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Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 337, 12 March 1868, Page 2

We accidentally omitted to include the Jane Elkin in our shipping entries for the 7th. She cleared out on that day for Fox's, with the cargo originally shipped in the Louisa, and sailed over the bar on Thursday under canvas . The Panama Company have laid on an extra steamer, the Phcebe, for Sydney, which will leave this port to-day, taking passengers for the Queensland Gold Fields. The 8.8. Albion, for the same destination, sails hence en Saturday. The ketch Elizabeth, bound to Hokitika, dropped down the river yesterday morning with the intention of sailing over the bar, a fair breeze blowing down the Gorge at the time. On reaching the mouth of the river the wind failed her, and she was compelled to drop anchor, and was afterwards warped to the entrance of the North Lagoon, there beinj; no wind all day sufficiently strong to carry her out. A telegram was received yesterday by the Manager of the Grey River Steam Tug Company, stating that the Campany's steamer Dispatch will leave Nelson for this port on Saturday next, by which time her overhaul will have been completed. The Gothenburg, on her last voyage to Melbourne, took 300 passengers from New Zealand, of whom 250 were frqm the West Coast. We notice by a paragraph in the Wed Coast Times that the tug Challenge resumed work on Tuesday by towing out the schooner Banshee, bound for Dunedin. The p.B. Nelson, Captain Wbitwell, arrived at the wharf at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon from Hokitika. She left Nelson at 9 o'clock on Saturday evening, and arrived at Westport at 6 o'clock the following evening. There she landed ten tons i>f cargo and a few passengers, and taking on board fifty presenters sailed at midnight <»n Monday. Called off Fox's, and arrived at Hokitika at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning, where she landed a quantity of cargo and left for this port at 10 a.m. yesterday. We fear that another name, that of the illfated schooner Star of Tasmania, must be added to the long list of those vessels classed under the head of missing, as the latest Hobart Town advices to hand contain no allueion to her excepting that there she is given up for lost. The Star of Tasmania left this port for Hobart Town iv October Jasfc, and is supposed to have capsized and foundered in a heavy S.W. gale that swept the coast of Tasmania on the 21st November. A schooner named the Welcome w as caught in the san:e gale, and sighted the Star of Tasmania on the morning of the above day, kept in company with her until the evening, when she disappartd to leward, and since then she has not been seen or heard of. Mr William Fisher of this town, agent for the Star of Tasmania has received from Hobart Town an extract from 1 the Welcome's logbook, and also a statement made by her Captain in direct reference to the Star. These documents have been very kindly placed at our disposal by Mr Fisher, and we publish them as mementoes of the little schooner, and her worthy and amiable commander and owner, Captain Mi'.ander. Captain Williams of the Welcome says — " I came round Cape Pillar in the Welcome— a fore-and-att schooner, being then on our weather quarter, and not caring to be iv such close company, I ran off to leward and let ht r pass, then hauled my wind, and took the weather guage, passing close under her stein, on which I distinctly read the name ' Star of. Tasmania, Dunedin,' a white star being on $ach side of the word • Dunedin,' She seemed to have seen some rough weather, as a portion of her bulwarks was gone, but I presume there was nothing material the matter with her, or they on board would have asked us for assistance if such had been required, as the two vessels sailed in company for eighteen miles." Thus writes Captain Williams, The following extract from the Welcome's log describes the gale encountered by both vessels on the 21st: — "4 a.m., rouuded Cape Pillar, wind north, moderate, fore-and-aft schooner Star of Tasmania in company, 8 a.m., off Cape Roaul, bar. 29.50 and falling fast. 9 a.m., N.W., fresh, Star of Tasmauia still in company. 11 a.m., off Variety Bay, wind suddenly hauled to west 1 in heavy. squalls. 11.30 a.m., double-re<f jd |ore and mainsail?, stowed the jib, bar. 29.20. 12.30 p.ni., v wore round, being four miles eaßt of Franklin Island, very heavy squalls ; furled the mizen, heavy squall burst the staysail, whirlwind struck the furled mizen and carried away the sheet. 1 p.m., laying to under double-reefed mainsail partly lowered down, bar. 29.15, continuous and violent squalls. 3 p.m., galo slightly moderated, Star of Tasmania visible about six miles to leward off Adventure Bay." So ends the extract, but Mr Fisher's correspondent say*.

I that she drifted out of sight soon afterwards, \ and as the ensuing night was very stormy, it 1 ip feared slip was caught by a squall, capsized and went down. — We«t Coast Time*.