PORT OF BLUFF HARBOR.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 267, 25 May 1866, Page 2

PORT OF BLUFF HARBOR.

ARRIVALS. May 23— Nil. DEPARTURES. May 22— P.N.Z. and A.E.M. Co.'s s.s. Airedale, 500 tons, W. H. Mcikleham, for Northern Ports with passengers. T. G Tanton, agent. • May 22— Maria, SOO tons, A. Shaw, for Port Chalmers. Cochran, Blackwood and Granger, agents. PASSENGER LIST. May 22 — Per Airedale, for Otago. — Cabin : Messrs Muntunyteman, Boyd, Campbell, Adamson, Budger, Mooi-e, Dyer, M'Master, Pratt, Davies, and Dalgleish (2), and Leonard ; and three in steerage. For Wellington.— Cabin : Mr and Mrs Marchant and governess ; Mr Marchant, junr., for Greymouth ; two in steerage.

The Kaiknra, the first of the ocean line of steamers in these waters of the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company, which was telegraphed off the Otway on Saturday afternoon, at half-past four o'clock, came up the bay yesterday, and anchored off the Sandridge Railway Pier shortly before one p.m. The Eaikora, although by no means pretentious in appearance, is a .fine vessel of beautiful lines and brig rigged. The registered tonnage of this smart steamer is 1501 tons ; and her engines are of 400 horse-power nominal. She carries 1200 tons of coal, and can steam thirteen knots easily on a consumption of twenty-eight ton 3 per day. Her cylinders are eighty inches, with a three feet sis inch stroke. On, her trial trip she steamed thirteen knots and a half per hour with her expansiou valves opened. She is also built in watertight compartments, and has proved herself a remarkably rapid vessel under steam or canvas. Her saloon accommodation is of a first-class order, and aims at judicious combination of comfort and economy. In addition to a library and piano, she is fitted up with plunge and shower baths, and her resources are equal to providing for upwards of 100 saloon and sixty second-class passengers. She has a spacious spar deck, which forms a splendid promenade. . Her pantry is fitted up with a due regard to creature comforts, and contains a steamhot chest, steam boiler, and a steam tea and coffee percolator for the use of the-saloon. Below there is a capacious icehouse, capable of containing sufficient ice for the entire.voyage from Wellington to Panama, «md from the Isthmus to these colonies. Her providore arrangements are spoken of as being complete, and the saloon table is alleged to be equal to that of any first-class hotel in London. On deck, the Eaikora is supplied with all the latest and most efficient improvements in the shape of steam winches. She has also a steam capstan for lifting the anchor, and carries patent reefing topsails. She has a topgorilant forcastle for the housing of her crew. The Kaikora left Plymouth at twenty minutes past tyro p.m. on Sch. March, and had strong breezes from the N. and E., with squally, weather, as far as St. Vincent, where she stopped for four days to coal. Light variable winds, with calms were experienced afterwards until reaching the equator, which was ciossed on March 26. From the line to Table Bay, vhich was reached on April 7, very light winds prevailed, and the entire distance was done under steam. After remaining three days at the Cape, which she left on the 10th April, at six p.m. Moderate winds with fine weather were met with until passing the Leuwin, when strong head winds were encountered. The last tliree days of the voyage were characterised by light winds and calms. On Mai eh 30, the Kalkora, when off St. Helena, lost one of the blades of her three-bladed screw, and on the 4th inst it was discovered that ancther blade had gone, leaving her to perform the renwidder of the voyage in a crippled condition, the sceew having onlp one blade, and the motion of the shaft requiring chat easy steam should be used.— ,4?77«.?, 11th May. The schooner James Daly, well known to a number of the old residents, has again arrived in Port Cbalmers. Since her departure some months ago for Wanganui, she has been dismasted and had her decks swept. A jury mast was saved from the wreck, with, the assistance of which, and a spare sail, she was enable to make Wellington Harbor, where she remained, her cargo being forwarded on to Wanganui. The owner sent up hands and repaired her at considerable expense, and has had Jier brought back for the purpose of disposing of her.— Daily Times, 19th May. Supposed Loss of the Barque Trieste. — The barque Trieste, Captain Clarke, owned by Messrs Thornton, Smith and Firth, of this city, is now 167 days out from port, and grave fears are entertained for her safety. She left Auckland for San Francisco, to load breadstuffs, on account of her owners, on the 3rd of November last, and arrived safely at her destination. The barque Ceres, which arrived here from that port, reported her as ready for sea when she sailed on 26th of January last. Captain Austin, of the Novelty, which arrived yesterday, also reports having sighted her, ten days out from San Francisco, on the sth of February last: From the excellent sailin? capacity of the vessel, it is thought she rnnst have turned up before this unless some accident of a serious nature had oocurred. Arrivals ■a. Lac Australian colonies from the same place report having encountered a hurricane on the 15th of March from the north-east. • The iron ship Gauntlet was thrown on her beam-ends, and had her cargo shifted, the barometer falling to 29 - 50 at the time. The Sea Star reports an extraordinary set of currents- between latitude 3<Sdeg. 30min. N." to latitude sdeg. 30min. S., in strength averaging sixty knots per twenty- four houis, and highly dangerous to masters not taking great precautions, the currents not being indicated on Admiralty ckarts. — Auckland Southern Cross, April 23. The N.Z.S.N. Company held their usual half-" yearly general meeting on the 30th April, and the report then submitted-to the shareholders was in every way satisfactory. Last half-year's receipts amount to £45,153 10s. 9d. ; expenditure, £3^,564 Bs. 7d. £5,000 going to the depreciation account leaves a balance to the credit of profit and loss of £5,589 2s. 2d., which, with a balance of £75 6s. 6d. from the previous halfyear, leaves an amount of £5,664 10s. Bd. The •ship property of the Company is valued at £71,089 15s. Bd., and on account of the new steamer Tarauaki £14,611 18s. 3d. has been remitted to England. The expenses of management, for the half-year being only £931. 6s. lOd. shows that the affairs of the Company are regulated with judgment and a due regard to economy. A great number of changes have taken place in the commands of the vessels since our last summary. Captain Francis, formerly of the s.s. Wellington, has been appointed to the fine new steamer Taranaki ; Captain Benner, is to take his place ; Captain Thomp83n, of the Storm Bird, will commaud theQueen^; and Mr. Gleadow, late chief officer cf the s.s. Wellington, has got the little Storm Bird. We regret that in closing our report of the affairs of the Company we have to announce the loss of their pioneer vessel — the Wonga Wonga. The Taranaki, which arrived from. Lytteltoo on Tuesday morning, brought us files of Canterbury papers, containing telegrams from the West Coast, announcing the fact of her having taken the ground in that dangerous locality and having become a total wreck. , By the Claud Hamilton, which arrived on Thursday, we have later particulars. The wreck, it appears occurred when crossing the bar at the Grey.. The Wonga after leaving Nelson, had visited both Greymouth and Hokitika, and was intending to call again at Greymouth on her return to Nelson when the accident occurred. The Hokitika papers stato LVptain Munctle attributes the accident to mis-direction by the Biguals. The steamer was sold to the Messrs. Paul, a$ Greymautb,, for £327, ao that gh| Jl m.u.6t hare been, w complete Trreck. gko \w insured, wo b?U?¥e } fo* i&QQO, vhieh

was about one-half her value, as estimated bythc Company. — Wellington Independent, 14th May. Wreck off Portland Island. — The schooner Saucy Lass, from Napier, arrived in this harbor, reports having seen the hull of a large vessel, apparently on her beamends or botton uppermost, between Portland Island and Table Cape, on the night of the 12th inst. The Saucy Lasss was unable to see more of the wreck, in consequence of the wind failing her, and preventing her from getting nearer than three miles away. Captain M'Kenzie put the schooner about when some three miles away from the shoi'e, to prevent her being driven aground near the same place, and at daylight, when the breeze freshened, bore down to the locality, all hands keeping a lookout, but no traces of the wreck could then be seen. The wreck was noticed by the crew, floating some five miles away from shore. — Auckland Southern Cross, April 23.