It is a very consoling thing that Westland Jins at least one i>ort tb,at can be depended pn as being accessible almost every day in the year. It is many months since it vas possible to say with Any regard for truth that the Grey bar was impassable through insufficiency of water, and now whilst Hokitika is almost a sealed port, Greymouth harbor is fa«ly entered by the largest of coasting craft. Yesterday the steamers Charles Edward, from Nelson, and the Star of the South, from Queensland and Newcastle, both unaWetp enter Hokitika, were compelled to seek the shelter and convenience <>f this port. The Charles Edward and the Star of the South have both heen knocking about ontBide Hokitika, the former since Saturday moruintj ami the latter since Friday, and were unable to communicate with shore except by signal. The Charles Edward crossed the bar soon affcr 5 oVoek yesterday afternoon, and cairn up tLp river gallantly in the face of a strong six-knot freshet. She will discharge her cargo for Hokitika into the p.s. Bruce, and will take her departure for Fox's and the Bulier to-morrow morning. The Star of the Sou^h would have had her cargo of live stock lauded two or three days ago had the captain been aware that the bar here was as good as it is. Yesteiday the wharf was made exceedingly lively through the arrival of steamers. No less than six fine steamboats were moored at the wharf last evening viz., the p.s. Charles Edward, p.s. Dispatch, p.s. Bruce, p.*. Persevere, p.s. Southland, and s.s. Star of $! c South. The Grey bar still continues in excellent condition. The channel runs st>aight out and has plenty of water, with tyery likelihood of this state of things lasting for some time to come. The p.s. Bruce left Westport at 4 a.m. on Sunday ; called off Fox'f, but owing to the heavy sea rolling in did not venture to run inside. Arrived off the G.rey at 3 p.m., and crossed the bar at 4 o'clock. Experienced a heavy sea during the passage down. On Saturday, the p.s. Dispatch ran outside on a prospecting trip; but the weather Betting in dirty, with every ptp3pect of p nt,inuingßf, sbc returned. On Sunday afternoon she again went outside, and brought in the schooner Fancy, from Pakihi. The Fancy left on Saturday morning. Thi> file steamer Star of the South, owned by Messrs Carey and Gilles, arrived in the river, in wake of the p.s. Dispatch, yesterday evening. Tbe St;ir is from Maryborough, Queensland, to which port she took her departure froiu Hokitika on thu 19th April, arriving after a quir-k aud pleas .nt p:issaf'e pn the 26' th. Afttr discharging her largo freight of passengers she was detained for poal until tho Bth May, on which day she sailed, aud crossed Wide Bay bar on the 10th. Arrived at Newcastle on the 13th, where 6l:e took in sixty head of cittle, and sailed agjiiu on the 23rd. Hail easterly winds all the passage, ;n I made Mount Uook on Friday laot, Bince when until yesterday she pas been knockii g at out the coast in frightful weather, being unable to enter tl.e Hokitika river, to wl.^ch port she was bound, i>wii)j{ to the bad condition of the lmr. Yesterday afternoon she hove up off this port, and in the evening the Dispatch ran rut to her assistance and guidance in entering the river Both vessels crossed the bar and came up the river in good Btyle. The Star brings her cargp of stock in excellent condition, with thu loss of only one head during the passage. Uhiough thu courtesy of Mr Gi!ks we aie put in possession of Sydney and Newcastle papers to the 19th and 23rd ult. The 8.8. Omcp, which after dodgingoutsii'e Hpkitika since Friday, arrived in this roadyesterday morning, but was not tendered until }ate in the afternoon. During the (lay it blew heavily from the S. W,, and the Omeo dip! not anchor, but cruised about under easy steam. The p.s. Persevere went put to her in the afterm on, aud transhipped a few passengers and returned tp the river shortly before six o'plock. A heavy fresh was coming down the river, and the little Persevere had quite as much as she could do evuu with tbe •n4 °f canvas, to stein the current. The Omeo sailed again for Hokitika.
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Bibliographic details
Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 372, 2 June 1868, Page 2
Word Count
736Untitled Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 372, 2 June 1868, Page 2
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