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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1198, 31 May 1872, Page 2

The s s Waipara arrived last night, from Hokitika, with the Greymouth portion of the Rangitoto's cargo. The as Wallabi did not leavo yesterday, as she had not received her full compliment of coaL It is likely that she will leave very early this morning for Weslport and Nelson. The s s Rangitoto remained in the roadstead on Wednesday night, and at 3.30 on Thursday morning the Dispatch ran out and tendered her. She then left for Nelson. Tnc schooner Gleaner, Le Brun roaster, was towed to sea yesterday afternoon by the pa Dispatch. She takes to Melbourne a considerable quantity of hides, skins, tallow, &c. The pa Charles Edward sailed yesterday afternoon for Westport and Nelson. The facilities afforded to shipping at the port of San Francisco masb be very great. At a recent meeting held at Auckland to consider the formation of a freight company, Mr T. Henderson, of the firm of Henderson and Macfarlane, stated that he had known a vessel of 1700 tons discharge her cargo and take in 600 tons of ballast in 37 hours at San .Francisco. The Gympic Times is informed that at the Noosa River, some men hooked a gigantic rock-cod (which seems to be identical with the Sydney groper, judging from the description given). It dragged the boat about for some time, but was at last landed with difficulty. It measured, we are told, Bft 4in in langth, 6ft 2in in girth, so must have been a rather corpulent individual ; its rotundity is partly accounted for, however, by the con« tenta of its stomach, viz., two young sharks, one over 3ft long, likewise eight or nine crabs, whole. The fish was estimated at scwt A public acknowledgement of the gallant conduct displayed by Captain Kin?, of the ship Calcutta, in navigating his dismasted vessel a distance of about 5000 miles into Melbourne Harbor, was made on the 20th, by the presentation to him of a testimonial from a number of the leading merchants and insurance companies. Several gentlemen assembled for the purpose at the Criterion Hotel, Collins street, at three o'clock. The attendance would have been larger but for the approaching departure of the mail. Mr Alfred Woolley was voted to the chair. He congratulated Captain Kinginhavingbrought his vessel into port, although a comparative wreck, without having gone out of his route. He had great pleasure in presenting to him a testimonial, signed by the first merchants and most of the insurance companies, and a purse of 95 sovereigns, as a mark of the appreciation in which his conduct was held. He had also been requested by a friend to present the captain with a gold pencil-case as a, mark of his esteem. Captain Ring responded in a few suitable words, expressing his gratification at receiving such a handsome testimonial for a feat of which he might say, as far as he was concerned, he had only done his duty. He had brought his vessel on safely as far as he could without loss of life. The appreciation which his conduct on a similar occasion had met with had probably acted as a stimulus to him to do likewise this time. There were many other shipmasters who would have done the same. Never to turn back when he could |0 on. had been his motto ever since he had been at sea. He was deeply obliged to the merchants and underwriters for their kindness. Champagne was then called for, and the toast of " Success and a Prosperous Voyage to the Calcutta " was drunk. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. The previous occasion referred to by Captain King was when he navigated the Sanvarang from Java to England, under somewhat similar circumstances. He was then presented with a silver tea service, a purse of 125 sovereigns from the Dutch underwriters, and alb wed 2 per cent, upon the value of the freight.