PROJECTED DEPARTURES FROM MELBOURNE, FOR NEW ZEALAND PROVINCES.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 30 August 1864, Page 2

PROJECTED DEPARTURES FROM MELBOURNE, FOR NEW ZEALAND PROVINCES.

(From the Argus, of 20th inst.) For Otago, Canterbury, &c. — Albion, tliis day ; City of Hobart, 23rd August : Prospector, early. For Invercargill. — Fanny, early. For Auckland and Neighboring Ports of New Zealand.— Claude Hamilton, 25th August • Bella Vista, 23rd August. ' ' For Nelson, Wellington, Taranaki, &c. — Qlaude Hamilton, 25th,August. For Lyttelton. — Blue Jacket, about the 27th August. ,»

The new passenger boat Bruce has commenced to run regularly between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, and the Golden Age leaving Dunedin about the saihe time as the Bruce, leaves the Port, we have now earlier news arriving at each end. as the Golden Age is as superior in speed to the Betsy Douglas as the Bruce is to the Golden Age. — Otago Mail. It has been reported, but we will not vouch for the correctness of it, that all of Her Majesty's ships of war stationed on the coast of New Zealand and Australia are to meet in Auckland harbor at the latter end of September or early in October, for inspection. We understand that the Harrier, which is ordered home, will not sail until after the inspection has takeu place. The Curacoa, with Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Bart., and the Eclipse, are both expected to return next month. — -Ibid. •New- Nusebebixg op Maeetatt's Code of SiOXAXS. — Much misapprehension seemed to exist on Sunday last, on the good ship Amersham making her number, 3rd distinguishing pennant 078, in consequence, it seems, of our being somewhat deficiently posted up in the new numerals engrafted on Marryatf b code. Very recently they have, by way of extending their numbers under the 3rd pennant (beginning after 9876, the highest number the code can go to), sorted afresh at 01, 02, 03, and so on. This introduction of now numerals ia somewhat arbitrary, and the Awimbaiß, ye believe, is the first to explain this eudden change. No advice or advertisement explaining this has ever appeared in any of the leading- or purely shipping newspapers. Captain Henry wa*, "therefore, quite correct in hoisting 07S, e^yl^^r&^t AM'pplements of the code •how, and which some of the'reßfels he '»poke Teadftr understood. — Weekly News, August 13th.'

Tins N.Z.S.N. Co's s.s. Queen arrived at Port Chalmers on the morning of the 21st inst. ' She brings files from Auckland to the 13th ; Napier, 16th ; Wellington, 19th ;■ and ■ Lyttelton, 21st. On the trip to Auckland, the Queen conveyed the English mail there from Wellington and Napier. The WeeTcly News, on this subject, says : — "lt is quite understood, wo think, that for this special service no payment whatever has been arranged for ; and the province is certainly under the greatest obligation to the Directors of the Company for having, in thi; as r>:i a former occasion, taken such prompt means to forward the HawkG'9 Bay portion of the mail Had the company not done this, there would v <■■. :u*sc have been no opportunity of replying <:J *■ .» 6th, and one months course of post would h.-iv ■ en lost. The Superintendent has already b:\> . - -,t this matter under the notice of the Provincial. Council, by whom a unanimous vote of thanks has been passed to the Directors.. We trust, also, that he will bring the case under the notice of the Postmaster-General, with the view of some compensation being made to the Company." The Queen has been laid up for about six weeks, during which time her machinery, hull, rigging, &c, have been thoroughly overhauled ; and on her return trip to Auckland she will have her bottom cleaned, and adjust one of M'Arthur's patent new propellers ; and when the same is fixed, it is fully expected she will steam her 10 knots as well as some of the other boats belonging to the same Company, and wliich will be, of courso," a great acquisition to them.