when at about half past-two o'clock in the afternoon the schooner drovo a short distance in shore, having but a single anchor down. A second anchor was soon dropped, and to all appearance the vessel then seemed riding easily, and in perfect safety ; the only possible risk was that being close in shore she was more exposed to the breakers than if she had hnd more offing. At six o'clock a sea struck her broadside on, and careening her over, the ballast— some sixteen tons of loose shingle . — suddenly shifted, and kept the unfortunate vessel hopelessly down on her beam ends. But three men were on board at the time, one of whom was washed off the wreck, and the other two stuck to the vessel till taken , off by the life-boat, which reached the schne i of the disaster from sixteen to eighteen minutes from the time of the accident. The life-boat had to be dragged by some forty or fifty men from the shed in which it is kept, to some little distance, as it could not be launched opposite the shed, the bad state of the beach at that spot not admitting of a free passage to the water. Eager volunteers rushed forward to man the boat, but Mr Mills, the head boatman, very properly preferred taking his own crew.. Mr Mills took the steer oar, and Mr Morrison the tiller, and seven men manned the oars. The Alexandra went through the surffin splendid style, arid in eight minutes after launching reached the wreck. The unfortunate men Avere got off with little difficulty, and in a few minutes all hands-reached the - shore in safety, amid the cheers of a considerable concourse of people ; assembled on the be ach . All interest was, however, just at this time, centered in the man who was washed off the wreck, and was now seen paddling with, one hand and /holy ing on to a large'spar amid the kelp. When near the shore, appearing exhausted, a brave fellow (Mr Berfcrand, of j;he Custom House— his nnme should be. widely known).-. rushed into the surf arid swam out to : the struggling mail. On reaching him he seemed toreceive

fresh pluck, and let go the spar. Mr Bcrtrand supported .him for a few yards, and then both the meif| who were splendid swimmers, struck out and were safely landed just before the Alexandra touched the beach. The captain and his.crew have lost all their personal property,, as with the exception of the heavy spars and sails, nothing could be saved from the wreck, which, soon after the accident, drifted on the rocks, where she now lies a complete wreck. The captain reckons his personal loss at something like LI OO. The vessel was, we believe, insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company. — Timaru Herald, December 22.