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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1293, 20 September 1872, Page 2

The p s Dispatch, which has lately been strengthened and improved by the construction of a new paddle-box on her starboard side, steamed out yesterday to the roadstead, and returned with the schooner Sarah aud Mary, from Lyttelton. The schooner left that port on Saturday, and brings a mixed cargo of produce. The Dispatch subsequently towed out the Gleaner and Aurora. The steamer Lyttelton, which took a cargo of cool to Hokitika from Greymouth, is loading np at the former port with a second cargo of timber for Westport. The schooner Kaiumais advertised for sale at Hokitika. A rule for avoiding collisions at sea, discovered by Captain Charles James Perry, and read before the Royal Society of Victoria in November, 1567, has been lately under the consideration of the Steam Navigation Board, who, deeming the information to be of importance to seamen, have resolved to recommend to the Commissioner of Customs that the "golden rule " shall receive publicity in the columns of the Government Gazette. The rule is as follows : "Whenever the danger of collision pervades the courses of two approaching ships, each vessel maintains unalterably one line of direction or 'bearing' from the other throughout the progress of the ships towards the point of contact. So that if the light of an approaching ship hi the night time is seen after a moderate interval of tine to continue on the same* bearing ' as was first observed, it is a certain indication that tho danger of collision is involved in the courses of the ships ; but if the second observation shows the approaching ship to be upon a smaller angle with the course than that which was at tirst observed, it indicates that she will pass ahead, but if upon a larger angle, that Bhe will pass astern. Any alteration, therefore, in tho angle or bearing is a sign of safety ; but a continuance of the same nndo, whether it bo largo or small, is an infauiblo token of danger. This rule assumes that no alteration is made in the courses or speed of the vessels during tho short interval of sighting one another and crossing each other's track. The same rule applies in the day-time."