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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1191, 23 May 1872, Page 2

The s s Murray from here to Nelson via Westport got safely into the latter port on Tuesday night, and having discharged her cargo loft again at 11 o'clock yesterday. The 8 s Kennedy has arrived at Hokitika audwas announced to sail north this morning. If the weather moderates she may bo expected here to-day. The barque Kate Conley is being rapidly discharged, a very large quantity of cargo having been got out yesterday. She will have quick dispatch, and will probably sail punctually to time. , A nice question, depending upon the exact hour of the shipwreck of a vessel which was insured by a time-policy, came bafore the Court of Common Pleas recently, in the case of Morton v Wylie. The policy on the ship in question, tho Lucerne steamer, expired at midnighi on March 19, 1869, and it was disputed whether the wreck and total loss, which occurred off Ushant; took place before the policy expired or«after. The counsel ou both sides argued from elaborate calculations as to when the ship could have been wrecked ; the plaintiff, who sued upon the policy, contending that already on the 19th the steamer was amidst the " grave of rocks" near Ushant - so that it would be probably before midnight; and the defendant arguing that on the afternoon of the 19th she had open sea betore her. The crew had all been drowned, and the evidence was that of witnesses from the shore, whose observations, however, were made under the disadvantages of thick and heavy weather. Eventually tbe jury found for the plaintiff, holding that the steamer was lost before the policy sued on had expired. The Sydney Morning Herald gives the folEsk, which sailed from Newcastle for Dunedin, but eventually found herself at Brisbane, in Queensland:— "The barque Esk arrived at Brisbane on March 10. Her cargo consists of 404 tons of coal and 11 tons of coke, less 150 tons of coal which were throw j overboard. The baaque was bound from Newcastle to Dune din, and had very tempestuous weather to contend with, wlrch, causing her serious damage, necessitated her putting into this port for repairs. The captain supplies the following particulars :— The barque left Newcastle on Monday, February 5, with light winds, which continued up till Monday, February 1 19, when a heavy gale commenced. During the forenoon a heavy sea struck the ship, and carried away the head-rails. At one p.m. the same day the vessel was struck by another sea, which carried away the cutwater and effected considerable damage on deck. On Tuesday, February 20, the ship was found to be making 2fcißin of water per nour, and the water-way seam was starting from the main-rigging aft. All hands were called, and. the ship was kept before the wind. The vessel was then found to be makiog less water by one foot per hour, It was then considered necessary to commence throwing cargo overboard. The next day the ship was making water at the same rate, and a heavy gale was blowing, the vessel being kept before it. On the 21st, cargo was thrown overboard, the vessel continuing to make water. On the 22nd, at midnight, a strong breeze sprang up, with every appearance of heavy weather, the barometer falling. The ship, was kept before the wind, and the watch kept at the pumps constantly. On examining the stores next day, it was found that they had been so much damaged by saltwater that they were unfit for use. La consequence of the bieeze being from the S. W by S. it was determined to make for Auckland. On March 1, while in lat 31deg 30min S, and lonql69degs4min, a heavy gale of wind sprang vp r and the ship was laboring greatly, and it was found necessary to put a chain across her to swifter her sides together. At midnight the ship had to be again put before the wind, and the mainmast was found to have settled some inches. The wind continued from E.S.E until the arrival of the vessel at Cape Moreton."