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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 793, 10 February 1871, Page 2

The schooner Garibaldi cleared out for Hokitika with a cargo of coal yesterday, and will probably be towed to sea to-day. The s s. Alhambra, from Melbourne, bad not put in an appearance in the Hokitika roadstead when the telegraph office closed last evening. Her arrival may be confidently looked for during the night, and it is highly probable she will be tendered here to-day, and despatched with passengers for all New Zealand ports and Melbourne. The schooner Canterbury, Capt. Ruxton, arrived at Lyttelton on Saturday, the 4th instant, from Greymouth. The steamer Antrim took fire while conveying Mr Macandrew, Superintendent of Otago, and a large party from, the Head of tbe Lake to Queenstovm. . It was a narrow escape, aa there was a quantity of powder aad kerosene on ~hoar&. The s.B. St Kilda, Captain Flowerrfay, from Wanganni and Westport; arrived in tho roadstead early yesterday, with a cargo of cattle, and crossed the bar on the tide. Her cargo was landed at the lower end of the protective works, and she then steamed to the upper wharf, where she will take in passengers and leave a* one o'clock to-day for Wanganui and Auckland. -The s.s. Murray, Captain Palmer, arrived at the wharf at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, and will leave to-day for Hokitika.

It is a long time since Lyttelton was visited by such a gale as commenced on Thursday morning, and reported by tbe Christchurch papers The passengers by the s.s. Airedale, had the greatest difficulty in going off to that vessel, and several of them had to b<V taken in by the ss. Halcyon. As the evening came on the wind increased, and towards midnight it blew a hurricane. Thanks to the excellent mooring buoys, the large vessels at the wharves suffered no injury. We are sorry to say, however, that the schooner Bonnie Lass has met with serious damage, and had a narrow escape from the same fate as the Golden Isle, which was wrecked some months since oh the same spot. During the heavy south-west gale on Thursday night, the schooner that was made fast to the small buoy off the breastwork, met with considerable damage ; and if it had not been for the able assistance so promptly rendered, she would soon have become a total wreck. She had been loading a cargo for Auckland, at the breastwork, on Wednesday, having her chains shackled to the buoy, which is usual with vessels loading there, and to which she hauled off on that evening. The south - west gale came on that night, and continued throughout the whole of Thursday, which she rode out safely, and no danger was apprehended ; but at two o'clock on Thursday night, during a violent squall of wind, the buoy dragged, and she came broadside on to the heavy piles of the breastwork, soon tearing her to pieces, her quarter covering- boards and stancheona being quickly smashed up. Her bows also received serious damage, and the whole of the bulwarks being more or less broken up. Assistance from the John Knox, Joliba, and other vessels near, after great difficulty, succeeded in hauling her off and alongside of the Joliba, where she was made fast. The cargo that was on hoard being stowed aft, it was moved forward, as the sea was pouring in though the damaged stern, which required lightening. The watchman on the wharf, as soon as he saw the danger, went and called the harbor and station mas* ters, both of which were quickly on the spot, rendering assistance. There was about 13 tons of flour and a little bran on board, wLich will be partly damaged. . Captain M'Dona'd desires to return his thanks to Captain Jenkins and. crew, Captain Bowton and crew, Captain Gibson, and Mr Packard, and to all those who so kindly assisted in saving the vessel, which, he informs us, would very shortly have sunk where she was, had it not bsen for their valuable help. L'ntil the gale abates, and the vessel has been placed upon the beach, the amount of damage cannot be properly estimated. The schooner Kaimua, during the gale, dragged her anchors, and fouled the schooner William, doing considerable damage to herself, smashing her quarter, kc.— Lyttelton Titties.