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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 619, 6 January 1870, Page 2

The Sarah and John and Jane have- sailed from Melbourne for this port, and the Magnot, 10, and Black Hawk were ou the berth when the Gothenburg sailed. The s.s. Omoo, from Nelson, is expe2t»d to drop anchor in the roadstead during the night. She is announced to be tendered this morning, at ten o'clock, when she will ship gold and passengers for Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney. The s.s. Gothenburg, from Melbourne, arrived in the Hokitika roadstead at 9.30 p.m. on Monday, after a very good run from Melbourne of five days. She reports having left Port Phillip Heads at 7.30 p.m. on the 291h ultimo, and experienced light north-e.iat winds for the first three days, then fresh southerly winds were prevalent nntil her arrival in the roads as above. She was tendered by the Persevere on arrival, and also the following mi'rnini;, but ifc was Tuesday evening until she arrived here, with her tender in tow. The Persevere brought ashore 12 passengers, and took out 7 for New Zealand ports, and 39880zs of gold shipped by the Bank of New Zealand for Lyttc-lton. She then left for Nelson, and the tender returned to port, " The ketch Elfin cleared out for Melbourne at the Customs yesterday with a cargo of bones, hides, &c, and was towed to sea in the afternoon, The B.s, John Perm is announced to leave this .port to-morrow for Westport, Nelson, and the Manukau. The s, s. Charles Edward is expected shortly from the Manukan. She is annouueed to be despatched from this port ou the 10th for Westport, Nelson, and the Manukau. A simple but useful instrument, called Adkin's patent compass detective, has been Drought out by Captain Perrett, of the Wax c of Life, and there is no doubt that every ship, more particularly iron ones, ouuht to have one ; as a single glance at the instrument carries conviction with it that the error or variation of a compass can easily be ascertained either by day or night if any of the heavenly bodies are shining brightly. It consists of a compass card slung on gimbles. the card beiug moveable to any point by hand, and being there fixed as though pointing to the, head of the vessel. A couple of uprights are in tho oentre of the card, and to them are affixed a couple of arcs. On the side of one the latitude is to b 3 set, and the middle one having a needle through its ceutre has to be moved baok wards and forwards until the shadow of the needle reflected from the sun, moon or star, strikes the south point, the difference of which from the compasses being the variation .or .error. The instrument will be sent up to the Chamber of Commerce so as to enable those interested an opportunity of inspecting it. — Age. Not only is curiosity all alive respecting the fate of the Royal Standard, but considerable apprehension is felt regarding the sufferings of her passengers. The naws suppliea us by telegram is so mtajro that nothing can be gathered from it.sa v e that the f)assengers and crcv/ t.f the Royal Standard lave been saved, and the wreck of the ship Bold at Rjo. From t!ie home papers we learn that the Rpynl Standard passed Deal, bound fur Melbourne, cm 13th August j wns off Plymouth on the 17th, and landed her pilot at Fallnouth ou the 17th. Since that date nothing furthei of pews has reached the colonies save that by telegram. The following is the pas* stnger list of tho ill-fated vessul :— (Jal-in : Mr aud Mrs Lawrence and family, Mr and Mrs Miller, Jno. Walke», Alfred Owveloy, J)r Cortis. feecond class: Mr <>. W. Rcea and wife, Mr T. A. Heather, Miss Northcoto, Mqssis Wiiliain and Richard Bastard,

Mr W. Gibb, Mr C. Williamson, Miss Stpdnart, and Mr Fitzgerald In addition to the passengers, the Royal Standard was in Hobson's Bay last sho had been changed from a steam vessel to a sailing one. During the Abyssinian war she was engaged as a transport from India Immediately after the termination of that engagement, the Royal Standard proceeded to England. Hei engines were then taken out of her aud she was refitted for merchant service. Messrs Anderson, Thompson and Co. were the charters of the vessel for this trip, and had succeeded'iu proem ing for her a good freight. *— Argus.