Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 563, 26 August 1869, Page 2

The s.s. Waipara arrived in port oarly on Tuesday morning. After discharging her cargo, she took the lighter Isabella in tow, and left for Okarito and southern jjorts. The schooner Three Friends, from Lyttelton via Brighton, was towed iv by thep.s, Dispatch on Tuesday morning. The ketch Jane Elkin, from Brighton, palled in over the bar on Tuesday morning. The p. 8, Lyttelton returned from Hokitika yesterday afternoon, and left at miduight lefrthe same port. iflKhe B.s, Alhambra is now hourly looked lot from Melbourne direct. On arrival she will take passengers for New Zealand ports and Melbourne. We are glad to hear that the Hokitika bar is once more in first-rate order, the fresh caused by the heavy rain on Tuesday night having caused the river to break through the south spit, Thep.s. Lyttelton reported yesterday that the channel at Hokitika had a Straight run out, carrying ten feet of water. The Aborigine, so long detained iv that roadstead, was towed in yesterdaj\ The s.s. Gothenburg, from Melbourne, arrived at the Bluff at daylight on Monday morning. She left Melbourne at 4 p.m. on the 17th inst., and passed through the Heads at 7 p,m. Cape Schank vn.Y passed at 9 p.ir. the same night, and Solander's Island at 8 p.m. on the 21st. Experienced fine weather during the passage, Ninety-three Chinamen ore on board, bound for Otago. Dr. Featherstone is a passenger by her for Wellington. ►'• The s.B. Onfto, from Melbourne via New Zealand ports, arrived in this roadstead early yesterday morning, and came to an anchor. Had her tender been here she could have worked both ports on the same tide, but as she was at Hokitika the Omeo was ordered on. She steamed for Hokitika, where she was tendered, and returned to this roadstead in the evening. About midnight the p.s. Persevere ran in with the Omeo's passengers and mails, and put on board of her a large number of passengers for Melbourne, and also 10,000ozs. of gold. She then left for Melbourne direct. The p.s. Charles Edward, Ca'pt. Palmer, from Nelson and Westport, arrived at the wharf last night at eleven o'clock. She left Nelson on Tuesday afternoon, ran into the Buller yesterday shortly before one p.m., oft on the same tide, and arrived as above. We have intimation by the present English mail of the completion of two other high class iron clippers—the Hoghton Towr and the Victoria Tower—intended for the White Star line of packets, trading between Liverpool and Melbourne. Of the Hoghton Tower, the Liverpool Mercury, of May 23, records that' "yesterday there was launched from Messis G. X, Clover and Company's shipbuildingyard, Woodside Ferry, Birkenhead, one of the finest and largest iron ships ever constructed on the banks of the Mersey. Her dimensions are.—Length, 240 ft.; beam, 39ft.; depth, 24ft, ; register tonnage, 1(500 tons; builders'tonnage, 1750 tons. She has very line lines, and in her model she embraces the essential qualities of speed and capacity. She will have iron lowermasts and topimtsts, and will be fitted with double topsail and topgallant yards—the former are considered by i most sailors as an innovation, but those who have tried them, and experienced their many advantages, speak of them in terms of the highest praise. The deck arrangements are perfect and compact; she has a full poop, veiy handsomely fitted for the accommodation of sixteen first-class passengers. The state-rooms are unusually large and commodious, and are replete with every convenience that the necessities or comfort of the most fastidious can possibly require or desire. The bath-room is remarkably snperior to those usually found on board ship. Beside the main saloon, which measures 40ft. by JBft., and is beantifullypanelled with polished teak and bird's-eye maple, finished off with fold mouldings,, there is a ladies' cabin, tt«^l up with everything that could conduce to xhe comfort of its intended occupants. Forward there is a lan»e deckhouse, containing accommodation for the petty officers and apprentices, engine-room, and galley, the Latter being cspecifllly neat and well arranged.; The crew ore provided for in the topgallant forecastle, which is fitted up with eveiy consideration for the comfort of • Poor Jack' ; and were ho always the object of such care, the tales which are so often told of his mnny hardships and ill-treatment would become mythical, and legislation for his protection, in this respect at least, -would be rendered quite unnecessary. The managing owners are Messrs T. H. Ismay and Co., of this town, and they have had her built specially for their well-known 'White Star' line of clippers. She was christened the Hoghton Tower (a place historically famous in tke annals of Lan.

cashire) by Miss Aline do Hoghton, who was accompanied by her father, Sir Henry de Hoghton, Bart, (from whoso ancestral seat the vessel derives hoi* name), and a few other friends of the owners and builders. She will sail for Melbourne ou tho 20th of June with a full cargo of geueral merchandise and passengers, under the command of (Japt. Di^by Murray, who is well and favorably known." Of the Victoria Tower, the Liverpool Telegraph of June 14 reports that "on Saturday last there was launched from the ship-build-ing yard of Messrs R. and J. Evans and Co,, Brunswick-dock, a beautiful iron ship for Messrs T. H. Ismay and Co.'s White Star line of Australian clippers. She was chris. tenod the Victoria Tower by Mrs A. M. Glassford, and is in many respects similar to the Hoghton Tower, belonging to the same firm. Her lines, however, are finer, speed having been more sought for than capacity, and if hopes which are justified by experience are realised, thero is little doubt but that she will prove a match to even the irost celebrated vessels in a trade in which this qualification is a primary requirement, and where it has attained results almost incredible. The dimensions of the Victoria Tower are — Length, 240 f t; breadth, 32ft 3in ; depth of hold, 24ft ; builders' measurement, 1750 tons ; register tonnage, 1550. She is classed AA 1 at Lloyd's with special mark, and her outfit and finish is in every detail of the highest character. Like her sister ship, she will have double topsail and topgallant yards, and will be furnished with a powerful steam-winch, adapted to be useful and available for every purpose which can accelerate and assist manual labor. Her saloon ond accommodation for passengers are most commodious, elegant, and comfortable, and can safely bear comparison with any of her competitors. The Victoria Tower will be commanded by Captain Kerr, late of the White Star, who is already celebrated as one of the most successful shipmasters in the trade. This fine vessel will take her place in the line as the July packet for Melbourne, and will sail with a full cargo of merchandise and passengers on the 24th proximo." Both these magnificent clippers will come out here to Messrs Lorimer, Morwood, and Rome.— Argus, 10th inst.