CUSTOMS ENTRIES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1136, 19 March 1872, Page 2

CUSTOMS ENTRIES.

INWARDS. March 18— Wai para, as, 48, Bascand, from Hokitika : 30 passengers. Nancarrow, Hendemon, and Co, agents. outwards. March 18-Nil EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Kate Conley, from Melbourne Alhambra, from Melbourno Kennedy, from Nelson Mary Gumming, from Melbourne Wallabi, from Westport. VESSELS IN TORT. Dispatch, tug-steamer Murray, from Nelson Charles Edward, from Westporfc Murray, from Nelson Tho ss Waipara ran up from Hokitika early yesterday morning with a number of excursionists for tbe races. The schooner Cora arrived at Hokitika wharf on Saturday from Dunedin, after ac» complishing tho entire journey from Port Chalmers Heads to the Hokitika wharf in four days twenty-one hours, being one of the quickest passages recorded. On the Port Chalmers graving dock being pumped out the other day, it was discovered that tbe old leak had considerably taken up since the sa Maori was taken in a few days ago. This is no doubt owing to mud from tho dredging operations being deposited underneath tho wooden pier-heada, part of which haa silted through towards tho auction of the leak. The dock of itself was found to be very muddy, which may be accounted for by the surface wash of the dtedge getting into the open sluices. If those were kept shot at all times the dock were unoccupied, and opened only at low water to admit of leakage going out, it would not only have a tendency to keep the dock more clean, but it world also, invite a high pressure outside to silt up tho leak, which it is believed sooner or later by this means would become a fact of the past. Again, outlay for cleaning the dock would be avoided. The ss Rangatira, which on the sale of tho old N.Z.S.N. Company was bought by Capt. Renner and a few other Wellington gentlemen, has ouce more become tbo property of the owners of the remainder of the old fleet. She was bought yesterday by the N.Z.S.S. Company for I believe LGOOO. She has recently nndergone a thorough overhaul, had a splendid new boiler put in, and may in fact be regarded as being as good as new, so that tho price is not an excessive one. Everyone hero is glad see this Company extending its operations, and to know that those operations are of a profitable character. The number of shareholders is very small ; in fact the Company was formed, and has been carried on by the energy and pluck of a few enterprising men. When the idea of buying the wreck of the Taranaki was mooted it was laughed at, yet from that small beginning has sprung the present Company, to whose existence Wellington certainly owes a great deal. The fleet now consists of the Taranaki, Wellington, Phoebe, and Rangatira, with . the Keera under charter. All these boats have, under good management, been making steady profits, although under the former proprietary they always managed to . make an equally steady loss. The fares and freights have been considerably reduced b> the present Company, yet, instead of showing any loss, the last half-yearly balance sheet, issued a few days ago, showed a dividend to the shareholders at the. rate of upwards of thirty per cent, per annum. As might be expected, , the shares are now at a premium, but there are noue to be had at any price. The Company is fortunate in having a careful Board of Directors and an energetic indefatigable manager. The Chairman of the Directors, Mr Byrne, went home by the last San Francisco steamer, and it is nndersteed that his object is to purchase some London liners, with the view of disturbing the very profitable monopoly which Messrs Shaw, SaviU, and Co have for years enjoyed of the diiect passenger and cargo traffic between this and London. It is also probable that when at home, Mr Byrne will arrange for the purchase of another steamer, or perhaps have one built specially for the Company.— Wellington Correspondent of Otago Daily Times. The Government steamer, under command of Captain Fairchild, accompanied by Capt. Edwin, of the Marine Department, and Capt. Louden, after leaving Otago Heads on Monday morning, arrived and anchored about one mile to the north of Jones Head, Waikouaiti, at 7.30 a.m. Captain Louden, with a boat* crew, then proceeded to the. Ahuriri Hock. On finding the rock a signal was made, and the vessel steamed towards i it, bringing up about half a mile off the part which was visible. A temporary buoyiwas placed on the rook. The Luna then proceeded to different points, taking bearings of its position, and determining the exact locality of the danger, which is slightly to the northward, but no closer in shore, than bearings formerly indicated. The whole of the coast from Jones Head was surveyed, and was found from thence to Pleasant River to be studded with detached rocks at from a mile to two miles off the land, with patches of kelp attached. From Jones Head to the anchorage of the Luna off the wreck, 11 to 21 feet was only found. Dirty weather coming on, the scene of operations was left, the bnoy lemoved, and steam got up for Port Chalmers— Otatfo Daily Times.