VOYAGES OF THE CYPHRENES AND MIKADO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4230, 10 October 1874, Page 3

VOYAGES OF THE CYPHRENES AND MIKADO.

We are indebted to a passenger from New Zealand to Kandavau by, the Cyphrenes, and thence by the Mikado to San Francisco and back to Auckland, for the following account of the voyage out and home. [By Telegraph.] Auckland, October 9. The Cyphrenes left Auckland at half-past four o’clock p.m. on the Ith of July. No observations were obtained until Sunday, the 9th instant, in lat. ISdeg. 34min., and long. 177 deg. 2min., when it was ascertained that we had passed Kandavau sixty miles to the westward. We returned, and made the harbor that night, but too late on the tide to enter. At six o’clock a.m. on the 10th, made fast to the Mikado, and transferred the mails. The Mikado sailed at noon for Honolulu, taking the Nanuka passage. Got the south-east trades in lat. 16deg. Bmin., strong, and then winds from E.N.E. to 3deg. S. ; thence strong winds and squally weather to lat. 7deg. N. Crossed the equator on the sth August in long. 167 deg. 30min. W., and got the north-east trades in Bdeg. N., moderate, from N.N.E. to N.E., with cloudy weather and frequent squalls, to lat. 15deg. N., and then a wind for twelve hours going all round the compass, and settling at last in E.N.E. Arrived at Honolulu at midnight on the 20th, after a run of eleven days twelve hours from Kandavau, but could not enter the harbor until next morning at daylight. Sailed for San Francisco at five o’clock p.m. on the 21st, with a strong wind from E.N.E. to N.E. to lat. 35deg. N., and thence had fresh breezes - from N. and N.W. Sighted Faralone Light at eleven o’clock p.m. on the 29th. The pilot came on board on Sunday, the 30th. At 2.10 a.m. the vessel anchored off Market Street wharf at fouro'clock a.m., the voyage having extended to twenty-six days eleven hours and thirty minutes from Auckland, including a detention of thirty-three hours at Kandavau and Honolulu, and twelve hours through running past Kandavau.

The Mikado hauled alongside the wharf at once, but the passengers were detained on board until noon, waiting for the health-officer to clear the ship. A bailiff was put in possession of the ship, and all the passengers who had through tickets, after waiting some days, had to pay again. The return voyage was .begun on the 13th September [l2th, according to Australian time], at one o’clock, p.m., the mails having arrived at San Francisco at eleven p.m. on the 12th. The pilot was discharged at two o’clock, p.m. Experienced favorable winds and fine weather to Honolulu, where we arrived on the 21st September at eight o’clock, a.m., in seven days and seventeen hours from San Francisco. Left again at six o’clock, p.m., but were detained outside the reef till eight o’clock, waiting for the purser, and then continued on our course without him. Crossed the equator on the 27th in long. 167 deg. 21min., having experienced light favorable winds and fine weather. Made the Nanuka passage at dark on the lat of October, in thick, cloudy, and rainy weather. Hove-to all night. On the 2nd October went through Nanuka passage, and continued on our course via Goro and the Horseshoe Reef, passing within about twelve miles of Levuka. Arrived at Kandavau next morning (4th October) at seven o’clock, in eleven days and eleven hours (including nine hours hove-to off Nanuka passage) from Honolulu. Sailed again at 12.30 p.m. for Auckland, experiencing strong head winds until arrival at Auckland at 12.30 this morning. At Kandavau the news of the annexation of Fiji to Great Britain reached us.