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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1048, 5 December 1871, Page 2

Blue sky was the general report from tlie telegraphic stations yesterday. Barometer was highest at Blenheim and Timaru, 30.10 ; and lowest at the Bealey, 27.63. Thermometer was highest at Napier and Oainaru, 61; and lowest at Queenstown, 50. The ps. Charle.3 Edward will sail for Westporb and Nelson at four oclock tomorrow morning. The S.B. Murray will arrive from Wesfcport and Nelson to-day. The little cutter Pioneer, from Eokitika, was outside last evening. The s.s. Waipara, with the cargo of the Rangitoto, from Hokitika, arrived in port yesterday, but we are unable to give the list of consignees. The rough draft of the manifest will be fonnd elsewhere. Thes.s. Alhambra arrived from Hokitika early yesterday morning, and was tendered, as soon as tide permitted, by the Dispatch, when she sailed away for Melbourne. The following is the passenger list pc* 1 s.s. Rangitoto :— Mrs Thomas Duncan, Messrs F. Hall, G. King, T. R, Butters, and Wood, and eight in the steerage. The schooner Ocean Bird, bound for this port, sailed from Lybtelton on the 26bh ttlb. A Melbourne contemporary gives the following description of the arms and flag of the kingdom of Fiji:— "The flag is half whit?-, half blue, and in its centre it bears a •crown above a crimson shield, with a dove and olive branch. The arms have a similar shield, with dove and olive branch, surmounted by a crown, the supporters being two cocoanut trees. Below is the motto, ' Rereveka na kalou ka doka na tui, ' which i 3 interpreted, 'Houor and glorj to the king; IJ - The JDunedin Echo says :— " As a whole, very few ship losses occur on our coast, aud, consequently, the few that do happen attract great attention. It seems that the Ahuriri struck on a sunken rock. Now, why was not that rock indicated by a chart and by a "buoy, oi by some other still more appropriate signal, if more appropriate signal there is ? Some one is to blame, and we know not who.It is not likely that the captain would have rim her on a sunken rock hai he known that such a rock had previously existed. On this subject we write with the fear of a writer who deals with a subject out of his element; but yet we know that many of the precautions adopted on land are not useless at sea. A ship, looked at from any point of view, is a most valuable property ; and it must be borne in mind that every such loss is so much deducted from the national wealth, although the owners are doubtless f-he greatest sufferers." The clipper schooner Mary Gumming, which left Melbourne in' March last for Starbuck Island, to be employed as a tender in the service of the Starbuck Island Guano Company, has again returned to port after a successful cruise:. During the time she has been engaged amongst the various islands procuring native labor and provisions, and has visited Honolulu, Maiden Island, ami H&rvcy's Group. She sailed from Starbuck on September 30, aud left six white men and 49 islanders there collecting guauo for shipment, and afterwards proceeded to Rarotonga, where she landed several natives and a quantity of cargo. From Rarotonga, which she left on October 16, she had fine easterly and south-east winds to Norfolk Island, .Which was passed on November 1. Captain Wigmore reports seeing a British man-of-war there, and also five whalers cruising off the . island. From thence fresh noith aud north- . «Ast winds were experienced to Cape Howe, which was passed on November 13, aud from Wilson's Promontory, which was rounded on November 15, the passage was marked by light westerly and south-west winds. The schooner brings a cargo of guano, aud has also brought back two anchors and 210 fathoms of chain, which she took from here with her. Notwithstanding her lengthened cruise, she looks in first-rate order.— Argus.