A DAY'S WORK AT HOKITIKA.

Grey River Argus, Issue 282, 2 November 1867, Page 2

A DAY'S WORK AT HOKITIKA.

The p. s. Dispatch, as previously announced, left for Hokitika on Wednesday last, to assist, if necessary, the stranded steamers, and bring in a few of the vessels so lone detailed in that roadstead. On the fol]<nving morning she commenced wovk, in compauy with the other tugs (which hail got off the ppit), and we cannot do better than give a description of the day's work as found in the Went Coast Times of yesterday :— " Once more there is a clear roadstead the efiecb oi one oi t^e heat tide's w<ick we ; ever had the pleasure of recording, certainly the scene enacted yesterday is without a parallel in the port's history, as no fewer tkan ' 21 vessels crossed the bar, twenty of them in . tow. The steamer Bruce made up the odd number. Excepting a slight mishap to the VaUaut-rCwhicb .we, can scarcely legatd vrltn. displeasure, as it produced a. display of seamanship on the part cf the tug master that we never saw surpassed — not a single hitch QC^megfto mar the proceedings that were HHRi with tbc liveliest interest \>y seariy H^^hmisandspectator*,' who. thronged the j.l°" C 3 cx P reßSe d their

Dispatch, which exciting a feeling of healthy rivalry, called into play the latent energies of our own men, who worked like tigers to secure a share of the splendid spoil at anchor outside, and also to outvie the interesting and unbidden stranger, who, however, held her < own beautifully', and proved a most formid: ablu antagonist to the staunch old Challenge. And here we cannot but congratulate the owners- of the tug Dispatch upon the success she achieved yesterday under the excelleut | handling of her commander, Captain Deare. I The ball was opened at a littjepast half tide by, the Persevere, which brought in J;he schooner Percy, and 10 feet of water upon the bar. Thefe-ites Yarra cast off moorings, aud made for the roadstead, folr ■ lo^ed by the (Challenge, \vith the brigaptine Lizzie Coleson behind her, bound to Sydney, j The l»ar was beautifully open. Scarcely did the Challenge gain the roadstead, when the Di&patcl . took up tl.p running, and w|th the brig Valiant in tow headed for the bar. She crossed it fairly, but kept the North Spit too close on board, and in consequence her charge grounded about midway between tho bar and Jih stranded Florence. This cn'retemps put the Dispatch upon her metal, ami called into , play all her good qualities, aud in no less degree tested the ability of her commander. Desperately did she struggle to get the Valiant afloat again, twipe slued her broadside to the current, and then hauled her i round head to sea, apparently with the iiu tention of towiug her ovt again. Meanwhile, ■ the Challenge had fastened to the barque Olencoe, and the Yarra to the Lauucestou Stormbird, and both made for the river, but observing the mess inside they eased steam, and wailed for a time ; but, impatient of inaction, the Challenge marie a dash for it, passed between the L ispatch and tho South { Spit, swept round the channel on its southern side in splendid style, and ten minutes later placed $hs barque ah ngs'de Gibson's Quay, j t>hf* then made fast to the John Bullock atul ' towed her out— (still past' the Dispatch) — and shortly aft' r was followed by the Persevere with two s -all craft -the Mary Anne and Standard —in tow. A most e:c_iting. incident marked their departure, for just as the Persevere breasted the sigual station the Dispatch sucr ceuded in dragging off the Valiant, and thv.g the entire width of the channel was occupied, the Dispatch being to the southward in the bight of the spit, whilst the Valiant lay right across the fairway. Retreat was simply impossible on the part of the Persevere, aud she accordingly 'adopted the daring alternative of passing, between the two vessels, and although the shave was disagreeable close she eftlclp I her purpose, ard with her two tiny tows astern cleared the river, whilst the Dispatch slued, head up stream and soon got steer;igewa> upon her tow. As she rounded hi North Spit a cry of "well dons Grey" arose from the crowd oi people on shore, and then three hearty cheers were given for the Dispatch, and respond id to by her crew, the shout being taken up by the VaJiaiu'o men who thronged the forecastle and hollowed, lustily, led by jolly old Captain Brodie. Cheer upon cheer followed from a crowd of lumpers and others on board the hulk Gratitude, aud were echoed back from the hundreds o.f people who. clustered upon the wharf. The scene was delightfully exciting ami infectious, aud the manner in which the Dispatch was received should at least convince our Greymouth friends of the i hearty feeling of good will with which themselves and their belougings are regarded by Hokitikians. Time aud space forbid our entering into a full description of the rest of yesterday's proceedings, sufficient if we say that each boat did •we)l ; that the Yarr.a , brought in the Storm Bird and Jane Lo«khart, and towed out the Elizabeth, and that the Dispatch secured the Ceres, Esperanza, and Sarah, whilst the Challenge did .the amiable for the Mary Cumiuing, Bella Vista, Storm Bird, and Pilot inwar.ls, and towed" out the !Bun«area.