PORT OF BLUFF HARBOR.

Southland Times, Volume VI, Issue 495, 15 June 1866, Page 2

PORT OF BLUFF HARBOR.

June 13— Nil. AKBIVAXS. Jnne 14 — s.s. Taranaki, 400 tons, Francis, from Otago. S. Uichol, agent. June 14 — 5.3. Airedale, 400 'tons, Meikleham, from Dunedin. T. G-. Tanton, agent. IPASSENGEB USX. June 14 — Per s.s. Taranaki, from Dunedin — Cabin .- Mr Hately, Mr Jackson and Mr Gilbert. iaiPOETS. June 14 — Per s.s. Taranaki, from Dunedin — 1 pig, Goodwillie; 22£ chests tea, Dalgety, Eattray and Co.; 1 case, 1 trunk, Portis ; 1 case, PerMns ; 9 bags, 3 cases, Nichol. — From Lyttel- • ton — 2 boxes, 1 pkg, Dalgety, Eattray and Co. June 14 — Per s.s. Airedale, from Dunedin — 30 bags sugar, Hare, Pratt and Co.; 1 gal Trine, Mitchel; 3 crates earthenware, 1 hhd glass, 4 casks, 2 cases, Longuit and Co.; 2 cases, telegragh office ; 1 do, Burrow ; 3 cases, Nichol ; 3 do, Hare, Pratt and Co.; 9 bags sugar, 2 boxes, Uichol ; 2 boxes, 1 canvass bag, Fordham : 1 case, Gibson ; 1 keg, 2 coils, Cowper ; 1 case tobacco, Witwer; 33 pieces iron, Hay 8r03.; 1 cask, 1 trunk, , Waddel ; 1 case, Sloan ; 1 do, Perkins ; 1 parcel, Ott; 1 case, Longuit; 12 pkgs, Waddel; 80 bags flour, order ; 1 parcel, Bant of Otago j 1 do. Perkins ; 1 do, Tanton. The Airedale s.s., sailed from Port Chalmers, in company -with the Taranaki, for the Bluff : had strong westerly winds to contend against; arriving at the wharf at 12.30. She has about 20 tons cargo for this Port, and will sail for Hokitika at daylight (this day, the 15th.) The Taranaki, s.s., left Port Chalmers at 5 p.m., on the 13th; experienced strong S.W. •winds on the passage up. Arrived at the wharf, 11.30 a.m. We are indebted to Mr. Cameron, purser, for files of Northern papers. The Leon-cased Tuebkt-ship Beiioka. — Messrs. Laird Brothers have just completed another iron-cased turret-ship for sea-going and coast defences, named Bellona. She is 1340 tons, and has engines of 300-horse power, by Bavenhill, Hodgson, and Co. She is fully protected by armour plates four and a half inches thick, tapering slightly at the ends, is fitted with double screws, and rigged as a barque. The turrets are on the principle of Captain Cowper Coles, and are the same as those on board H.M. ships Scorpion and Wyvern, the Hauscar, Peruvian armourcased turret-ship, and the Minerva, constructed by the same builders. Each turret is covered with four and a half inch armour plates, except opposite the ports, where it is seven inches thick. She will carry four 150-pounder Whitworth rifleguns, two in each turret. The Bellona went out for a trial trip on the 22nd February, being fully completed for sea (except guns, ammunition, and sea stores,) and has on board 200 tons of coal, draught of water being about eleven feet mean. The speed obtained at the measured mile was a mean of 11.23 knots, under the unfavourable circumstances of a stormy day and cross sea. In smooth, water no doubt a speed of twelve knots •would have been obtained. The turning and manoeuvring powers were tested with the following results. — Ist. In making a circle when both engines were working at full speed a-head, from the action of the rudder alone, the rudder was put over to an angle of 33 degrees, by four men in 30 seconds ; half circle made in 2 minutes ; full circle in 4 minutes. — the diameter of the circle not being more than from 600 to 700 feet. 2nd. Eudder being put over and one engine stopped, and reversed at full speed, the other continuing at full speed a-head — half circle marie in 2 mm. 5 sec : full circle in 4 minutes, 10 seconds. — the diameter of the circle being not more than 200 feet. Tie vessel appeared to lose her headway immediately, and to swing round on her heel. 4th. The rudder lashed amidships, the vessel being driven at full speed a-head by both engines, one engine stopped and reversed, the other continuing at full speed a-head, — half circle made in 3 minute 3; full circle in 7 minutes, — the diameter of the circle same as ~So. 3 trial. The results of these trials were considered satisfactory. After taking on board about 200 tons of additional coal and stores, the Bellona left Liverpool for her destination, and made the run from Formby lightship to Holyhead, a distance of about sixty nautical miles, in five hours and a half ; the captain reporting that, in a strong beamwind and heavy Bea, the vessel had shown herself all that could be desired. After landing her pilot at Holyhead, the Bellona proceeded on her voyage. Some time ago "we noticed the trial of Minerva, a doublescj?ew turret ship of 1000 tons, and 140 horsepower, built and engined by Messrs. Laird, which obtained a speed, at the measured mile, of ten knots and a half. We are informed that this Vessel made the passage from Liverpool to Bio de Janeiro in thirty day<s, including all stoppages, which gives a speed of nearly nine knots per hour; and although only drawing eightfeet of yr&ter, proved herself during the voyage an excellent sea-boat under all circumstances. The performances of these vessels at their trials and at sea prove the advantages to be derived from the application of the double-screw system to turretBcips of light drought of water. Messrs. Laird Brothers have other double-ecrew vessels in hand ftt the works at Birkenhead, one being an annourpl&d turret To«sel of mora than 2000 tops, specially designed by them for sea-going, with pngJne* of 400 hcw-powcS 1 , to carry four twelve *n3 ft half ion {ping, which, from her speed and fusty srmwnrnt, wiji won & inpssf focmidabls