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Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2237, 9 October 1875, Page 2

The Waip3ra, taking advantage of an improvement in the weather, sailed for Hokitika yesterday,, having a few passengers, including the Provincial Secretary, who had been en a short visit to Greymouth . The steamer Kenuedy left Westport for the second time, .last evening, and is expected here on the morning's tide. Captain Conway is in command. On the 21st July, the first of tho fine new vessels being built by Messrs Palmer and Co in. Yarrow-on-Tyne, to the order of the New Zealand- Shipping Co, was launched and named the Orari by aneiceof the Hon. John Hall. She will be commanded by Captain Fox. The second ship will be launched on the 19th ihsfc,' and wil be named the Hurunui. -...,. Ttie schooner Unity was offered for sale at Wellington ; on the 29th, and was knocked down for LSOO, . ; The fine schooner Canterbury was sold by auction at Auckland on behalf of the owners in Chrißtchurch. There was a large attendance of bidders, and the bidding started at LSOO. After a short time the vessel was knocked down to Mr M. Nichol for the sum of L 650. Tho surveyors appointed to report on the condition of the Don Juan, now lying at Port Chalmers, have in their report, which fully sustains that previously made, and declares the ship utterly unseawprthy. Further proceedings are stayed in the meadtime. .-";; ' "■;'■' '•■' /7 ■ ' ' It waslately reported?that the brig Drover from Newcastle 'to the Thames, had put in to Sydney dismasted. The report contains events, of extraordinary .occurrence "n Saturday the 19th-ult. suddenly a dark cloud arose from the southward; Observed a large water-spout close off star-board beam Kept the vessel away to north to try to cl^ar it> :; - Commenced shortening sail within a iew minutes of observing the water spout. Suddenly caught whirlwind enveloping the vessel in foam, carrying away topm-st, topgallant masts, sails, everything belonging to them, turning the vessel round and round like.;a : :top for ten or fifteen minutes, the barometer standing steady at 30.20 the whole night. /;,,-■ ■ . ; The Auckland shipbuilding yards are increasipg in dimensions, and the number of craft of all descriptions turned out is really surprising. The yards afford a fine field for labor, employing as they now do — either in the- bniin- for timber, on-vessels employed in bringing' it up^to the yards, or in the yards themselves, engaged in the various branches of building— several hundreds of men. The foundries,, too, are all in good work, employing ,ten : tiieh for one they did two years ago. Besides the' Government steam launches recently turned but by Messrs Fraser and Tinne, two or three other steamboats for 'the river and coastal trade . have been built; while launches of yachts, schooners, and every description of small craft are matters of daily occurrence. '•',"" V