SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 50, 6 January 1872, Page 10

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

AEEIYED. December 30, Alhambra, s.s., 496 tons, Underwood, from Melbourne via- South. Passengers —Mr and Mrs Stoddart, Mr 3 Wilson and child, Mr Drake, and one steerage. 30, Phoebe, s.s., 418 tons, Worsp.from the South. Passengers —Mrs & Miss Patterson, Mr, Mrs, and Master Broad, Capt Thomas, Mr C. Hood; three steerage, and fifteen for the North. 30, XXX, ketch. 20 tons, Fisk, from Nelson, 30, Enterprise, brigantine, 84 tons, Gathercole, from the East Coast. 1, Luna, p.s, 196 tons, Fairchild, from the Manukau. 1, Phoebe, s.s., 416 tons, Worsp, from Picton, with 200 excursionists. 1, Rangatira, s.s., 185 tons, Renner, from Lyttelton. Passengers—Miss James, Mr and Mrs Sayers and two children, Miss Evans, Mr H.Williams, and three in the steerage. 2, Falcon, ketch, 37 tonß, Morrison, from Wairau. 3, Wanganui, s.s, 165 tons, Linklater, from Wanganui. Passengers— Mrs, Haslem and two children, Messrs Moore, O’Hanlon, Hutchinson, Davidson. 8, Rangitoto, s.s., 449 tons, Mackie, from Melbourne via Nelson. Passengers —Hi n J. J. Casey, Miss Moore, Mr J. Wilson, Mr Thompson Moore, Mr Billing, Mrs Jefferson, Mr Maurace Moran, Mr J. Thornpt, Mr W. J. Moore, Mr Drummond, and five in the steerage. SAILED. 29, St Kilda, s.s., 91 tons, Flowerday, for Wanganui. 30, Alhambra, ss, 497 tons, Underwood, for Napier and Auckland. 31, Keera, s.s., 158 tons, Carey, for Napier and Auckland. 2, Rangatira, s.s., 185 tons, Renner, for Napier. 2, Phoebe, s.s, 416 tons, Worsp, for Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manukau. Passengers —Mrs Stains, Miss Birch, Miss Woothen, Mrs Gaven and child, Mrs Kempthorne and three children, Mrs Stoddart, Messrs Sinclair, Stafford, Rawson, Lees, Halse, St George, and Guerin ; 98 original and 4 steerage. 3, Falcon, ketch, 37 tons, Morrison, for Blenheim, with twenty-five return excursionists. 4, Enterprise, schooner, 84 tons, G-athercole, for East Coast. 4, Wanganui, s.s., 165 tons, Linklater, for Wanganui. Passengers—Messrs Watt, Moore, O’Hanlon, Capt Sharp. 4, Rangitoto, s.s., 449 tons, Mackie, for Melbourne via Southern Ports. Passengers— Rev Mr Buddie, Miss Buddie, Mr Blackett, Rev Mr M'Gregor, Mrs M'Gregor, Mrs Cockburn, Mrs Trueman, Miss Hunt, and eight in the steerage. The “ Daily Times ” gives the following particulars of the recent heavy gale at Port Chalmers : —At Port Chalmers the gale was one of the heaviest known there, and swept the harbor, making communication a matter of great danger. The ships, however, rode it out safely and without damage, although there were some narrow escapes. The ships Peter Denny and Otago both started ;their anchors, the latter driving down close on the May Queen. The E. P. Bouverie and James Nieol Fleming held well, as also did the Carrick Castle and Glenhuntly. Several lighters drifted, but were secured from damage. In the upper harbor, the Naval Brigade pinnace dragged from her moorings and drifted in near a sandy beach close to Black Jack’s Point, but once in shelter her anchor held her well. A dingy drifted on to the beach close to the same spot. The yachts, on the whole, rode out the gale very well. Mr Green’s Frolic, which has a very low free-board, filled with water and sank. The baths creaked much, and appeared as if they would go, but they held out. A large amount of timber, that had no doubt ■been blown off the various jetties, was seen floating down the bay. The steamship Albion, 900 tons, J. M'Lean, commander, cleared Port Phillip Heads at 6 p.m. on the 16th, and arrived at Bluff Harbor at 7 a.m. on the 21st; discharged cargo and left at 5 p.m. same day, arriving at Port Chalmers at 4 a.m. on the 22nd ; sailed at 2 p.m. on the 26th, and arrived at Lyttelton at 10.30 a.m. on the 27th; left at 12.30 p.m. on the 28th, arriving at Wellington on the 29fch. The screw steam clipper Albion, which has had a somewhat chequered career since her first advent to Australian waters, is again about to enter on active service in the intercolonial passenger trade. This well-known steamer, after a lengthened period of inglorious and unprofitable inactivity, during which she was the subject of no small litigation, was ultimately disposed of by auction to Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co, who secured her as another addition to their already numerous fleet. On taking possession of their purchase, Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co, who use no half measurer with regard to their vessels in the matter of alterations and repairs, but have things done on a thorough and liberal scale, determined to make such changes and improvements throughout the Albion as would fit her for taking a leading position in the intercolonial trade, or adapt her for any mail service—from here to Batavia for instance —which might be established. For this purpose she has recently undergone interiorly very extensive and material alterations, and her passenger accommodation of all classes may be fairly said to have been almost reconstructed. For a number of weeks past the steamer has been entirely given over to all manner of artisans and artists, who have been exercising their skill and taste in her very j elaborate refit, and the result of their labors has been an unqualified success. The hull has been carefully examined, and well scraped, sid cleaned within and withoat, and is re.

ported as being “ sound as a bell.” The engines have also been taken to pieces and portions renewed and strengthened where necessary, and they have also been fitted with several new improvements. The boilers have also been retubed, and an increased rate of speed is anticipated. Two or three years ago the Albion was considered a comfortable and commodious vessel, and a favorite with voyagers to and from New Zealand, but the change in her passenger accommodations, both saloon and steerage, is now of so complete and marked a character, that very few even of her old patrons would recognise her to be the same vessel. There is a fine large spar deck for a promenade, ar.d the saloon is entered by a double companion, at the top of which is the captain’s cabin. The saloon has been considerably enlarged by the former berths of the officers, and the stewards’ pantries, &c, being shifted nearer the engine-room, and from the rich but light and tasteful style of decoration adopted, it presents quite a fairy appearance. The upholstery and furniture is of an expensive description, and the panelling round the after part of the saloon is blazoned with the coats of arms of the various colonies and the arms of their chief cities, together with other heraldic and emblematic devices. The comfort of the passengers, however, has not been subordinated to show effect, and the berths have been supplied with every adjunct to make voyaging pleasant. The ladies’ cabin is also handsomely furnished, and is very roomy and light. The accommodations in the fore cabin are entirely new, and have been so arranged tl at there is ample space for each passenger, and thorough ventilation and light. There is also a separate apartment for females, and all the arrangements which forethought could devise for the convenience of a large number of people on board ship have been made. Her refit aloft has likewise been of a thorough character, and the whole of her standing and running rigging, spars, canvas, &c, have been subjected to searching overhaul, and renewed where needed. The command of the Albion will be taken by Captain John M'Lean, a veteran in experience in the intercolonial steam trade, and especially in the New Zealand trade. With him as chief officer will be Mr Bawden, formerly of the s.s. Rangitoto, and the chief engineer is Mr Mathieson, who was lately in the Aldinga. Mr J. E. Norris goes as purser. The work generally has been under the superintendence of Capt M'Meckan himself, who is never happier than when “ up to his eyes” in business, and the overhaul of the machinery was supervised by Mr Kirkwood, the superintending engineer of the firm. For the painting and decorative work. Mr Borthwick is responsible, and the result of his efforts will bear a more than superficial scrutiny. Altogether a very considerable outlay has been made on the ship, and she is now a better property than when she was a new vessel. The Alhambra came into collision with the brig African Maid in Hobson’s Bay. The accident took place near Gellibrand’s lightship, when the Alhambra was proceeding to the anchorage ground, after returning from New Zealand. The brig was outward bound for Newcastle, loaded with ballast. The vessels came into collision about 1.30 a.m. on the 11th, the lights of each being clearly perceptible at the time. The Alhambra had her starboard forechains and forerigging carried away, together with a portion of the main rail, bulwarks, and stanchions, and a considerable opening where she was struck, ike brig also suffered severely. As the vessels were getting free of each other, one of the steerage passengers, to his utter consternation, beheld his bed-covering carried away from him by the sable figure-head of the brig. The Honolulu “ Commercial Advertiser ” says:—lt appears to be likely now that a strong effort will be made during the coming session of the American Congress to secure a proper subsidy for the Webb line of steamers between California and Australia. The New York Chamber of Commerce will, it is said, memorialise Congress on the subject, and by a late telegram it is stated that Mr Webb bad an interview with President Grant on the 15th ultimo, when he called attention to the danger of American lines of steamships having to give way to British lines, unless something is done by Congress. The failure to obtain a subsidy for the Wbbb line at the last session was owing to the wide-spread dislike to subsidies generally, and mainly to the fact that an omnibus measure was presented to Congress asking for grants, covering large amounts, for a half-dozen lines of ocean steamers, in every possible quarter. The magnitude of the demand killed the whole. It is to be hoped that the matter will be better managed this year.” With regard to the great yacht race, the American papers, under date New York, Oct. 6, says:—In the yacht race, the Sappho reached the home stake boat at 4 o’clock; the Livonia 25 minutes later —about five miles behind. The Sappho won by 26 minutes and 36 seconds, or 25 minutes 25 seconds corrected time. The contest between Ashbury’s yacht Livonia and the representative yacht of the New York Club, for America's cup, ended to day in a brilliant victory for the Sappho, which sailed against the English yacht. This is an end to the contest for the cup of the New York Yacht Club, the representative boats Columbia and Sappho having won four races out of five. The best four out of. seven was the agreement. DISASTERS AT SEA. On Sept 10 a sailing vessel, the property of Mr Andrews, of Erith, whilst lying off Crossness, laden with naptha, took fire, and quiokly burst into immense sheets of flame. The blazing spirits ran through the sides of the vessel into a small boat alongside, in which a seaman from the vessel had taken refuge. The man jumped into the water, but did not escape severe burns from the burning spirits floating on the surface of the river. He was picked up by a waterman and removed to

Erith, and but faint hopes can be entertained of his recovery. The fire continued to burn until the vessel was nearly destroyed, as well as the small boat. —An East Fife fishing boat put into Pittenween one day last week with a yacht-rigged pleasure-boat, which her crew picked up at sea bottom upwards, about fifteen miles south-east from Montrose. There was nothing to indicate to what port the yacht belonged, but on a piece of iron at the stern the word “Pateson” was painted. Fears are entertained that she must have been upset in a squall, and her crew are supposed to have perished.—The crew steamer Compeer (Lishman, Newcastle, owner), which stranded on the Berwickshire coast, near Berwick, on the 18fch August, has become a total wreck. The cargo, which was of flax, was valued at £IB,OOO, and the vessel at £20,000. Both cargo and vessel were insured. Exertions had been made to float her, but without success. The certificates of competency of the master and first mate have been suspended for eighteen months by the Board of Trade. In alluding to the frequency of accidents by steamers the “Daily News” notes that “within the months of July and August a strange and unusual number of accidents will be found reported. The weather has not been severe enough to test the powers of either well-built or well-managed ships ; and we are compelled to think that the numerous collisions and strandings have arisen simply from ignorance and carelessness on the part of steamboat officers. There is less excuse for them than for the admirals who take soundings of rocks with the keels of expensive ironclads. As a rule, they have had a practical acquaintance with seamanship, and have not been altogether demoralised by what Admiral Rous calls the boiler and tea-kettle, and yet are apparently unequal to riding out in safety gales that an open boat might live in without Berious risk. And with reference to the * look-out,’ especially in Channel waters, there is obviously a singular laxity of discipline amongst our steam vessels. Now it is a yacht cut in halves, now a fishing smack, now another steam vessel disabled, and passengers rescued from drowning with difficulty. We are inclined to suspect that many of these disasters come under the heading of preventible accidents, and that more severity to captains or mates found guilty of culpable negligence should be displayed by those who have the power of suspending their certificates.”