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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1301, 30 September 1872, Page 2

The port of Greymouth is at present entirely oare of snipping — a circumstance which has not occurred for a long time past, and there are only one or two expected arrivals constwiae, exclusive of the steamers. A serious, if not altogether irremediable obstacle, to the navigation of tho river in the direction of what is by courtesy called tho Cobden wharf, and to the proposed terminus of the Brunnerton tramway, has been caused by the formation of a shingle bank on the north side of the river to a point much lower than the ahinglc-banks have hitherto extended. It seems to be gradually increasing in dimensions, ami is likely to be the cause ot some deviation of the river-course, .unless the first heavy floods sweep it bodily out to sea. It interferes in no way with the ordinary navigation of the river, being considerably above, and away from, tho shipping berths. i'ellwurne papers say that there is a strong feeling in China in favor of establishing steam communication with Melbourne. The new iron clipj-er ship Halloween arrived at Sydney on the Bth Septembsr from London, completing her passage from the Channel to Sydney Heads in 67 days This extraordinary run uasouly been equalled by the Patriarch on her first passage, and, strange to state, the two vessels are now lying side by side. The Halloween was built by Messrs Mosely and Co, of Greenwirb, and intended for the China trade. She is truly a splendid craft, and symmetrical as a yacht. Her lengnh is 216 ft, beam 35ft, depth of hold 20ft. Sho has immense spars, and spreads an enormous amount of canvas. ♦From Captain Watt we leam'that he left London on the 21st June, but was detained in his passage down ""flannel until the lfrt July, on which date he took his departure from the Lizard. As the Keera was lately boing berthed at Wanganui, and just as she got a little above the steamer Wanganui, her heel caught on tho newly-formed shoal, and in an instant the heavy Ircsh miming at the time swung her round and jammed her broadside on against the Wauganui's . stern, which she damaged considerably, grinding off a lot of the ornamental work, aud starting two of the stern-plates, besides carrying away two t»f the Wanganm's warps. After a time the Kccra was got clear of the -other steamer, but only to get foul of her and inflict fresh damage. After several attempts the Keera xvaa at length moored outside the Wanganui, and a cessation of damages secured. The damages have been variously estimated at from LSO to LIOO. ,