IMPORTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 205, 7 May 1867, Page 2

IMPORTS.

Maid, troin Wcstpprt : 4 Miller.^p;* ' ' KXPOIiTH. Jggßrighton and Pakihi : 6lfpspr^<)tafr>esV For Padriving picks, 4 bundles shodo,' 1 do' blankets, 1 bundle 1 parcel, Morris Levy ; 20.r-caskswine, l'do brandy, W Wright ; 2 bundles bundles ridging, 3 cases boards, Holder; 3 bundles |veel nails, 3 bundles bar iron, ' J stuffier, 1 bundle quickland Masters ; 1 truss drapery, "po-wiii.l ; '42 bap aud 9 bundles nitric acid, 1 case sardines, 2 3 cases sundries, 1 parcel, 10 ; 1 parcel copper ta'ck3, Morris tents, Hosic ; 9 bundles potatoes, 4do salt, Cook ; 3 1 stove, 1 case glassware, 2 7 dozen shovels, 1 case picknicks. Morris Levy ; 3 r> 1 V udle > Thomas and r Charles' ou : 12 kjgs butter, 1 do castor off. Kennedy ca.se salad oil, 2 do, biitter, G do and Co ; 1 cheese, G bdls Levy ; 1 parcel, Kelly • 7 cases, Skoglund and Purecll ; 10 H^l F. Fishej ; 20 bags flour, 2 bo^cs butter, James Taylor ; 4 bolts tip pcrim, 25 kegs^aint, 2 drums 47 cases portei*, 10 casks ale, 1 M Levy • 2 case.", 2 retorts, HpPMcn* Zealand ; 4 bags coal, Forsyth ; 1 1 boxes, 2do sauce's, 8 crises 8 -5o axes, Ido salad oil, 2 qr-casks H^slcegs" do, 10 cases sarsapariila, 2 10 cases Ayhisky, 1 qr-tiei-ce. bags sugarj fl 'ca^esLirand^.lo xXo Lalf-cliests tea, 20 case's "porter, S 20 kegs butteiyr" case, 2 cases bundles copper, 2 niac-]i;iic-s, 2 cases, ling, 1 case 1 do painkiller, 4 do brandy, 20 5 cases hums, 5 do pipes, 5 do boxes soap, 2 cases vnnc, 2 kegs tacks, 2 cases sundries, 4 bags bottles quicfc'silvcrV ' ' for Brighton and Westpnj-t : boxes soap. 0 c.-^cs kerosene, 3 cwt case, M' Levy ; 1 bunille saws, 1 2 packages buckets, 1 cask ;ua, 1 1 .parcel, 2<evi:i-' 3 cases kcroiron, o biindles conppr, Levy ; quicksilver, Lewis ; 4 bags brandy, 2 axes, 1 keg 2 casea 4 1 do bitters, 2 do 3 kegs butter, 1 ca.'ie currants, 1 {package \mnV. r -l».est candles, 4 lulls bundle cop]ier, G lialf-chests tea, 1 case salmon, GJcnu Brothers ; 1 »ir-cask port* 2 bags, gait, 12 boxes case tobacco, 1 case soda, Griffon ; carpet bjig and swag. Frazer ; (5 ■BU Bank of New Zealand ; 6 kegs H, II c.-.se, Cassius and Coniiskcy ; 32 ■whlels, 2 kegs horseshoe.*, 2 bags' nails, Hi iron; 1 bun'dls barrow wheelsf 1 case H| kegs nails, 1 box tin, 2 sheets iron, Bjllc wi)-e, ForsytJi and Masters ; 4 ; building materials, Hokitika : S kegs butter, Maid, for Hokitika: 20 ki " s > V^^j* 40 tons bran, yesof ;'BJ'-

Hokitika, which port she left again on her return trip yesterday forenoon. As she approached the Grey, she kipt close inshore with the evident intention of crossing the ; bar. The red tidal ilag was flying at the signal station at the time, and there appeared to be plenty of water on the bar, but just as the Nelson put her nose into the break, the flag was whipped clown. Steam -was. immediately eased on the Nelson, and for a minute or so she appeared jto be undecided whether to run the gauntlet or stand off the shore, but her position was one of .danger and admitted of no hesitation, so her head was once nioie turned northward, and she ; steamed away on her voyage. Until we hear so.ne explanation of the affair, -we "must condemn the conduct of the signal master in leading a steamer into a position of danger, from which it might have been impossible to escape. The West Coast Times of Saturday in its shipping report gives an account of a race which is staled to have taken place recently between the steamers Dispatch and Southland, and which it is alleged resulted in favcr of the latter vessel. The race'is said to have occurred between the ports of Wjsstport and Pakihi, and judging from the report alluded to must have been an exciting one — a good deal too exciting we should imagine to the passengers on the Southland, which yessel we are told, was, before the start "like a hound straining at the leash" — leash we presume being in this case a figurative " expression for boiler ; the said straining being made evident by the escape valve "vomiting clouds of vapor." We do not know whether the shipping je^orttr of our Hokitika 'contemporary has faithfully recounted what took place on board the Southland, but if so, it is high time that a public protest should be entered against the dangerous practice of racing which appears to be getting a little too common on this coast. We are glad to be informed that no iflca of a race, beyond the ordinary rate of speed was entertained by the captain of the Dispatch, who consequently did nob 'impose any extra strain on the machinery or boilers of his vessel. We trust that the fervid description of matters on board the Southland is an exaggeration, for nothing can be more reprehensible than to place the lives of the passengers and crew in danger for the mere sake of gratifying an idle vanity. We may be tuld that no risk was run "on "this occasion — all we can say is that auy increase on the usual test sustained by the boilers of a vessel is attended with increased risk, and ought not to be allowed -except when circumstances of urgent necessity compel such a course. When we call to mind the fearful catastrophes that have occurred on the American livers through the same habit of raeiug we feel it our duty emphatically to censure the perpetration of a like practice on this coast. No good whatever is to be gained by these contests, whilst they may possibly lead to very seriou? calamities. A fair trial of speed corned out under proper supervision and caution may at times not be objectionable, but that captains of steamers should race their vessels whenever the lit seizes them is dangerous to the public safety and ought not to be permitted. We trust that the Directors of the Greymouth Steam Tug Co. will set an example by peremptorily forbidding their captain to race against any other vessel. Of course when we use the term "racing," we refer to such contests as dp not happen in the ordinary course of circumstances. Ship' Burning in Valparaiso. — Three Vessels Destroyed.— On the 9th February the American ship George Raines took fire f>nd was totally destroyed. On the IGth thf> American ship Flora M 'Donald took tire and was burnt to the' water's edge.'' Slje was loaded" with 2(300 quintals of' "copper in bars, a quantity of wool and other cargo As 'the vessel was beached the copper will be saved, but the other cargo was destroyed.- On the same day the American ship George the Fifth (under the Hauoverian flag), was discovered to be on fire forward, amidships, and aft. Prompt assistance being rendered she was got under weigh and beached. At the time the steamer sailed there were hopes of saving a large portion of her cargo and also the hull of the ship. It is *uspccte<l the crews were implicated in the destruction of the vessels, and they had been arrested and placed in prison,' but the investigation had not taken place when the steamer sailed. —Panama Star and Herald. Coaling Station for the P.,N.Z. & A. R.M. Co.'s Steamers s.—London5 .— London papers have the following in relation to a new coaling station in the Pacific :— lt appears that the Panama, New Zealand and Australian ' Royal Mail Company have decided to have a reserve coaling _ station at one of the islands in the Pacific in case of any of the steamers performing the mail service between Panama and Wellington and Sydney running short of fuel from stress of weather or any other cause. The island selected is called Oparu, or Kapa, and is in the direct course of the mail vessels,^ It has been ascertained from rciiiii&WSoTrrces that it possesses one oi^^sTharljors in the world, and th^^^julntioia consists of about 500 meuOif natives. The company's vessels hayj^, made ton successful voyages acrss^tue Pacific without touching at any JonTwliatever to coal after leaving Panama and Wellington, there will, under ordinary circumstances, be no necessity for the steamers to call at Oparu. Should it be decided eventually to connect Tahiti with this service, it could be arranged for them to touch at Opara every voyage for that purpose, and the mails for Tahiti could be forwarded to the latter island by a branch vessel from the former. In this way it is believed a lar"e trade would be opened up with the various islands in the centre of the Pacific.