VESSELS IN PORT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 614, 25 September 1858, Page 4

VESSELS IN PORT.

Ship Zealandia, 1031 tons, from London. Barque Matador, 250 tons, fromHobart Town. Barque Federation, 187 tons, from Melbourne. Brig Mountain Maid, 192 tons, from Sydney. Schooner Francis, 102 tons, from Sydney. Scheoner Harp, 72 tons, from Sydney. Schooner Canterbury, 35 tons, from "Wellington.

The Annie has returned to port from the Waimakariri bar, without more injury than a couple of days hauling up has sufficed to remedy.

The steamer Planet has during the week executed a very smart trip to Gore Bay and back. She left port with a full cargo of station stores on Tuesday afternoon against a strong north easter, and arrived early the next morning. No boat nor men were in readiness, and Captain Swanson was obliged to go several miles inland to thentation to obtain assistance, by which the whole day was lost, the weather meanwhile becoming unfavourable. It was necessary to keep the steam np all night, to be ready to start at a moment's notice. Next day the cargo was discharged, the shoreboat not coming alongside till 10 in the morning, and from her being insufficiently manned, this operation was not completed till half-past 10 on Thursday evening. The little steamer then got immediately under weigh, and with fair weather during the night, arrived at Lyttelton Jetty at 8 a.m. on Friday morning. Only five tons of coals were burnt dnring the time. This trip is a good example of the way in which the PI .met is doing the work of our coasts

A. few days ago, at Cape Kidnappers, a piece of wreck and thwart of a boat were washed ashore. In the former were composition nails, and on the latter the name •• Bedgraves " burnt in. They are supposed to be.portions of the Panama, brig, that foundered early this year between the Chathams and the East Coast of New Zealand.—' Hawke's Bay Herald,' August 28.

The late gales, or rather, the terrible indications we experienced of a gale at some distance from land, have not, ag many feared, exercised any influence upon the Bar. On the contrary, Mr. Murray, the pilot, has been unable, on sounding, to find less than 12 feet at low water. Many changes, however, have resulted from the terrible sea that raged for many days in the Bay; not one of the least of which is the fact of the Bangitera Bank having shifted its position a little to the westward, and risen completely above the level of the sea. It now forms an island of stone and shingle, with deep water close to it, and is daily increasing in height. Its present dimensions are, —length 150 yards, greatest width 52 yards, height above the level of the sea 9 feet. It is likely, we learn from competent sources, to have the effect of improving the entrance to the harbour. The appearance of an island where, but a few days ago, there was a dangerous bank must tend to astonish matters of vessels upon their next approach to the port.— lbid.