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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1144, 28 March 1872, Page 2

The Kate Conley passed through Port Phillip Heads, for Greymonth, on the 15th inst. The Magnet cleared Port Phillip Heads, bound for Groymouth, on the 18th inst. On March 15, the Gleaner and Ceres arrived at Port Phillip Heads. The steamship Great Britain, on the 19th inst, had all but completed arrangements for the return voyage, and cleared out at the Customs next day for Liverpool She takes away an average number of passengers of all classes. Tbe Anchor .Liner Charles Edward, Capt. Whitwell, arrived from Westport and Nelson at 11 o'clock last night. She left Nelson on Monday at 11 p. in; arrived at Westport at 8 p.oi. on Tuesday ; discharged a large cargo, and left at 3 p.m ; came down the Coast under easy steam, arriving as above. She leaves this morning at 11 o'clock for Hokitika, conveying passengers and cargo for Brace Bay, Jackson's Bay, Big Bay, and Martin's Bay. Disappointments appear to be the order of tho day in Greymouth. Lately there have been several to chronicle in connection with shipping, but the disappointment experienced yesterday brought matters to a climax. Advice of the arrival of the Rangitoto was telegraphed here early on Tuesday morning, and, as might naturally be expected, the commercial community were anxious to get their correspondence, and those travelling (a very large number for coastal ports), anxious to get to their several destinations. From what we can learn from intending passengers, up to noon on the same day the agent Sere could not fix the time of her departure from Greymoutb, not having heard from the agent at Hokitika, but at 2 p.nx. passengers were informed that the Rangitoto would positively be despatched at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning. These ore the facts so far as we have ascertained. A heavy sea was rolling in all day, and the master at the signal Btation declined to let any vessel cross the bar. The Captain of the Dispatch declined to take the bar on the night's tide, and if was never for a moment anticipated bat that the Rangitoto would be found at anchor in the roadstead yesterday morning. The disappointment, therefore, was great when it w&b found that Bhe had proceeded to Nelson. Some fifteen passengers were in wailing to proceed to the coastal ports, on more or less important business; and, in addition to this, the Greymouth mails were carried on, so that the met can tile comma* riity (many of them large shippers by the steamers), were deprived of the, opportunity of replying to their letters by the Alhambra. Not only, therefore, arfl the outgoing passengers disappointed and the mails not landed, oat the incoming passengers have the extreme satisfaction of being for an extra 48 hours at sea, all being carried on to Nelson. With whom the blame rests is not very clear. It Is impossible to suppose that Capt. Mackie has .acted op to the instructions of Meows M'Meokan, Blackwood, and Co, by leaving (fee roadstead so hastily and unnecessarily. Had Captain Mackie remained until 10 a.m. yesterday moining, he would just have been as fir forward in Nelson, as in all probability D« will be now. . Everyone knows that tbe tide flows*, in Nelson one hour and a half •boner than in Greymoutb, and as Captain Maokio only left at 2a. m, he will be no sooner in Nelson than had. he remained to have laken his passengers on board, and disembarked the incoming pasaeogers and mails. It ia, at tbe same time, pretty freely stated that the Dispatch might have tendered tbe ocean-steamer had her owners so pleased, and, judging from the appearance of tbe bar on Tuesday night, possibly she might. Still, as the shareholders say, they run a large risk for a very small pecuniary benefit, and the \ Captain's instructions are not to take a risk he does not deem advisable. The bar no doubt, was very heavy on Tuesday morning's tide, although it fell quickly towards night, and, if informed correctly, we believe the Greytnouth bar has often been worked with a heavier sea and ro moonlight, even by the Dispatch. For all concerned, it is a great pity that the Rangitoto should proceed without being tendered, but Captain Mackie certainly does not seem to have been justified in weighing anchor and proceeding when he not only obtains no benefit* out in*

volves his owners in 'a heavy, loss, to/say nothing " of the; lncpn^Venience'df ! the public. This is not tKi-firejjJtinie thi| Whfdisappajntnieiit ha^iie^JPus.ed b'y&he abrupt de^ parture of the'santecd'mpany's sleamers from the Grey roadssMa^without an y apparent justification, and it is to be hoped tbat, for the future, more consideration will be shown for tholifterestsof a trade; which is already considerable, and daily increasing. , .While, this should be the base, any pbasibTe arawvd'' menb in the arrangements on shore should at ,once be made. There should be some unity of action between the agents, the owners or captains of tbe steam-tenders, and the captains of tbe ocean-going steamers, instead of these repeated misunderstandings. With the telegraph and signals available, each ahouldbe informed of tne other's movements, !and arrangements from the moment the steamers arrive upon the Coast. H.M.S. Cossack has arrived at Sydney, from Hobart Town. She will then refit, and then proceed to Fiji. H.I.R. Majesty s corvette Izamroud, that lately arrived in Hobson's Bay from Hong Kon r, is now on her second cruise round the world. She is a long low-lying vessel, and there can be little doubt sails remarkably fast, tbe stated speed under steam being given as about 12 knots. Her armament consists of three Gin steel guns on the Krupp principle, which carry shot with good effect 6000 ft, and four small guns for saluting purposes and using on shore. The Ismaroud is about 10 years' old, barque ringed, and propelled by engines of 350-horse power, but I" capable of working up to a much greater exI tent.