PORT OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 739, 14 May 1853, Page 2

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS. MaT n_New Zealander, 14 tons, Te Matahu, from Taurangi, with 300 kits potatoes, 8 kits onions. _ Mar 11 —Ann. 22 tons, Adams, from W aiheki, with 23 tons firewood. Mav It-John, 28 ton S Maddooks, from Mahurang., wiib 28 tons, firewood, Passengers—Mr. J. A. Mav 1 i -'• Star, 17 tons, Harrison from Waiheki, with 24 tons fiiewnod. Mav 12—Francis, 20 tons, James, from Cororaandel, with try-pot, spars & rigging ex Lalla Rookh. May 12—Odd Fellow, 20 tons, Tanner, from Waiheki, with 22 tons, firewood. May 12 —Daniel Webster, barque, 298 tons, J. S. Macfarlane, from Sydney. Passengers—Messrs. McLaughlin, McDougal, Miss Lynch, Miss A. Lynch, Mr. Powell, G. Living, J Wren.—J. Salmon & Co., agente. DEPARTURES. Mav ii Ann, 22 tons, Adams, for Waiheki. May 11—John, 28 tons, Maddocks, for Mahurang}", with cask pork, 2 bags sugar, package tobacco. Mav 11 —George & Mary.. 16 tons, Hanley, for the Bay of Islands, with 119 lbs. tobbaco, bale slops, hhd. rum, 2 chests tea, 2A do. do. half ton sugar, case drapery, truss slops, "package saws. Passengers—Capt. Bolger, Mr. Tanner, & Mr, Ralston. May 11 —Napi. 17 tons, Stewart, for Ngungura, with case, tobacco, case sundries. IM PORTS FOREIGN. Per Daniel Webster, from Sydney;—lß chests congou, 27 $ chest do, 3 pipes port wine, 324 bags suoar, 10 a casks port wine, 535 bags sugar, 22 hhds. rum, 50 boxes pipes, 80 boxes soap, 1 bundle iron, 50 boxes candles, 20 cases bitters, 10 \ chests tea, 12a bags sugar, 20 J casks wine, 10 cases sherry, 10 cases champagne, 50 cases geneva, 130 boxes candles, 60 soap, 12 casks beef, 500 sheep, 7 horses, 3 cacks preserved meats, 2 bales canvas, 1 ton white lead, 2 bales gunuy bags. 7 bales sacks, 1 case prints, 4 bales slops, 17 cases pipes, 3 '.on salt, 6 casks soda ash, 2 bales cottons, 2 bales mats, 31 kegs paint, 1 bags corks, 50 cases groceries, 50 bags rice, 4 bales calico, 215 bags sugars, 30 doz. spades, 1 case trowers, 1 cwt. rivets, 1 ca;,o slops, 1 case pipes. Vessels in Harbour. Victoria, Government brig, Captain Deck. Cashmere, ship, CIG tons, Captain Pearson, arrived from London, discharging.—Brown & Campbell, agents. Daniel Webster, barque, 298 tons. Captain Macfarlane, arrived from Sydney, discharging.—J. Salmon & Co., agents. Delmar, Chilian barque, 238 tons, Captain Thayer, loading for Sydney.—J. A. Gilfillan & Co., agents. Eliza, barque, "200 tons, Captain Bates, loading for Melbourne. —Br'n & Burtt, agents. Margraves, brigantine, 196 tons, loading for Sydney. —J. WoodLase, agent. llioinama, schooner, 68 tons, Captain Sturley, from Ilawke'a Bay, discharging..—J. Salmon & Co., agents, Invincible, barque, 290 tons, Captain Bolger, arrived from Ajelbnurne, loading with timber, &C, for Melbourne. — Henderson Se Macfarlane, agents. Jane, barque, 328 tons, Captain Grange, arrived from San Francisco, for Melbourne.—W. S. Grabame, ag-nt. Smyrna, American whaling barque, 230 tons, Captain Toby, arrived from whaling grounds.—Bain & Burtt,

ag<-nts. Velocity, schooner, 170 tons, Captain Cobben, loading tor Melbourne.—J. A. Gilfillan & Co., agents. Waterlily, schooner, 155 tons, Captain Hay, arrived from Hobart Town.—Brown & Campbell, agents.

The Harbinger.—The General Screw Steam Shipping Company determined, in November, to establish a Jjiir of their powerful boats to Melbourne and Sydney, vhich resolve, it appears, has been carried out without loss of time. Since then, no vessel has arrived to apprise us of the progress of the Com party's plans, till the fir.-! of the fleet—the Harbinger herself—drops anchor in one of onr ports. This vessel, which arrived in Hohson's Bay on the 21st instant, has made tha passage in 75 dnys, hut. ns we believe she has only a small mail, we probably shall not gain all the advantage, from her passage which could be desired. Among the passengers by the Harbinger are Mr. Falconer, of the London Chartered Bank, and Mr. Napier and Mr. Brammell, the Managers for Melbourne and Sydney. She has .£237,681 in specie on board, £70,000 of which is for the Chartered Bank, and £30,000 for the Great Nugget Vein Gold Mining Company. The specie to be brought on to Sydney is £"85,071. Mr. Lewis Filmore, accredited correspondent of the Times, has also come on: to Melbourne by the Harbinger.— Sydney Empire,

April V 6. Steam to Australia.—Southampton, February 11. —The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's iron steam ship Harbinger, Captain Lane, sailed shortly after noon to-day for Port Phillip and Sydney. In order to make the quickest run out that may be possible, this steamer will only touch at the Cape of Good Hope. She took out a heavy mail, consisting of ship letter bags for the Cape, Port Phillip, and Sydney, and 64 passengers, among whem is Mr. Falconer, the manager of the newly projected London Chartered Bank of Australia, who proceeds with a staff of clerks to commence banking operations in Australia. By the Government contract mail steamers to Australia via the Cape, the postage charged on a letter under half an ounce is Is., whereas lexers forwarded by the Harbinger, and by the other vessels to form .a continuation of this line, and which, in consequence of the Company not being fettered with an Admiralty contract, come under the denomination of "ship letter*," are taxed by the Post Office- authorities with only Bd. postage on each half ounce. This reduction in the postage of one third not only insures a conveyance by fine and rapid steamers, but these vessels and actually hold out the promise of being able to perform their passages with much greater cel-irity than the Government packets, which, being bound to call at many ports, en route, waste much time and cause delay in theconveytneaof the correspondence of which they are the bearers—so much so, that every steamer of the subsidised line (the Australian Royal Mail) has hitherto been beaten out and home by clipper sailing ships. The general Screw Company are preparing large ships of great tonnage and power for the Australian service, and it is therefore hardly too much to expect that they will monopolise not only a large Bbare of the commercial buisiness, but will, as mail cariies (at a rate of 33 per cent, under the Government price), to a great, extent supersede the contract postal arrangements.— Times, Fchruary 12.

The first annu.il meeting of the Pacific Mail Steam Company was held this afternoon, at which the report was adopted, 'lhe following is a condensation of the principal points, the whole of the discussion being merely of a formal character:—"The Directors have to announce that her Majesty has been pleased to grant her royal charter of incorporation, limiting the liabiliiies of the shareholders to the amount subscribed, find that the Company's deed of settlement has been duly executed. The number of shares subscribed for and paid on, is 12,126; leaving in the hands of the di rectors 374 shares, which will be issued as they may consider desirable for the interests of the company. After various consultations with persona in England and Scotland best able to advise as to the size and models requisite for the service, the directors invited the nu'st eminent builders and engineers in the United Kindgom to tender for providing the Company with live i;on crew seam-ships ; and they have the satisfaction of informing the proprietors that they have entercd into contracts with the following firms respectively ; Messrs. Caird and Co., the Kangaroo, 1550 tons, and 300 horse power ; Messrs. Hied and Co., the Dinomis, t,030 tons, and ,300 horse power ; Mr. Robert Napier, Emu, 1,666 tons, and SOO-horse power; Mr. Robert Napier, the Black Swan, 1, 620 tons, and TO horse power; Messrs. Miller and Raven bill, the :' jenura, 1,0(0 tons, and 300-horse power. The directors expect they vull be in a position to commence

i;u\\ cifM-ratione, the builders having undertaking to it iii-er the first vcs.-l in June next, the others to follow in monthly succession. The contracts were entered into previous to the late advance in iron and. other

materials. The reports lately received of the progress r-f the Panama Railway are satisfactory. It being es--ei:ti..l to the success of this undertaking that there should be Bufficent and ample means of communication b tween England and Panama, the directors have the satisfaction of informing the proprietors that, in addition the semi-monthly service of the Royal Mail SteamPacket Company, from Southampton direct to Colon (Navy Bay), passengers will also be booked through by the ships of the British and North America Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company from Liverpool via New York to Colon, and thence to New Zealand and Svdney." The departures from London for the Australian colonies during the past week again numerone. They con-

eisted of three vessels to Sydney of an W*£* 8 bqrden of 919 tons, two to Port Pbill.p of Mlfijtonj one to Launcestoii of 401 tons, one to Hobart low.i of 381 tons, and one to Auckland, New Their total capacity is consequently 3281 tons Large shipments continue to be made of manufactured goods wine, beer, &c, but the late high quotations for freight are not in all cases supported.— Times, February 14. The number of emigrants who sailed from Liverpool for America and Australia during the month ending rebruary 12, was 5134,—a less number than had been known since February, 1847. The Derry Castle sailed on the 7th of February for Australia, with 360 Government emigrants, including 250 single women, principally Irish ; and the Sea sailed on the 10th of the same month, with 310 Government emigrants. The Emperor was to sail for the same destination on the 16th; the John Fielden the week after, and four or five others in the succeeding week. The following steamers for Australia were to leave in February. The A. R. M. S. N. Go's steamer Australian, February 19 ; the G. S. S. S. Co's steamer Hellespont, February 26; the steamer Iron Prince, from Liverpool. February 22nd. The Antelope screw stearr' •, was to leave Ciueenstown on the Btli of March ; and t e steamer Duncan Uoyle, to leave the Clyde, date not given. A small screw Bteamer named the Ann, left Southampton at the begining of February, for Sydney. She was 240 tons register, and was sent out ior sale. Unprecedented Passage to Australia and Hack. —The fine clipper ship Marco Polo, J. N. Forbes commander, (one of Messrs. James Baines and Co.'s black ball line of Australian packets), arrived in the Mersey about noon on Sunday last from Melbourne, after one of the most remarkable voyages ever recorded. Ihe Marco Polo sailed from Liverpool on the 4th July, and her outside run is sixty-eight days. She sailed from Melbourne, on her return, on the 11th of October, and arrived at Holyhead at 3 p.m., and in the river as before stated ; having, as will be seen, made the voyage in the unprecedented space of five months and twenty-one days. On the homeward passage she ran 316, 318, and 306 miles, during three successive days ; and on several occasions made seventeen knots an hour for several hours together.— From the Liverpool Mercury, Dec, 28 The steamer Australian arrived at Blackwall on the 15th January, having been 117 days on the voyage from Sydney. The gold was removed the same day in two waggons, to the Bank of England, amidst the cheers of a large multitude, who accompanied the waggons through the streets. The Emigration Commissioners had taken up the Bloomer and Earl of Elgin, to sail for Sydney in March.

The Times of January 18tb, announces the destruction by fire of the St. George, emigrant ship, from Liverpool to New York, off Cape Clear. A great number of her passengers, consisting of women and children, perished in the flames.

VOYAGE OF THE ADELAIDE.

The following interesting particulars (says the Cape Toivn Mail) of the voyage of the Adelaide as far as St. Helena, were published in the St. Helena Herald during the vessel's stay at that island. The writer, the Rev. Mr. Young, is, we understand, proceeding on a deputation from the Wesleyan Conference, to visit the missions in Australia and New Zealand. In a second letter, addressed to the Mail, he states some further particulars of the voyage to the Cape, which wiU be read with interest by many. To the Editor. Dear Sir—ln compliance with your request to give you some account of the voyage of the Adelaide from Fngland to this Island, I furnish the following statement of facts for the information of your readers: The vessel was advertised to leave Plymouth on December 14th, but being unexpectedly "detained by the Admiralty, she did not sail before the 18tb, when, about 4 o'clock p.m., we weighed anchor, bid farewell to our friends, and passed the break-water in gallant style. The captain and his officers inspired confidence in the passengers, and those of us who had been in the Melbourne congratulated each other on our greatly improved circumstances, fully anticipating a safe, speedy, and pleasant voyage. But how short-sighted is man! During the night the water broke into the fore-part of the ship, and the stream was so powerful that it speedily filled that compartment of the vessel. Alarming as this accident undoubtedly was, there was something still more so. The ship, from what cause J know not, refused to obey her helm; and but for the great skill of the captain, we might have bpen driven on a lee shore. We of course put back and reached Plymouth Sound the next morning—l hope thankful for our escape. After the Adelaide, subjected to the dockyard inspection, had her rudder unshipped and altered, and other improvements made, we left the " Sound" on the morning of January 3rd, on a trial trip ; and after beating about for some hours, we returned to land the gentlemen who had been testing the vessel. The trial was pronounced b'ghly satisfactory, and about 4 o'clock we finally proceeded on our voyage. The wind was directly a-head, and in a few hours increased to a gale; but as the- ship had been pronounced by legitimate authority quite seaworthy, and as the ability of the captain was undoubted, we had no fear as to the result. The passengers retired to rest, hoping that the elements in a few hours would be more propituous, but in this we were disappointed. About midnight, I was suddenly aroused by a shriek of some person, and immediately got out of my berth. All was darkness, but I heard a frightful rush of waters, and soon ascertained that the sea had burst into the ladies' saloon, and was rapidly inundating our Bleeping apartments. My cabin was ankle deep, and many others were in a similar state. Suitable measures were promptly used, which afforded some protection, but did not wholly prevent the water from coming in. Our circumstances were undoubtedly those of peril as well as discomfort, and fearing that the severe straining and jerking of tie vessel might result in something more disastrous, we anxiously waited for the morning light. The gale which stove in and carried away one of our life boats, continued with more or less severity for three days, and most of the first class cabins were flooded and rendered uninhabitable. The ports are evidently too near the water line, and must in their preseut state always be unsafe in turbulent weather. Nor was this the only cause of alarm and discomfort to which the passengers of the Adelaide have been subjected. On the morning of the 6th, about four o'clock, the alarm of fire was given I There was an immediate rush on deck. Spontaneous combustion of the coal it is believed was taking place, which filled the fore part of the ship with smoke. The fate of the Amazon came with peculiar force to the mind. The night was dark, the tempest high, the 6ea raging, and it is not marvellous that in such a combination of frightful circumstances some parties should have manifested great alarm. Both fire and water now seemed in league to effect our destruction. It was a solemn moment!— But the Lord was merciful. By prompt and judicious measures, the catastrophe so much dreaded, was happily prevented, but as some of the coal was very inflammable, and ought never to have been put on board, we had frequent returns of the alarm, and it was not until the 20th that the indication of fire entirely disappeared. Too much praise cannot he awarded to Captain Jackson for the skill with which he managed the whole of this perilous affair. We arrived at St. Vincent on the 7th, but to our dismay found no coal. After waiting nine days, a partial supply arrived, and subsequently another conl vessel fortunately put in to find a market. Our captain purchased the cargo, and after a delay of 17J days we left that most uninteresting place. On February lOth we crossed the line. The day began with a good deal of pleasantry, but soon became chequered. About two o'clock a youth fell overboard ; a life buoy was immediately thrown to him, but which he was unable to grasp ; a boat was lowered with all possible despatch, and as the men pulled with great energy, it was hoped he might be saved. It was a time of intense suspense. For a few minutes hope and fear alternated. The truth, however, was soon made manifest. Just as the boat reached the place where he had been floating, it is thought that a shark drew him under water, and he sank, to rise no more. Ho was an only son. On the 13th one of our boiler stokers died. He had been unwell before leaving England ; and on the night when the alarm of lire was given, he took a severe cold, which resulted in a galloping consumption. He was very anxious for spiritual advice, ani his last expressions were sorrow for sin. In the evening bis funeral took place. The corpse, sewed up in a hammock, was brought to the lee gangway, where it was placed upon » plank, and covered with a union jack. The bell was tolled, the ship arrested in her progress, and the crew and passengers drew near to witness the affecting sight. The sun was just sinking below the horizon, fringing the clouds with various hues of light and giving to the heavens the impress of beauty and serenity. The evening was calm, and the troubled ocean seemed to rest. The usual form of burial at sea was adopted, and when I read " we therefore commit his body to the deep," a sudden splash in the water produced a powerful thrill in many a heart.

The body at once disappeared to await tbe last trump when the sea shall .give up the dead that is in it. W . sooner had the benediction been pronounced, than tn Captain cried "Go a-headl" A-head we went, every man returned to his post as if nothing had occurre-. A subscription, however, was commenced amongst the passengers for the benefit of the newly-made .uulow and her three helpless children, and I am happy to say that in a very short time, the handsome sum of about ±,pU was realised, and which the crew subsequently augmented to upwards of £63. This whole bus been placed in the hands of the Captain, to be forwarded to the bereaved ones. . On the iGth, it was found that our coal was insufficient to take US to the Cape; we therefore altered our course and steered for this island. The screw of th» Adelaide cannot be lifted, and in consequence of some peculiarity in her construction, she will not steer without steam whilst the propeller is in the water. Being therefore dependent upon fuel, and not only for progress, hut also for the supply of fresh water by means of condensed steam, the captain unquestionably adopted the most prudent course. We reached this port on th 20th, and again were we destined to meet with disappointment. We found no coal in the market, an I are necessitated to do the best we can to obtain wood. 1 do not like, without good and sufficient cause, to express any censure on a public company, and it is but justice to the company in question to state that several coal vessels had been despatched to St. Vincent, bu that the heavy and continuous gales in the Channel had prevented their timely arrival; and also to state that the Adelaide has been found to consume a much larger quantity of coal than the Directors were taught to "believe would be sufficient. But whilst I readily make these admissions, I nevertheless have a very strong opinion that more care ought to have been taken to provide for contingenties. Had less merchandize and more coal been received on boa.d at Plymouth, we might have avoided the delay and expense incurred at St. Vincent and St. Helena. When, as passenge s.. we paid our money, we were told very confidently thai in seventy-five days the vessel would reach Sydney. But seventy-seven days have already elapsed since the 14th of December, and we have performed only about one-third of our voyage. This unexpected delay is truly vexatious to the captain and his officers, highly inconvenient to the passengers, and to some of them may even be ruinous. ] am, dear Sir, your obedient Servant, ROBERT \oung.

Steamer Adelaide, St. Helena, March Ist, 1853. To the Editor of the Cape Town Mail. Dear Sir:,—The Adelaide having called at St. Helena for a supply of fuel, most of the pussengers embraced the opportunity of making the tour of that interesting looking island. * * * We returned in the evening to the vessel, and having taken on hoard 340 tons of coal, furnished by H. M. steamer Polyphemus, we left St. Helena on the sth inst., after a detention of thirteen days. The decks and ladies' saloon, to the discomfort of all parties, were filled with wood, but still our supplies being unequal to the demands of the voyage,, we bad so to economise the fuel, as gieatly to retard our progress; and after sixteen days from St. Helena, and seventy-seven days from finally leaving Plymouth, we reached this port on the 2 J st. 'I he Adelaide according to official announcement, was to have made her voyage to the Cape with unparalleled speed; hut she has signally failed in the attempt. During the last twelve months the Formosa reached here in thirty-seven days, the Chusan in forty, the Sr.rah Sands and the Australian in forty-four, the Cleopatra in forty-eight, the Great Britain in fifty, the Sydney in fifty-four, and even the Melbourne, after all her extraordinary movements, and mishaps, in 73 ; but the Adelaide—the model screw-steamer, the special object of public attention —the ship of Royal name, and on Royal service—has not been able to accomplish her voyage in less than 77 days out ! Let justice, however, be done to the vessel,—she has been 47 day 3at sea. The rest having been spent at St. Vincent and St. Helena. One day when she ha 1 fair wind and full steam-power, she made 268 miles; and her average speed, according to her log, has been about ItiO miles per day. She, however, would have accomplished considerably more, had not the inflammable state of tho coal at one period, and its scantiness at another, prevented the application of full steampower. She re quires, at least, 50 tons of coal per day to give her adequate steam ; and had she left Plymouth with 1200 tons of coal, instead of 900, and had there been 300 tons more waiting her at St. Vincent, I believe she would have made a satisfactory voyage, and very probably reached the Cape in 35 days.

I am, &c, Robert Young. Cape Town, March 22, 1853.