VESSELS IN PORT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1392, 16 January 1873, Page 2

VESSELS IN PORT.

dispatch, tug steamer Charles Edward, from Nelson

Early yesterday the s.s. Rangitoto arrived off Hokitika, from Melbourne direct, but owing to the heavy sea running on the bar and the fresh in the river, she could not be tendered. Should the sea go down during the night, she will be tendered and come on here this «fternoon, when she will be despatched for Nelson, other coast ports, and Melbourne, via the Bluff She bringß 50 tons of cargo and 40 passengers for the West Coast. *■' The p.s. Charles Edward is expected to leave this morning for Hokitika. Advices from Kochefort state the Rhin steamer, just arrived in that port, has accomplished one of the most rapid voyages known. She left Toulon for New Caledonia in the beginning of February, and has thus made the tour of the world in seven months and a few days. The Jura, which preceded her by six weeks, is still at sea. It the Ehin does not stand in need of iepairs, she will immediately re-commence her Bervice in convej ing convicts. A strange occurrence was witnessed by Captain Nash and his men in taking^ the little steamer Milagro from Callao to Eten. Just after leaving the Guanape Islands, a shoal of largo fish came crowding " into the screw of the little steamer in such numbers as actually to stop the engine, and the engineer had to reverse the engine to clear the screw before proceeding. An incident in the voyage of the barque Royal Sovereign, which arrived yesterday fr>m Hong Kong, in which the vessel had a narrow escape from undesirable visitors, is told by Captain Kindred. On the evening of « 'ctober 26, during a calm, the barque wna set by the swell into a email bay near Serang Point, on the north-east side of Balli. Just before dark numbers of natives gathered close to + 'ie vessel, and after making a large fire 'they commenced to beat their drum-* and to»n-toms, and make the night hideous with thfiir noise. Several canoes and proas were also observed stealing out from under a point about a mile south of the barque Altogether appearances were assuming a decidedly alarming aspect, and to add to the peril of the barque's situation, she was still drifting inshore and there was no anchorage. About 10 p.m., however, a strong smell of smoke indicated a breeze off the land, which freshened, and eventually freed the vessel from her dangerous position just as a large proa bad come so close that the natives could be heard talking tc each other. As the barque had too much way on h^r, it is conjectured that the natives i-onsiiered discretion the better part of valor, and refrained from boarding her. — Argus.