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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1394, 18 January 1873, Page 2

The s.s Alhambra is expected to be tendered here to-morrow morning atjten o'clock, when she will ship passengers and gold for Melbourne direct. The s.s Waipara, from Hokitika, arrived at 2 a.m. yesterday with the Greymouth portion of the Rangitoto's Melbourne cargo, which she discharged, and will sail again this morning at eleven o'clock for Hokitika. The p.s Charles Edward returned from Hokitika yesterday afternoon, and sailed again ia the evening for Westport. News comes from Valparaiso that Cape Horn is to be practically doubled no more. The difficulties of sailing round the Cape, and the dangers of passing through tiie Straits of Magellan, are to be done away with by the establishment of a service of steam-tugs in the Straits, for towiusr sailing vessels through tho narrow channel, thereby ensuring safety, and shortening the passage to the Pacific by at least a month's time. The Straits of Magellan will, in view of this enterprise, be carefully surveyed anew, and its dangerous points will be fully marked. The brig Wolverine, while on a recent trip from Newcastle to Melhourne, had a narrow escape :— " On the 17th ult., when about 50 miles N.E. of Wilson's Promontory, the weather became threatening, and the barometer fell to 29 24 ; sail was theu shortened, and the vessel's canvas reduced to two close-reefed topsails and foretopmast staysail at noon ; at a quarter to 2 p.m. the wind fell suddenly light, and the weather to the westward looked very gloomy. The helm was then put up, and the brig's head got to S.S.E., and just as tbis was accomplished a whirlwind struck her on the starboard side with hurricane force, snapping tho two topmasts off short to the caps, with yards, sails, rigging, aud gear, and at the same time twisting the head of the mainmast, smashing both tops short off, springing the foreyard, besides trasses and slings of the same, the whole of the wreck falling over to port. To add to the danger of the situation, the sea rose as quickly as the wind, which increased to a gale of unusual violence. As soon as the masts were over the side, the vessel broached to against her helm, and lay there until the wreck could be cut away to save the hull and get a reefed foresail set. During this time the sea had risen to a pitch of ungovernable fury, and made clean breaches over the brig fore and aft. When the wreck had been cut away it was found that there was a considerable quantity of water in her, and some hands were set to the pumps whilst others made every effort to get the foresail on her and to get her off before the wind. Captain Carr, however, findi g that she would not run before the tremendous sea that was after her under such low canvas, ordered a portion of the cargo- about 30 tons, more or less— to be thrown overboard to lighten her. The coals were taken from the forecastle hatch and straight aft, until she seemed buoyant enough, while the men at the pumps had got them to sack by 9 a.m. The galejpasted for 27 hears, and then moderated a little, when the square mainsail was reefed and set, and the vessel hauled to the wind. On the 21st ulfc. some very heavy weather was again encountered ; and on the 23rd, Captain Carr managed to get the btig into Twofold Bay, where she remained until the 31st, repairing damage and refitting as best could be done.— Argm.