IMPORTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 823, 17 March 1871, Page 2

IMPORTS.

Per Wallabi, from Westport: 30 head cattle, 100 sheep, 10 pigs, 1 horse, Seaton and Davidson ; 1 horse, Hughes.

The s.s Kennedy, Captain Whitwell, returned from Hokitika last evening, with a considerable number of passengers for the races. She will leave this afternoon for Westport and Nelson. The s.s Wallabi, Captain Daniel, arrived in the river early yesterday morning from Wanganui and Westport. She landed a small cargo of cattle and horses at the lower end of the quay, and then steamed to the wharf, where she took in coal, and left on her return trip for Westport at 6 pm. The 5.3 Murray is expected back from Westport this morning, with passengers for the races.

The cutter Glimpse was out in the late south-east gale on the East Coast, and must have felt its full force, as she has arrived at Napier a complete wreck. Three of the hands had a very narrow escape of being drowned, having been washed overboard by a wave. A boat belonging to the Provincial Government, and intended for the Warehama Ferry, was carried away, as well as everything on deck.

The s.s Gothenburg is the next steamer due on the New Zealand coast. She was to be despatched from Melbourne to Bluff Harbor on the 11th inst.. and may therefore be expected to arrive at that port at any hour. She will continue her journey round the Coast ports, and be finally dispatched from hence on her return tri-p aboafc the 22nd inst.

The Suez mail is due at Melbourne on the ldbh inst. The Rangitoto, oi Messrs M'Meckan, BlackwooA and Co's line oi steamers, was advertised to leave that port direct for Hokitika on the arrival of the mail steamer in Hobson's Bay. It is jusfc possible the mail may arrive a little earlier this month, and should such be the case, the branch or interprovincial steamer may be despatched at an earlier date than the 16th, Her arrival may tbu3 be looked for about the 20th instant.

The schooner Spray, of Lyttelton, arrived at Wellington on the 3rd instant, after a boisterous passage from Lyltelton, During a gale on the morning of the Ist she was caught in the Strait and lost her bowsprit, and had to run to the Sound for shelter.

The following is the finding arrived at by the Court which investigated the loss of the s.s Airedale: — "We have carefully considered the whole of the evidence which has been brought before us to-day. The case, we believe, has been thoroughly exhausted, and every atom of testimony which could in any way explain or nccouut for this unfortunate calamity has been laid before us and sifted to the bottom. The Court, assisted by the Nautical Assessor, can only arrive at the irresistible conclusion, that the loss of the s.s Airedale was the result of natural causes, and that it is not in any way to be attributed to neglect, carelessness, or incompetence on the part of her captain or any of his officers. We are further satisfied that, when the accident had happened, everything w;is done that could be done to secure the safety of the passengers, and preserve, as far as possible, the cargo. We shall take care to report to the Government the praiseworthy conduct, in this respect, of the officers and crew. We have great plea&ure in returning the certificates that have been handed in to us,; and we can assure pap baiii Kennedy, in pai'ticulaiy thn&liis honored and respected name and "character" will not, and cannot id the least degree be affected by the misfortune, the cause of which we have this day investigated." The Court then handed Captain Kenuedy and his officers their certicates, which closed the sitting. The steamship Queen of the Thames left Hobson's Bay on her return voyage to London via the Cape of Good Hops. The result of her passage home will be watched with considerable interest as an experiment which may or may nob have an effect upon onr future mail carriage. The ship was comfortably filled with 190 passengers in all, 150 of those being first and secend class passengers. About fifty people, mostly friends of passengers, went clown with the ship as far as the Heads, where they were taken off at Queen scliffe by the steam-tug '.Resolute, which had proceeded there by arrangement. After a parting cheer from both vessels, the Queen of the Thames proceeded through the Heads on her' voyage. The Sandridge pier was crowded with spectators anxious to watch the progress of the Queen of the Thames down the Bay. — Argus.