SHIPPING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5474, 12 October 1878, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OP WELLINGTON. ARRIVED. Ootobbr 11.—'Kiwi, s.s., 135 tons, Campbell, from Napier.. Passengers—Saloon: Mrs. Hosklng and Mr. Stringer. Levin and Co., agents. Stormbird, s.s., 69 tons, Dolle, from Wanganui, Passengers—Cabin: Messrs. Smith, Wilkinson, Fitz Herbert, Rolls, Doldston, Kaipa; and two steerage, Mvrtlu, agent. Taranaki, s.s., 327 tons, Malcolm, from Nelson. Passengers—Saloon ; Mesdames Robinson, Burt, BUck, Clark, Esthcim, and Proctor, Mr. and Mrs. Baker, Rev. Mr. Me Lennon, Majors Mairand Wilson, Messrs. Harvey, Kell, Paul, Hurry, Hanjinyton, Palmer, AiMis. Maitorton. Rnneaold, William, Nelson, Blirk (2), 3 natives; and 10 steerage. Levin and Co., «gents. SAILED. October 11.- Taranaki, s.s.. 327 tons. Malcolm, for the South. Passengers—Saloon: Mias Park, Messrs. Asprey. Denton, Archiston; and 10 steerage. Levin and Co., agents. , ~ „ .. Taiaroa, s.s.. 332 tons. Peterson, for the South, Passengers—Saloon; Messrs. Thompson and troll. Levin and Co., agents. IMPORTS. Taiaroa, from Lyttelton: 91 pkgs. Order; 2 do, Mills; 12 do. Gilmer Bros.; 1 engine, Johnston; 1 ca<o. Stevenson. • _ , , Taranaki, from Onehunga; 1 pkg. Garde; 20 dp, Barlow; 3 do. Curtis; 4 do. Order. From Taranaki; 66 hides. Hirst; 1 case. Moss and Co; I do, Davis; 1 box, Halso; 1 do. Minister for Public Works. From Nelson; Quantity of eggs and butter, 3 cases, 4 pkgs, Price. „ „ , Stormblrd, from Wanganui; 4 pkgs. Taylor: 1 do. Thomas; 1 do, Martin; CO sacks, Jones;l sack, Bennett. Kiwi, from Napier: 124 bales. Levin and Co. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. New York, via Port Chalmers.—Southminster, early. Southern Ports.—Rotorua, this day. Northern Pouts —Taupo, 14th. ' SIDNEY.- Wakatlpu, 14th. Picton and Nelson. —Wellington, 13th. Melbourne, via the South.— I Tararua, this day. Melbourne, via West Coast.—Alhambra, 13th. London.—Jessie Rcadman, JElumnui, Waltars, and WaUoa, DEPARTURES. Foxton.—Tui. this day; Jane Douglas, this day. Southern Ports.—Taupo, 14th. Bn>NBY.-»Wakatipu, 23rd. Castlepoint and Napier.—Kiwi, this day. Melbourne, via the South.—Alhambra, 13th ; Arawata, 20th. ... , Melbourne, via West Coast.—Tqrarua, this day. Napier and Poverty Bay—Rangatira, this day. Pioton and Nelson. —Wellington. 14th. Wanganui.—Stormbird, this day; Manawata, 14th. Nelson and West Coast Ports.—Charles Edward. early. Blenheim.—Napier, early. Newcastle. —Sophia B. Luhrs, early.

BY TELEGRAPH. LYTTELTON, Friday. Arrived: Crusader, ship, from London, 01 days from the Downs-, and S 3 days from land to land. 9h© brings 02 passengers, all well.—Orarl, from Wellington ; Tararua and Rotorua, from South. FORt'cHALMERS. Friday. Arrived; Gartmoon, barque, 3S days from Mauritius. GREYMOUTH, Friday. The steamer Wallabi crossed the bar this morning, from Wanvaunl. stock laden. This afternoon, getting inside, she was blown rizht back, and narrowly cscap d stranding. being in the surf a long time, but ultimately got to sea. The following vessels were in tho harbor last night:—Steamers-Hinemoa. Stella, Manawatu, Rangatira, and Tul; ships—Raw ala, St. Leonards, Orari, and Zeilandia; barques—Edwin Bassett, Sophia R. Luhrs, Anno Melhubh. St. Louis. Malay, and Craigie lea ; brigs, Jane and Robin Hood brigantine Star. In consequence <-f the heavy rain yesterday afternoon shipping matters were brought almost to a standstill on the wharf. The steamer Rotorua is due here this morning from the South. She sails again during the afternoon, taking the San Francisco mail for transhipment North. A telegram was received yesterday stating that the New Zealand Shipping Company’s ship Waikato, from Lyttelton, arrived at London on the 30th September, all well. The sdling of tho Rangatira has been postponed until to-day. .. The steamer Kiwi left Napier at noon on the Bth ; called at Cashpoint, and arrive > in harbor at 1 p.ra. yesterday. She encountered a strong gale and heavy sea. She returns again to-day. The Stonnbird from Wanganui arrived at the wharf at 10.15 yesterday morning. She crossed the bar the previous night at 10. She encountered a stiff northwest gale, daring which her aqnaresail was blown to ribbons. She returns to Wanganui again to-day. The Tararua is due here this morning from Melbourne via the South. The steamer Taranaki from the North arrived in harbor at 4.30 yesterday morning. She crossed the Manokau bar at 0 o’clock on Tuesday night, and arrived at Taranaki at 8.30 next morning; sailed again at 2 p.m., and arrived at Nelson at 3 a.m. on Thursday ; sailed again at 0.30 p.m., and arrived here as above. She experienced a strong north-west gale crossing the Strait. The Taranaki left again for the South during the afternoon. The clipper schooner Young Dick, which has been trading between here and Hobarton for some time, was sold by Mr. Thomas on Thursday. She was knocked down for £ISOO to Captain Arralt, her late master, who has sailed her most successfully for tho last three years. Wo wish Captain Armit every success in his new venture.

NAUTICAL INQUIRY INTO THE STRANDING OF THE HUON BELLE. An inquiry under the Wrecks Act was held yesterday at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, before T. A. Jlansford, Esq., R.M.. aud Captain Holliday, nautical assessor, relative to the stranding of the ketch Huon Belie on the 4th September, Mr. McKellar, Collector of Customs, conducted the inquiry, and suggested to put in the evidence of the master of the vessel that was taken at a preliminary inquiry. Mr. Mansion! thought that such a course would be irregular unless the master was first sworn. Edward Kearns deposed that he held a master’s certificate numbered 2472. The evidence produced is the same as that given before the Collector of Customs at a preliminary inquiry held on Ist October last. By the Collector of Customs: It is a usual thing for me to leave Wanganui without ballast. It la very usual for vessels to leave without ballast,—that Is, centre-board vessels. . They are flat-bottomed, and have a centre board tohold them to windward. I have been in the vessel for tea months, and never had a pound of ballast in her. Sometimes we carry three hands, sometimes four. On the day she went ashore if she had ballast I could hot have worked to windward, as there was too much wind to carry sail I know a vessel named the Awaroa. She left the Wanganui bar 15 minutes ahead of the Huon Belle, bound to Nelson. She did not reached Nelson that night. I heard she reached Guard Bay, to the eastern entrance of Felorus Sound. My vessel was a river-going vessel, and the Awaroa was a sea-going vessel. If I had been loaded 1 could never have kept the vessel off the beach. The tonnage of the Huon Bello is 42 tons. By Captain Holliday: I left Wanganui bar at 2.50 p.m. on 3rd September, with the wind N.N. W. She was making a W.*. W. course, and was going about five knots. The next morning the wind changed to tho westward. In a sea-way we hare about 3ft of the. centre board down. In fine weather’we can give her 7ft. He did not think having ballast would have helped her. The pumps got choked through tho sand getting into.them while on, Foxton beach or beach. Alfred Bilton deposed that he was mate of J * \ Huon Belle on the 4th September last, H'** * ,o ° I certificate. Had been In the vessel thr*" .no I and made four voyages in her. One J months, I without cirgo and without ballast. .*»pwas mado four hands all to-d. Leaving W" Generally carry tember we only had three hap'' on 4th Se'p. said he could not get anotb' as all told. The m ister sufficient to wo/k the ' e r hand. Three was quite have worked hotter vessel. Considered she might positively* Had ballast, but could not say description h~' never been in a vessel of the same By the , lo j e Tiom .xa/ter : I knew the vessel three weeks preP o joining. Never remember carrying ballast. ichard M Ills, an articled seaman on board the Huon Be 10, deposed that he was on board her on the Jth September, the night Jhe wont ashorei on the Toxton beach. The VC3«I was rna ashore When he went below, at 4 a.m„ tho vessel was hove-to. It was blowing too hard to carry m . He believed she couhl have carried small sail if she hart hart ballast on board. Had been In the vessel three months. Had been in her In rough weather when she was loaded, but never empty. Had been over twenty years at sea * Had been in centre-board vessels before. Had left Auckland for Wangaroa in a centre-board vessel without ballast, it Is a common thing for the Huon Bella to go to sea without ba'.last. The night she went ashore there was a hand short. By Captain Holliday: Sue was hove-io under double-reefed mizzan and jib. At this time they were about ten miles to the southward of whore she went ashore. It took about an hour and a half to run la. The gale lasted 43 hours. By »he Master: You called meat 10 minutes to 4 a m. to make sail. Tho course 1 had given me took us in to the shore. "We were running for the beach long before wo saw the break. You were below about five or ten minutes. William Bendall deposed that ho was a master mariner, and surveyor to the Underwriters’Association for New Zealand. Tho following evidence was given by him at a preliminary inquiry On behalf of tho association I went to report upoa the condition of the Huon Belle, having heard that she was on shore near tho Manawatu River. I found that she could be got off, and assisted to do so. After we got her off the beach we found tho wind too heavy to carry canvas to keep her to windward. The mainsail ■was taken off her and she was head reaching under the mlzzen staysail,thinking to make Wanganui In tho morning by daylight. She was knocked about considerably during tho night, and, the water not coming to the pumps very well, she was kept before the wind and tho pumps kept going. She did not make much water. There were three pumps—two biigo pumps and a main pump—but only one sot of gear, and the bilge pumps became choked. At daylight the master reported that Wanganui was on the weather quarter. The wind was blowing fresh from tho south. The mainsail was then set to txy to keep her to windward, to fetch in, but the vessel having no ballast on board, she would not carry canvas to work to windward. Tho weather was looking bad, and I suggested to tho master that we had better bear up to Cape Egmont for shelter. Shortly after this we considered about Paten; I thought as we wore passing we might got in there. He said ho understood there was Bft. of water on the bar and n semaphore to guide vessels In. Shortly after wo observed tho flagstaff with the signal up to ** take the bar. Tho master took the wheel, and I wont up to the foremast head. The sea was breaking right across, and f could see no channel, but tho balls being still up wo kept a lockout for the semaphore arms on the flagstaff. We saw no arms work at all. I sang out, 44 It’s strange they don't work these arms." 1 do not know whether tho master heard mo or not. Just as wo were getting close In and had almost entered the breakers I saw a man run to tho flagstaff and , ■lower the balls as a signal to ko p to sea. X sang out to the master to keep to sea. He replied “ She is too far over, she must go in now." At that moment 1 saw the discolored water of the river. I sang out port; we did port, but the vessel having only the mlzzen staysail on her, she would not luff up quick enough ; she was too far to leeward to recover herself. An attempt was made to set the mainsail, but she struck on tho North Spit before It could be hoisted, and quickly forged In under tho cliff or west head. This was about a quarter-past 10 a.m., just after high water. Tho Huon Bello was drawing about 4ft or less. There was about Bft of water on tho bar that day. I saw the pilot afterwards; ho said that there wero no semaphore arms, and ho was standing on tho beach near the beacons waving a flag on a pole os a signal for steering by, I did not see this, nor did anyone on board. The vessel was stripped, and every one left her, as It would nob have been safe to remain ou board for tho night in case she struck against tho cliff and smashed ■up. Tho pilot lent us two anchors to bank up tho vessel's ■nchor, which was run out at low water os far as it could bo taken. The cable held, and took the

vessel off into deep water during the night. .1 understood that neither the master nor crew were going to be there, and I employed the crew of the steamer, Clyde and some shore men. We went down to (he vessel and rah out a warp and hedges at low water, the pilot also assisting. . We found the vessel lying all right, with very little water in her and very little damaged. When the tide made we hauled her across tlie north spit into the bank of the river. While we were on board heaving her in we saw tlio master and crow and several other persons on the beach. When the tide left the master and crew came on board again. They did not appear to take any active measures, and I suggested to him' that he should get surveyors to report upon the vessel, which he did. I employed the Clyde to tow the Huon Belle, up the wharl the next tide in order that she might be made secure. The master still taking no active part, I ordered snnie repairs to be done, in order that the vessel inl.’ht be taken to port. Shortly after this 1 received a telezrara informing me that the vessel was insured only aga>mt total loss. I then told the master that I had nothing more to do with her. and that he must take charge, and gave him a letter to that effect. She is insured in the Standard office, Dunedin, for £GOO. I consider that the Huon Belle was unseaworthy without ballast and with only two men on board besides the master, and that he should not have left Wanganui River In that condition. The vessel is strongly built, bub not suitable for other than river traffic or for a smooth coast. The Awaroa, a Nelson vessel, left Wanganui on the same tide as the Huon Belle, and fetched Port Hardy without difficulty. By the Master: I know a vessel called the Arthur Reed. She is a far superior vessel to the Huon Belle. Could not say whether she goes to sea without ballast. She should not do so. George Campbell deposed that he was a shipowner residing in Kakanui. Had been master of the Huon Belle four months, and never carried any ballast. Was about 20 trips In here, and never had race than two men and himself. Made about 12 passages without any ballast. This was nil the evidence. His Worship said according to 'the evidence he did not see anything to show that there had been any loss sustained by the abandonment by the crew. There might probably have been some serious damage, but on this point he was doubtful, and there was nothing to recommend the cancellation of the master's certificate. The vessel had been running for 10 years, and during that time bad only been to sea once with ballast. As to the question of the complement of seamen, it appeared that she had been in the habit of going to sea with two men and the master, and it did not follow that in this instance there would have been any 'difference had there been another man on board. There whs nothing to cause the suspension of the certificate. The certificate, which had been placed in the bands of the Court, was then returned to the master.