BLUFF HARBOUR.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 45, 19 February 1864, Page 4

BLUFF HARBOUR.

. FEBBtTAE - ? 18, TIDES. High wciter afc Bluff Harbor at. full and change. I<4o; 'range four to eight feet, High water at Now Hirer Heada one hour Goober; there is, however, very little difference between tho time of high water at tho head of the -Bluff aud tho jetty at InTercargill; . DAILY TIDE TABr.B. a.ra. p.m. i Feb. 19— High water 10-0 • ... 10-20 Feb. 16— do . lO'-fo ... 11.6 ISATARD3. February 17 — John Tern perl?, Liddle, from - Twofold Bay, Morison, Law and Co., agents. OUXWAKDS. February 18— Aldinga, R.M.S.S., Stuart, for Melbourne, Henderson. Bonar & Co., agents. February .17 — Kingfisher, Freeman, for Melbourne, Carey and Gilles, agents, Invercargill; and G. P. H. Gallop, Bluff. INWAEDS COASTWISE. February 18— Aldinga, R.M.S.S., Stuart, from i Dunedin. OUTWABDS COISTWISE February 18— Nil. ■*„..*■ VESSELS IS POET. New- Great Britain Alecta Uruguay Electric Star Emily John Temperly EXPECTED ABUIVALS. j Jennie W. Paine, from Melbourne, daily, Sans Soman, from Melbourne, daily. Vbrtigern, from Melbourne dnily. Juno, frbm Twofold Bay, daily. * The Commodore, from London, daily. Alhambra, R.M.S. S., from Melbourne, daily. with English mail. PASSENGER LIST Per Aldinga, from Dunedin. — Cabin: Dr. Wilson, Messrs Miller, Russel, Baldy, and sis in .steerage. Per Aldinga, for Melbourne — Cabin : Mr. Tlbbet, and 40 in steerage.

The Aldinga, R.M S S., from Dunedin, arrived] . at the Bluff about 5.30 a.m. on Thursday, 18th inst., after a fine run of twelve hours. During the passage down, an accident occur red io iir. "Williams, the Engineer, his thumb being taken ofl" in one of the cogs, whilst cleaning the machinery ■when in motion., and drawing one of the sinews out ofhis arm from above thcelbcw. Fortunately, Dr. Wilson was on board, and did all he could for him. Captain Stuart lauded him at the Bluff. and he. was forwarded immediately by one of Cobb and Cos. coaches to luvercargill, to be placed in the Hospital for attendance. Tlie Aldinga takes upwards of 170 passengers from Otago and landChanges are impending in the intercolonial trade which promise to fncilitate busiuess and increase the comfort of passengers The new steamer Penola sails to-day (Feb. 6), for Adelaide, calling at Guichen Bay, to take the place of the smaller steamer Ant, which has been placed as a consort to the Keera on the Port Albert line. The fine steamer Gothenburg, well-known in the New Zealand t»ade, has been transferred to the Hobart Town line, end i 9 advertised to" sail for tbe capital of Tasmaniain the course of next week. So large a vessel has never before beon employed in the Tasmanian trade, and her speed and power wil; materially shorten the passage in all weathers. — Argiis. Two accidents happened to-day in connection with shipping trading to the port, which might have been - attended with very serious consequences., but which fortunately terminated happily for all concerned. In the fiist place the steamer Wm. Misken, which had made an intermediate trip to Oamaru to load wool, arrived early in the morning in a leaky state. Ou her return passage with her freight of wool, and when several miles off the coast, opposite Waikouaiti, she is reported as having struck what appeared to he some floating wreck, which penetrated or displaced some of her plates, and caused a considerable leakage in one of her water-ti^ht compartments. Captain Wilson was in charge, and Captain Godfrey, the recent purchaser of the vessel, was on board as a passenger. They describe that had the same concussion happened to tbe vessel in the after compartment, tbe probability is that the vessel would have never reached land, or would even have sank within a few minutes of the occurrence. As it was, full steam was given her, and, continuing on her course, she was placed on the beach at Port Chalmers immediately on arrival, in close proximity to the Government steamer St. Xilda, now undergoing an over-haul t-o fit her for ber future employment. The nest occurrence which excited attention in the Port was the discovery that a vessel : was on shore outside the harbor, about the centre of the sand spit, which extends between the two Heads, and close in the vicinity of the wrecks of the barques Eevival and Genevieve. It appeared that, about two in the morning the pilotboats from the Heads arrived in port, with information for Captain Thomson, Harbor * Master, tbat the barque Oregon, with cattle, ..from "Welshpool, had got ashore in the situation described. Capt. Thomson, with Capt, Low den, chief pilot, as soon as steam was got up, proceeded down to the Heads in the tug-s!eamer Samson. and an effort was made by that vessel, and by tbe Favorite, to tow her ofl, but ifc proved of no avail, the tide with which she had got on the strand -being an unusually high one. The Samson therefore returned to port, and shipped from the hulk Thomas and Henry a heavy anchor and chain, - which appliances were supplemented by heavy . warps obtained from the ship Saldanha. With -these, and with a force of men to render what assistance might be necessary, she returned to the Heads ; the anchors, chains and warps were laid - down under the directions of the harbor master and members of the department; and by active exertions on the part of the men brought from the port, between 30 and 40 head of cattle were hoisted over the ship? a side, dropped into the surf, and safely landed' on the beach, where stockmen were ready to receive them. In this way great part of the day was spent until the tide had again risen, . the ship bumping considerably in the interval. ' .Then,, as high water approached, the Samson '-. continued the attempt of dragging her off, and - latterly, with the assistance of the Favorite for a .few minutes, 6he succeeded, and subsequently towed the vessel inside 'and up to the ~ usual discharging ' Jjerth. The probability • is that had this attempt not provecPsuccessful, the -, ' Oregon would have remained on the strand, leav- ". ,ing her . bones with those of the ether two vessels * wrecked ih the same place- The accident of her A-'- "getting in. the position she did was a very simple ;, one, very. : similar to those .which befel the Eevival '"' . and the Genevieve. According to the report of "* Captain "Wilson, who is the owner ofthe vessel, | A' and' who was altogether'uninsured, the- vessel ar- ' j -rived off the Heads at 10 p.m., and was hove to for <j., t the night .at . what . was considered a good offing, "'" the wind being light' northerly until daylight. The "'•'•weather' was-' -very thick and hazy, aud the vessel -_;Vf a3 kept under very ; easy sail ...■_ At midnight she .: was. found .with, the land close aboard. On this "being discovered, the captain wore' ship and " brought her to on the starboard tack;, all bfiinp ■P made -clear rl or tacking the ship, but she missed stays, and .fell "off before ithe wind- Ifc was then "faded': to -bring her to on the port tack', whenshe. rlC' Struck, and/ witli *the : very high tide, gradually -pidrifted • up.', _, Including the: Genevieve and -ReJ: : ,-vival, this^is the-third vessel which lias got ashore •'^on the same spot, but the ' accidents have always ■':. '-.*' ihappenedafenight in fine weather, and out of the Tr^iandspf^jthepilpfc. The presumption is that the ■-*. "* vessel -was'' inside the well' known northerly current, and with the unusual- eddy tide, and northerly wind, she set down on the shore. The ,-y Oregon left Welshpool on January 29, in company with the steamer Barwon, .which towed her out,

but ;has not yet arrived. .She left theDetweht. Hunter and a Dutch ship' loading at Corner Inlet. Spoke schooner Eclipse on the 29th, off Kent's Islands, bound for tho same. port. : Had first light E. winds, then heavy gale from S.W.; moderate winds to Snares.- Sinco sth February, {hick, haay weather. Lost only four head of cattle. Captain Wilson, of the William Miskin, gives tbo following account of. the aoeideut that hap* pened to thatvopseli— "At 8.48 am. got-, under weigh from Jioeraki roads y. at f. 16 Mooraki Heads boro H.W. , distanoe, -9 miles j steered S and by B, till 8-30, 10 miles, with fresh -N.B. broetio. Al'ered the coufso to B, ; j K. 8$ miles, when she struck heavily against something which ■ seemed to. give ground. Instantly ; stopped the engines j. sounded, and found no bottom ot 8 .Fathoftw,**'** Found tho ;'w*atw rushing into tiio engine room from the mam compartment. ; Closed ' tho valve': and rigged tho deck pump. .Steamed to S.W. for Waikouaiti, with the intention of beaching her. When' olcso in shore, and tho lights visible, tho water nofc gaining on the pumps, resolved ' to tako the ship to Otago Heads. Altered her courso accordingly, and arrived at ten. o'clook ; ran up to Port Chalmers and reached her alongside the jetty at 1.30. On examination found the main compartment full of water, the fore and after compartments being free. The bulkheads boing strong and good, kept the ship afloat. She had 165 bales of wool, besides coal. The wool in the forehold 19 free from damage, but that in tho main hold will be scoured before being shipped. Both Captain Godfrey, who was oh board, and the officers, speak in the highest terms of the vessel, as being 'strong nnd safe. She is going on the slip, and will be ready for sea on Friday.— Otago Daily Times, Feb. 11. The trial trip of the powerful tug-steamer Resolute, which lately arrived from London, under canvas, took place on Saturday last, A number of gentlemen connected with' the shipping interest aqcepted the invitation of the agents to accompany them on the trip. The Resolute left Sandridge Wharf at about half-past eleven a.m., and proceeded to the Breakwater, Williamstown, testing on the way across her capacity for turning, an operation which she effected in her own length, hor engines being, disconnected. The trial of speed took place over the usual ground, from the lightship, off Gellibrand's Point, to that at the entrance of the west channel, a distance of twenty-one measured miles. The run was accomplished in the short space of two hours and ten minutes, though this was the first time her engines had been worked since her arrival, and she laboured under the the disadvantage experienced by all steam vessels ns regards their machinery when first starting. The fuel used was of inferior quality, so that her full rate of speed could not be attained. "With all these disadvantages, however, she averaged over ten knots per hour. Arriving afc Qucen«cliil, she remained ('.•.ore some time, and started on her return about half-past four o'clock, steaming up" the inner channel, passing close to St. Leonard's, ancl arriving nt the Sandridge Railway Pier shortly after seven o'clock p-m. Tho Resolute was built about four years ago by Messrs. Bilbeo and Perry, of London. She is constructed of teak, oti the diagonal principle. Her engines, whic'.; arc verypowerful, anil embrace every modern improvement, are by Stewart, ol' Blaekwall. She is altogether one ot the mo-t complete tug steamers afloat, and capable of towing the heaviest vessels that visit our port, or of rendering effective assistance to them in the roughest weather. Being fitted with patent feathering floats, the ease with which she glides through the water is remcrkable. She commences towing vc.-sels tliis morning. Wing engaged tor the ship Eastwav.l-Ho. The trip altogether was of a very pleasant character. — Argun, Pebruary S, The SusAxifAir Cl'thbert, St;-;am*ee. — Another serviceable steam vessel has been added to the already well-filled list belonging to tliis port, aud is another proof, if such were wanting, of the capability of the colony to furnish shipping of any size. There are now ninety steam vessels, reprcenting 29.000 sailing outof and connected with tke port of Sydupv, to which the Susannah Cuthbert is no mei.n addition. This vessel has been built on the same line as the Pluto, ami is about tho same tonnage, but, if possible, has been j fastened more strongly than the latter named ship. Her engines are from the well-known firm of Mevsrs." Russoll and Co.; they are of 50-horse power, high pressure, nnd direct acting ; and on, the trial trip on the ldth made K-0 evolutions, driving the vessel S[\ knots per hour. A full description of the hull was given in this journal some a few weeks since. Suffice it then to say that she 13 built on the diagonal principle, a plan commonly adopted in England as yielding more strength, the materials are of the best description, and no care has been spa-ed in her construction to render her equal to anything of her size afloat. About fi-rty gentlemen, includ ing many of our mercantile community, who take a lively interest iv steam, proceeded by her in the trial trip on Saturday, and expressed themselves highly gratified with her performance. On the steamer reaching Manly Beach the company disembarked, and proceeded to the Pier ii toi, where an elegant luncheon had been prepa-ed, to which cmple justice was done. Captain Watson ufliei- ' ated aa chairman, the late mayor, M>-. Spence, acting as vice. After the usual loyal toasts, Mr K.ie proposed the joint health ot Mr. Cuthbert, and Messrs. P. and N Russell, who had cunjointly pa-fected the splendid steamer they had all thatday been admiring. He remarked how truly gratifying ifc must be to ali interested iv the welfare ot the port to observe the dispatch with which steamers eculd.be huilt, and fitted in the colony, and he trusted that the day was not far distant when the spirit of enterprise would induce the building of steamships of far heavier tonnage. Mr. Cuthbert in responding stated that be did not for a moment disguise the fact that he felt- more than gratified at the kindly feeling thit had been displayed by so many gentlemen whose opinions were of paramount importance in a colony like this. The ship had been under the daily- scrutiny of nautical .men from the time of her keel being laid down to the hour of her launch, and he must necessarily feel proud when not a tingle dissenting voice had been raised against her. She had been built entirelyat his own risk; he had obtained an excellent charter for her, and he felt assured she would prove all that couid be desired' Mr. Russell begged to return his sincere thanks on behalf of the firm, and reiterated the hope expressed by Mr. Rae with respect, to large ocean steamers being supplied iv the Colouy, the materials and workmanship were at hand, and they had evidence before them of what could be accomplished. A few other toasts followed, when the company returned on board, and the steam»r proceeded as far as the North Head, nnd thence to hor moor ings off Cuthlert's Wharf. She proceeds _to Twofold Baj', and thenco to New Zealand with cattle. — Syd rey Morning Harald. On the morning of the 14th ulf. the Intercolonial Poyrl Mail Company started the s.s. Airedale on atrial trip, after completing very extensive reand alterations. Her engines have been taken to pieces and thorougly overhauled, a pair of new boilers have been fitted, and many improvements made in the machinery which will materially increase her speed. Anew hurricane deck has been supplied, reaching '36 feet from the quarter-deck forward, under which is arranged the officers' cabins land-mess rooms, &c, the lore rart beingSecupied with the cook-house. Several gentlemen interested in steam marine were- on board. The vessel steamed some distance outside tiie Heads, and went yemarkably well, making an average speed of over eleven knots per hour. This will no doubt be increased when the machinery gets into proper working order. Captain Hall, the Company's manager, has spared no pains to render the company's steamer complete in respect, lhe passenger accommodation being specially attended to — S.M.Herald. Blockade Runxbes. — During the last fortnight two very fast andmaguificerS looking paddle steamers bave" left the Clyde for the West Indies, to be employed as Blockade runners. One of them * is the City of Petersburgh, 700 tons, with engines j of 250 horse power, and the other, the Presto, IC-1 tons. A third, named the Dare, has since followed. Thej' nreconetructed so that their funnels and masts can be made to disappear from view, leaving nothing but the hull visible. — Galloway Advertiser. A preliminary meeting of shipowners interesced in their present relations with the subject of insurance took place on the 4th February, at Scott's Hotel, to consider the matter. About twenty-two gentlemen were present, and Mr John Marshall was voted to the chair. The chairman oponed the meeting by sim ly stating its object, and expressing a beiiuf that by co-operation they might readily rectify their grievances. Mr Reid moved a resolution to the effect tliat the, establishment of an Australian Lloyd's was not; only unnecessary and uncalled for at preseni, but would occasion an enormous outlay, which would bring no corresponding benefit. It had been argued that many vessels not lit lo carry - soapsuds were' now insured at the same rate as first -class ships," ; but lie" conceived ''thafc, ali those argurnchts- . had:beeiir. confuted "by :,tho yArgus. ..Vessels; of> aii aggregate 0f '70,000 tons were' now entered at' -iho port of Melbourne, and the cost of their classification' would bo £140,000, or at lea6t

£2 per ton ; &nA hia experience taught him that shippers would not put their goods oh board unfit vessels. AH this had, however, been answered by the Argus, and it was monstrous to espect that a Melbourne Lloyd's classification would be recognised; in any other port in the world. Mr. J* H. Barlow seoondod the motion, which was carried, there ; being only threo dissentient votes. .The chairman said the ne -*?t subject for consideration was tho enormous rates charged to insurers, and whether a mututilinsuranco club would nob be .hotter.- tt was invariably put into Melbourno policies that the insurers would not pay lees than ten per oent- avorage, while in Tasmania— and most of the insurers -hero wore agonts of Tag* manian companies— B?s per cent, was the flguw?> There' was no ODSasioii for this disadvantage, fttid ho asked, if any loss yet experienced in one year equalled half the ratos paid for insurance. Last year, one of the v.*orst known, showed only a loss of 2,572 tons, tho rest being left Fov profit and the carrying on of business. Supposing a club were formed and only took half the tonnage, at E resent rates, a largo amount of profit would be sft on the insurance of the whole. He had had to do. with these elub3 on the east coast of Scot* land, in the ease of ships trading to tho_ Balti", and the maximum premium required was eight per cent., the averago being fire or six per cent. On this coast it would surely be much leas, and he I thought everything could be managed at half the current l"tes. Captain C. Brown ex-dnined the working of similar clubs with which he had been connected in Sunderland, and which were managed by a commitfce composed half of ship-owners and half rotirod seafaring men, who together appointed a surveyor. He concluded by moving that the meeting fully approved of the establishment of a Victorian Shipowners' Mutual Insurance Association. Captain J. Walters seconded the motion, which, after a littlo conversation, was carried. Captain Walters next moved for the appointment of a committee, who were to drawup a plan of procedure, to be brought before a future meeting. Mr. Holmes seconded the resolution, which was carried. The chairman pointed out that the great advantage of such an association would be that owners would never be called to pay more than from five to eight per cent., while they ran the chance of having to pay only three or four por cent. After somo desultory conversation, the following gentlemen were, on the motion of Mr. Reid and Mr. Fail thorne, appointed to form the committee :— Messrs C. Brown, Fairthorne, H. Selwyn Smith, Paterson, and Holmes. Mr. J. H. Eii'low was ap-ointed secretary pro. tern. — Argus.