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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1207, 11 June 1872, Page 2

There were no arrivals or departures at the port yesterday owing to the heuvy rain that fell in torrents in the morning and prevented dii charging. The Charles Edward did not sail as expected. . The ss Rangitoto is expected here from Melbourne direct to-day. She will take passenger* to Nelson, all other New Zealand ports, and Melbourne, via the Bluff. - The ketch Jupiter cleared at the Customs, .Lyttelton, on the 4th instant, for this port, with a cargo of produce. We notice that the Harbor Company of Dunedin intend despatching a steamer for Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika on Thursday, the 20th June. By the San Francisco papers an unprecedented number of steamboat disasters are reported. In addition to the shipping catastrophes noted in our telegraphic summary, we have to record the total loss of the Pacific Company's boats— the Payta and Valparaiso —on the Chilian coast, and the stranding of the magnificent steamship Ocean Queen at AspinwalL The French steamer Avafo (says a Hongkong telegram of the 20th April) collided with the steamer Rona off the Chinese coast. The Rona sunk, and sixty persons on board were missing, and are believed to be drowned. From letters received by Mr H. H. Webb's chief agents. Messrs Henderson and Macfarlaae, of Auckland, a northern paper believes that " Mr Webb had made arrangements in San Francisco for the John L. Stephens, a boat eqnal in size and speed to the Nebraska, to leave San Francisco on the 22nd May for Honolulu, where she will tranship to the Nevada, which will leave for Auckland about the Ist Jane, and will be due there on the line for some time. The Dacotah was to leave New York in April, and would arrive at San Francisco in June, when she is to at once take her place on the line, and the boats are then to run right through without connecting at Honolulu." During the continuance of Mr H. H. Hall's service, the J. L, Stephens performed one or two trips as connecting boat between Honolulu and San Francisco, We regret to announce the total wreck of tbe favorite schooner Caledonia, Captain Walker, whilst coming out of Cat-, lin's river, with a cargo of timber, and bound to Dunedin. The Caledonia was 60 tons register, and was built by Messrs Armor and Richmond, her present owners, in Kilgour Bay, hear Port Chalmers, at the commencement of the Hokitika rash. She was for some r time employed in the lightering trade, after which she made several successful trips y to the West Coast. Since that trade diminished she has been fully .employed in coasting in all ports of the Colony, and never met with any accident of moment. All hands are saved. The loss is partly covered by insurance. Captain Deane, of Melbourne, has purchased the steamer Williams from A.B.N. Company. The United States Signal Bureau achieved a great victory last March, in forewarning the whole Union of the destructive nature of a terrible Southern cyclone. The tempest was noticed at the signal office early on Friday morning, then in the Gulf, creeping stealthily along, preparatory to its grand and violent outburst over the country, and its approach was fore-announced to all the Atlantic seaports twenty or twenty-four hours in advance. It is of the utmost importance to the country that General Myer should bave telegraphic weather reports from the West Indies, to ensure similar success always, and to enable him to warn the Gulf ports, which are most exposed, because first overtaken. No department of the Government lias done more for the honor of science and the good of the people, according to its means, than tbe Weather Bureau ; and the whole nation will be disappointed if Congress does not provide for it most liberally and ?it it upon the best possible footing.— New or J: Herald. * The Admiralty bave issued a notice to tbe effect that 3500 boys will be required annually for the British Navy.