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Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 995, 4 October 1871, Page 2

Weather gloomy and overcast, with bars good, was the telegraphic report yesterday. Barometer was highest at Napier, 29.99 ; and lowest at the Bealey, 27.41. Thermometer was highest at Napier, 60; and lowest at Queenstown, 48. The B.s. Waipara left Hokitika on Monday night, and crossed the bar early yesterday morning, bringing up the cargo transhipped from the Gothenburg. : The s.s. Wallabi sailed yesterday morning forWanganuL The p.s. Charles Edward is announced to sail for Westport and Nelson to-night. She arrived in Hokitika yesterday. The Steam Navigation Board held au inquiry into the causes which led to the grounding of the barque Rachel on her voyage from Foo Chow to Melbourne. The evidence of • lohn Walters, chief officer, showed that the vessel left Foo Chow on the 30th June. On the 2Sth July she was off

Aloo Strait all day. Had seen the land the day previously. On the 2Sth the wind was light and baffling all the day, but freshened at night, and the ship was placed under topsails and jibs, and kept so all night. About seven p.m., the ship being about twelve miles from the entrance to the straits, she . about five or six miles from land. There was no sign of shoal water, and the vessel was going from six to six aud a half knots, with her head to W.l#W. A strong current setting to the eastward was experienced. The ship came off in a few minutes, making no more than her usual quantity of water. Further corroborative - evidence having been given, the Board came to the conclusion that the grounding of the ship arose from «the irregularity of the current, tfs mentioned in Hosburgh's director, and from an error in judgment on the part of the master in not making sufficient allowance -to counteract it. The Board, not attributing any blame to Captain Robert Frith, returned him his certificate.