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Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1023, 6 November 1871, Page 2

A want long felt on the West Coast, viz., direct communication with all ports in the North Island, is now about being remedied, Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood and Co. having determined to rnn their fine line of steamers as far as Auckland, calling at the various ports on both East and West Coasts. From advertisement it will be seen the new service commences this month. The s.s. Alhambra arrived in the roadstead from Nelson on Saturday morning, and was tendered about midday on Saturday, after which she sailed for Melbourne, via Hokitika. The s.s. Charles Edward passed this port yesterday on her way to Hokitika. She will most likely eniir the river on this afternoon's tide, and $j announced to leave for the north on Tuesday Vat 3 p.m. After tendering tbe Alhambra, on Saturday afternoon, the Dispatch proceeded to tow iv the schooner Melbourne, from Melbourne. This sohooner is a new one so far as her -connection with this trade is concerned, but she has evidently done good service in some other part of the world, as she looks a weather-beaten craft. She left Port Phillip Heads on the 24th ulfc., and passed Kent's Group on. the next day, with light southerly and westerly winds. Made land on the 3rd, and crossed the bar about 2 p.m. on Saturday. The schooner Ceres was outside Westport yesterday, awaiting to be towed in by the p.s. Dispatch. In reference to the Rangitoto not waiting to be tendered at Greymouth the Nelson Mail, of the 2nd, says :— The fiangitoto left Hokitika at 7.35 p.m. on the 31st for Greymouth, and anchored at 9.40 p.m., made the usual signals (fired a gun, burnt a blue light, blew the whistle, fired rockets), and waited until la.m. ontho Ist, but seeing no sigus of the tender coining out, got under weigh and proceeded on the course for Nelson. The ship Sir G. Grey has been burnt in Colombo Harbor. A Russian squadron arrived at Falmouth on the 19th August, en route for New York. The correspondent of the Melbourne Argus says — "I have to report the grounding of another ivonclad. The Repulse is this time the unfortunate offender. iShe stuck fast on a bank in the Nore, on her way into Sheerness, but was got off at the next tide without injury. The Admiralty decision in the case of tho Agincourt has been generally approved by the country. Vice- Admiral Wellesley, C.8., who led tho line, and Rear- Admiral Wihnot, C.8., are directed to strike their flags ; Captains Wells and Beamish, of the Minotaur and Agincourt, are superseded j Staff-Commauder Kiddle, the senior navigating officer of the flagship, is placed upon pay ; and the captains and navigating officers of the Warrior and Northumberland, the ships astern of the Aginconrfc, are censured for not apprising the hitter of her immediate danger. On the other hand, Captain Lord Gilford, of the Hercules, is rewarded by a marked approval of the skill he displayed in rendering assistance to the stranded ship. It is to tho credit of Vice- Admiral Wellesley that he shirked no blame, and while others were for shifting -the responsibility at the court martial he offered his shoulders for the burden." A 3urious discovery has just been made in Chatham Dockyard. Some extensive alterations are being made in the river wall opposite No. 1 iron ship-shed ; the workmen, in order to ensure a good foundation, excavated to a considerable depth. When they had reached a depth of about 30ft they came upon the complete hull of a large vessel embedded in the ground. It is supposed to be the remains of the Sea Horse, a war vessel that sunk in the Medway more than a century ago, and was afterwards towed in to form a part of the retaining dockyard wall. The most curious part is that a large number of the timbers are in a perfectly sound condition, and the oak of which the keel is formed is as sound us when it was laid upon the slip blocks. Only one iron bolt has been found, the timbers having becu fastened

together by means of wooden "casks," and a large number of these are in a perfect state. 1 Captaiu John Meiks, who" in 1867 crossed the Atlantic on a life-raft, is preparing for another voyage to Europe on a smaller raft of similar construction. The raft is composed of inflated india-rubber tubes, which, when not filled with air, fold up in a comparatively small compass, but when inflated will carry all the persons that can crowd on it. The raft on which Captain Meiks performed his last voyage was 25ft long by lSft wide. He then had two men with him., A canvas tent was erected on the raft, and the three crossed the Atlantic, arriving safely in England in 40 days. Captain Meiks is now having another life-raft made, 15ft long and 12ft wide, on which he intends gome to Europe, accompanied only by a boy. He will be ready to start about the middle of August and will take with him 60 days' provisions. He intends taking the direct steamer track, and is confident of success. This is, we believe, by no means so silly a venture as lhat of the City of Ragusa. Captain Smith's raft is a genuine life-saving contrivance, the value of which its inventor proposes to prove by going across the ocean upon it.