IMPORTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1672, 13 December 1873, Page 2

IMPORTS.

(A special charge is made on consignees' announcements inserted in this column.) Per Alhambra, from Melbourne ; 40 cases fruit, 2 hhds eggs, Tuos. Collins.

The first arrival yesterday was the , steamer Titan, from Hokitika. Previous i to. her arrival it was known that Captain M'Meikan's father had died through the effects of a recent amputation of the leg? and by the Dispatch and Tauranga, the only vessels in port, flags were shown half-mast high, as was the case on board the Titan •when she arrived. Shortly after the Titan, the Alhambra, from Melbourne, arrived in the roadstead — the only vessel from Melbourne direct for many weeks past. She was tendered by the Dispatch late on the tide, but, with a smooth bar, the latter was able to return easily, and she brought a number of passengers, a quantity of light cargo, and a large mail ; the passengers including two well-known residents of Greymouth, Mr Martin Kennedy and Mr Coates. The departures were the Alhambra, which followed shortly after the Murray, and the Lioness, which left in the afternoon, with a number of passengers. The extraordinarily cheap fares which are now asked for between Hokitika and Greymouth — half-a-crown single ticket, or 3s 6d for a return ticketare inducing nr.any in both towns to travel much more than has ever been the case previously, and, if they are only continued, and the weather hold good during the holidays, it would be nothing wonderful to find ali Greymouth in Hokitika one week, and all Hokitika in Greymouth the next. The New Zealand Steam Shipping Company advertise the Taranaki for a grand excursion round the Middle Island about the end of January next. The steamer will start from Nelson, calling at all the ports down to the Bluff ; thence to Stewart's Island, Preservation and Milford Sound, and other sounds on the West Coast The tour will be accomplished in about a fortnight from the time of starting. The vessel will be especially prepared and equipped for the occasion, and no expense will be spared to * ensure the comfort of the passengers. The Renard, which has arrived at Sydney, brings the account of a fearful, massacre • perpetrated at the Solomon group. The ftenard picked up four of the missing men of the ship Robert Towns, on the south part of Malicolo Island, where they had been almost six weeks. The natives treated them well up to that time, but they were getting tired of the men, and it is not impossible they would have killed them. Captain Macdonald, of the schooner Success, went in the Renard to Malicolo Island, and treated with the natives for their release, which was conceded on payment of nine tomahawks. The sur- , vivor frequently asked what had become of the bodies of his shipmates, but the natives were quite silent on the matter. They brought him, however, a string of front teeth, which he believes belonged to the murdered men. The owner of the Jessie went to Apia to obtain the remains of the wreck of the Active, and went on shore. He then sent the boat back to the ship to obtain casks for watering, but. instead of sending them, the hands ■■ were taken on board, and the Jessie sailed, leaving her owner to his fate. Fortunately lie was discovered two days after by the ketch W. S. Fox, or he would have been killed. A pecuniary stimulant is again offered by the Otago Provincial Government to those who may feel disposed to' proceed on a whaling cruise and fulfil the conditions specified namely : — "The Government offer a bonus of L 250 to the first vessel which leaves the Province fully equipped for a whaling cruise ; also L 250 on her returning to the Province with a cargo of oil ; provided that such vessel is owned in, and hails from, a port within the Province j provided also that she carries at least five boys as apprentices." Wellington harbor, says the correspondent of the Dunedin Guardian, looks particularly Jively just now, from the large number of very flue ships now lying there, conspicuous amoog which 18 the Douglas, the finest and largest ship which has ever been here. In all her fittings and appliances, even to the patent double-top-gallant yards, she is a loDg way ahead of any trader I have ever seen, evea in Port Chalmers ; and her " tween-decks" is more like a noble hall than a mere temporary abode of wool, hides, and tallow. The Helen Denny, which came in with our latest batch of immigrants, is also a fine vessel, and is making rapid progress with her discharge of cargo. All her immigrants have been engaged at full rates of wages, with the exception of a few families which have been reserved for the Wairarapa; \ but these will be very quickly absorbed on j arrival at their destination. j A southern contemporary says : — The competition between the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Albion Shipping CompaDy (Dunediu) has resulted in a reduc ion of three-eighths of a penny in the freight of wool to England, the rates now being one half -penny for greasy, and five-eighths for washed. A considerable reduction has also ■ been made in the freight of wheat for England, the Albion Shipping Company's rate now being 45s per ton, instead of 65s as last season.