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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 314, 12 October 1865, Page 2

Another vessel, the Dolphin, now lies on the north spit, high and dry at low water. She was towed out on Saturday, IGth inst., for the purpose of being employed in aiding the lightering of the Alhambra. But, as we learn from the Hotika Advertiser of the Idth, in mating the return trip inwards with her frieght (in tow by the steam-tug Y arra) sbo struck on the sand bank, and, there being a considerable sea on at the time, she was washed on the north spit, where she now lies, thus adding one more to the heavy list of the past month’s wrecks. When the Dolphin grounded, the Yarra was unable to move her, and it was necessary to cub the tow-rope, and leave her to her fate. The cargo has since been safely landed.

The old channel round the bend at the ex* tremity of what was the north spit, but may present be looked upon as an island, is gradually closing, and before long the cut off end may be expected to become the northern end of the south spit. Owing to the late freshes, the most recent channel is widening and deepening day by day, and will afford great facilities for shipping to enter should it continue to enlarge as it has lately done.— West Coast Times, September 19. The Bae at Hokitika.— The bar is now in almost an impassable condition, the late westerly winds have silted up the sand to an almost inconceivable extent. A few days ago there were fifteen feet of water, while yesterday a person might walk across it. Fortunately, however, the wind has lullde, and the heavy fresh down the river caused by the late rains will soon re-open the channel. It is fortunate that the recent arrivals managed to land their passengers when they did, ether wise they would either have had to lay off the port, or have carried them away to Nelson. It is to be hoped that the bur will clear before the William Mishin, Lady Darling, Gothenburg, Egmont, Maid of the Yarra, and other boats now daily expected to arrive.—Ibid, September 21. The schooner Tiger came to grief on Saturday, 10th inst., whilst lying alongside the Alhambra, in lightering her cargo. A very heavy sea was on, and she carried away her foreyard in the first place, and, in the second, got a tremendous shaking against the larger vessel, so much so, in fact, as to cause her to leak considerably. We are informed, but cannot vouch for the correctness of the statement, as no direct communication has been had from shore to her or vice versa, that the crew left her in the tug that took away the Alhambra’s passengers, leaving only the captain and a boy on board. During the whole of yesterday she showed signals of distress by flying her ensign with the union jack down, but the sea was too heavy for any boat to go 7 to her assistance. During the gale of last night it was thought that nothing could save her, and that she would have to slip and run for the beach, but we are glad to say that such was not the case, and she rode out the gale safely. It is probable, however, that she Jiad (o sacrifice a good deal of her cargo, which, ns in the case of the Dolphin, will raise some knotty points in reference to the question of general a verage. —Ibid. U.M.S. Esk arrived yesterch-y from a cruise to the (South Sea. Islands, having been absent from Sidney since the ISth July. Hie Esk made the

passage to New Hebrides in ten days, where she met H.M.s. Curafoa. The Esk went on a cruise tr> the Fiji Islands, and finally left Ovaiou for by tin ey on the 3rd September. Captain Robinson, of the brig Curlew, of Sydney, was arrested at Anatom, and has been, brought to Sydney to be tried on saspecion of murdering his mate. Five of the crew have also been brought up by the Est as witnesses.—Sydney Empire. September 23.