IMPORTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1782, 22 April 1874, Page 2

IMPORTS.

(A special charge is made on consignees' an- . nouncements inserted in this column.) Ex Waipara, transhipped ex Tararua, from Melbourne : 44 cases assorted fruit, Thos. Collins. Per Charles Edward, from Nelson. — Transhipped ex Phoabe, from Wellington, under bond : 10 quarter-casks brandy, 83 bags sugar. From Nelson, free and duty paid : 2 parcels, 2 cases, 2 bales, 16 cases 2 trunks, 10 cases, 2 trusses 1 bale, 30 bags mrlt, 3 cases, 12 sacks lime, 1 case, 1 roll, 1 box, 14 bags oats, 1 trunk, 1 case. From ! Hokitika : 1 bag, 1 box, 10 sacks oats. Per Waipara, from Hokitika.— Transhipped ex Tararua, from Melbourne : 3 packages drapery, 1 case blinds, 11 bundles gas pipes, 1 case, 12 packages, 25 casks butter, 2 bales flocks, 2 cases, 23 packages, 5 cases, 1 pack«ge, 32 cases fruit, 4 cases merchandise, 44 packages, 50 kegs butter, 3 hhds eggs, 3 parcels, 1 package, 1 trunk, 6 cases, 1 package cigars.

The p.s Charles Edward arrived alongside the wharf yesterday from Nelson via Hokitika at 3 p.m. She left Hokitika at noon, and iB announced to leave here to-day, but should the present weather continue, we are afraid she will have to remain at her moorings. The s.s Waipara left Hokitika at noon yesterday, and had to face the full force of the N.W. gale. She arrived at the wharf at 430 p.m. She brings the cargo transhipped ex Tararua, from Melbourne. The new wharf now being erected at Port Chalmers is 762 feet long. - Seven whalers have recently arrived at Russell, Auckland, the masters of which report that they have all been successful. A new steamer named the Hibernia, for the Cunard line, has been launched. She is of 4500 tons burthen. It is reported that the ketch Thames, ■while entering Broughton's Bay, Kenepura, on Friday last (April 3), was struck oy a squall of such force that the vessel turned turtle. The master Mr W. C. Smith, and the crew were taken from the vessel by a boat that put off from Webber and Gullery's saw-mill. Kenepura. — Marlborough Press. The Argus remarks : — "Among recent additions to the shipping list of the port of Melbourne is a strange-looking craft called the Sampson, which has been purchased by Masars M'Meckan and Blackwood, and is to be used by them as a coal hulk, from which their sea-going ships will draw their supplies. But though reduced by circumstances to this ignoble occupation, the Sampson has been engaged in some very exciting scenes in her time. While the American war lasted, as the reader will recollect, great activity prevailed in the ship-building yards of the northern combatant, and monitors and gunboats were turned out with marvellous rapidity. The Sampson was one of the; latter class, and was [sent to sea fully equipped and armed within ninety days of the date on which her keel was laid. > s he is a long, narrow, and shallow ship, having been constructed with a view to toe carrying a heavy armament on a light draught of water. She 1b 250 ft. long, and only 12ft deep. She is strongly built of oak, pine, &c . and is copper sheathed. She wi 1 stow 1600 tons of coal, and will no doubt prove most useful in her new sphere of action When no longer required for warlike purposes, she passed into the peaceful service of commerce, and for several years proved an effi ient carrier Coming to our port some months since with a large cargo of timber, : iled up to a height of 10ft. above her deck, she discharged it in good order ; but when it was proposed to put to sea again difficulties arose. She was found to be in want of rather extensive repairs, and as the money necessary to effect ; tb.ese were" not readily available, it was thought expedient to dispose of her for what Bhe would fetch. . fq she fell into the hands of her present owners. Messrs M'Meckan and Blackwood are giving the Sampson a thorough overhaul preparatory to mo./rirg her in the bay, to serve the purpose already described.