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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 40, 15 February 1877, Page 2

The Hinemoa left Wellington this morning with 80 representatives on board. She wili arrive this evening, and sail for Hokitika to-morrow morning, i The Charles Edward sailed for Wellington last evening, and arrived there at 6 # 30 this morning. She leaves on the return trip tomorrow. The Wallace sailed for. West Coast ports this morning. The schooner May has had a good turn of luck at last, having come" into harbor yesterday af ternoon af ter a successful trip to the Tata Islands.* - . Messrs M*s_eckan, Blackwood, and Co.'s S.s. Ringarooma, Captain Whitburn, arrived heTe at T6" o'clock this morning. She lef t Melbourne on February 6th at 10-40 a.m., passed Swan Island at 9*15 a.m. next day, hadlight E_S.E. winds the first two days out, - and then steamed against strong S.E. winds to. the Bluff-, "off which she arrived at 1 a.m." on .the Ilth, and entered the port at daybreak; landed mails and passengers, and left atr ; 7 ! a.n_.*i* arriving at Port Chalmers at 6 p.mi same day; left on the 12th at 4 p.m., and arrived at Lyttelton on the 13th at 3 p.m.; left that port at 6-30 p.m., arriving in Wellington at! 11-30 yesterday morning; left .again at 9 p.m., arriving here as above. Experienced light and .variable winds and very fine weather along the coast. A change has taken place in the command of this fine vessel since she was here last, Mr Whitburn, the chief: officer having been appointed commander. Mr Newman, late chief officer of the Albion, fills the same position on board the Ringarbdmal She will sail for South and Melbourne at 10 o'clock to-night. We mebtioned some time ago that Captain John* M'Lean, so well and so favorably known in connection with Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co.'s service, had determined to accept the position of Marine Superintendent of their fine fleet. A brief resume of the. colonial career of tbe jovial captain will not ; be. uninteresting to our readers. In 1851 he (l Jtpbk_ command of the steamer Victoria, built. at. Glasgow for the trade between Melbourne ; and .Geelong, and brought her out safely. "He remained in her two years, and then took charge of the Duncan Hoyle, and afterwards removed into the steamer Citizen. While in this vessel Captain M'Leair was a terror to the lightermen on the Yarra, as he used to drive so fast up the river, and cause such a wash as to break them adrift. In 1860 he took command of the Omeo, and in December of the same year paid his first visit to New Zealand. In the following year the captain was removed to the Aldinga, and was afterwards transferred to the Alhambra, and from thence to the Gothenburg. He afterwards took charge of the Albion and Otago, and when the Ringarooma came out he was by virtue of merit and seniority appointed to her. Our telegrams informed us the -other day that a subscription had been started in Otago for the presentation of a testimonial to Captain M'Lean, and we hear that the other provinces will shortly follow suit.