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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1398, 23 January 1873, Page 2

A very close race took place yesterday between the s.s. Waipara and the s.s. Kennedy, from Hokitika to this port. The Kennedy crossed the Hokitika bar first, but the Waipara beat her, and arrived first at this wharf, beating her on the run by ten minutes. The Waipara was to leave this morning, and the Kennedy to-day, for West- ; port. ! The p.s. Dispatch made a run over the bar ' in quest of a tow yesterday, but returned to port without sighting a sail. The following report of the late cruise of : the Luna, when she passed this port, is . from tho Wellington Independent of the ldtn instant: — The Colonial Government p.s. Luna arrived at the wharf yesterday at mid- . day. She left Bluff harbor on Friday, the : 3rd instant, and reached Preservation Inlet \ the following morning at daylight. -The . — Btunuur-i&ioborcri off Steop-to--or- Crayfish Island, where she remained until noon of Sunday, the sth instant. In the interim Dr Hector visited the coal workings and inspected the various seams in and about the Inlet, samples of which were obtained for analysis. The steamer. then proceeded up the Sound as far as Cuttle Cove, after which she left the Inlet by the north arm. Entered Chalky Inlet about midday, and cruised round the Sound, which she left the same afternoon, aud proceeded direct to Dusky Bay, where she remained for the night. At Dusty Bay an exploration was made by Dr Hector and party, which detained the ' steamer until Friday, the 7th, when the anchor was again weighed, and the vessel left the Sound by the inner channel leading to Breakaea. At daylight on Wednesday, the Btb;, she made Milford Sound, and on arriving at its head went aground upon a bank. Immediately before g«ing ashore the lead gavo ten fathoms, and before the man had time to throw it again the vessel had struck on the bank. The accident happened at the top of highwater._Before the_y_ei»sel .could be got afioat~tne coals^aboul; 80 tons) had to be discharged on the beach, which occupied all that (Wednesday) morning and the following day. The vessel was floated off with Saturday morning's tide, and, after reloading, sailed at noon on Sunday. A few hours were spent inspecting the greenstone rocks ' at the mouth of the Sound, after which the steamer proceeded on her passage north. On Monday afternoon she was off Hokitika, and landed two passengers on the beach. The same.eveuing, when off Cape Foulwind, she was overtaken by a heavy cross sea, which increased during the night. At daylight the following morning the sea was terrific, . and broke upon the deck heavily. One of the seas made its way down the stoke-hole . into the. engine. room, and the fires very narrowly escaped being extinguished. The storm continued with more or less fury all day. Towards evening the wind hauled to the south-west, and the sea fell rapidly. At dusk on Tuesday night she sighted Cape Farewell, and after a smart run across the Strait made the harbor as above. The passengers by the steamer speak in warm terms of the conduct of both Captain Fairchild . and his officers throughout the whole of the : trip. New York, already one of the most colossal cities of the world, is preparing for yet greater things in the future. William ■ Cullen Bryant's paper says that within ten years the blasting of Hell's Gate, now in j progress, will open up the channel, allowing ocean steamers to enter by the Sound in- • stead of going round b> the Bay, and so ' bringing New York twelve hours nearer Europe.