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Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 516, 11 July 1866, Page 2

The Alhambra, 5.6., left Hobson's Bay at 3.30 p.m., on the 2nd insfc. Experienced fine weather till the sth inst. ; she then encountered a heavy gale, with thick weather. Off the Solanders the gale was most severe, and the sea so heavy, cansing the ship to roll so frightful, that she was compelled to heave to for three houvs. During the gale, 30 horses out of 33 shipped died, although all that was possible v.-as done to save them. The between deck fittings, by the heavy rolling of the ship, were in great danger of being carried away. Captain M'Lean was unable to leave owing to an injury sustained to his leg on the last passage to Melbourne. She ar-rived-atthe Heads at 9 a.m. last night, and sailed for Dunedin at 3 p.m. The William Miskm left Port Chalmers at 5 p.m. on Saturday, the 7th inst., experiencing strong S.W. winds. Arrived at the Heads at daylight this morning, and sailed again for HoMtika at noon. The barque Isle of France left Newcastle on 25th June, reports fine weather to the 27th ; she then encountered a gale of wind from the S.W., with a tremendous sea, the ship laboring heavily and straining. She now sprung a leak, and the Captain was obliged to throw 20 tons of coals overboard to ease her in the seaway. The gale continued from the N.W. to S.W. for the greater portion of the passage. By the arrival, on Tuesday last, of the cutter Hercules, we have received intelligence to the effect that, when the vessel left Poverty Bay (Monday last) a rumor was current that the Maori schooner Queen, which, it will be remembered, recently took up a large general cargo to Wairoa, had gone ashore at Portland Island ; and that she had become a total wreck. The report further states that it was on Saturday last, 23rd instant, she went ashore. Keferring to back files, we find that the Queen left Wairoa for Poverty Bay on the lOtb. instant, and as no intelligence has been received here of her arrival, there may be some truth in her reported wreck. — Saiole's Bay Times, June 28. The Lady Bird, steamer, left Wellington on Sunday, 25th instant, at 9 a.m., a very heavy sea running at tie time. After rounding Cape Palliser had a moderate passage up the coast. Arrived at the anchorage on the 25th at_ 9 a.m., Captain Kreeft reports a heavy gale of wind from the south-east, on Saturday, the 23rd inst. Such was the fury of the gale that the steamer could make no headway against it. — HawTctfs Bay Herald, June 26. Captain Gardyne, of the Pheebe, reports seeing a large quantity of wreck, consisting of the top of a deck-house, several casks and piece3 of timber, part of a lower mast, about eleven miles to the north of the Heads at sea. He says he saw several pieces of wreck for three or four miles, gomefe are entertained for the safety of the fj ne Te ssel Jenny Duncan, which left this port for the North, laden with grain, on Friday evening. — Lyttelton Times, June 25. Wreck of the Gtxndagai. — Captain Anderson, of " Cobb and Co," has kindly given us an extract from a private letter which he received by the West Coast coach on Saturday, stating that the Colonial Government p.s. Gundagaihas been -^totally wrecked at the Patea, and that no lives wero lost. It will be recollected that a rumor was circulated in this town last week to the effect that the Gundagai had gone down at sea, and that it subsequently turned out to be without foundation. The vessel arrived safely at "Wanganui, and on the first trip to the Patea she was wrecked, having, it is supposed, drifted on to the bar. Our informant states that she had broken into two pieces, and was a complete wreck. No doubt we shall have ful'er particulars by next mail. — New Zealand Advertiser, 2nd July. The Weathee on the Coast, asb Wrecks at Newcastle. — Early on the 9th instant the wind shifted from W. to S., blowing rather fresh, and bringing up some heavy rain squalls, which continued at intervals during the day ; but throughout the night it fell incessantly, and continued up to noon on Monday, when it partially cleared, the wind again veering to the westward. The reports by the arrivals from the southward show very heavy southerly gales, which also have been felt to the northward of this port, which unfortunately has caused severe loss. — At Newcastle on Saturday afternoon it was blowing a heavy southerly gale, when the schooner Comet, from Sydney, and Lady Alicia, from Melbourne, made the port. The schooner missed stays, and got close to the breakers, near the Oyster Bank, when she was compelled to anchor. The brig was also brought, to anchor in a very dangerous position, but fortunately, the steam-tug Bapid was on the spot, and with great risk succeeded in getting a hawser on board, and towed her safely into the harbor in charge of Pilot Lotfc. All the crew of the Comet were rescued by the life boat. The Bshooner Orient, from Sydney, Captain J. Naples, anchored in the evening, close to the wreck of the Eleanor Lancaster, but the heavy sea rolling in. 'caused her to drag, and at 6 o'clock yesterday moyning she wanfc on shore pa the n,orth feeaoh,

and soon became a total wreck. No lives -were lost, and her cargo, which consisted of wheat, is reported to have been landed, but necessarily very much damaged. The wreck was sold on the 12th inst., for £29. The Comet also became a wreck, and was sold at the same tune for £82. — Sydney Morning Herald, June 11. The barque Pasithea, from London, with a large general cargo and passengers, is still detained at the Heads by adverse winds. She sailed from London Docks on March 9th, and remained at Q-ravesend until the 10th, when she took her departure ; passed through the Downs same slay with strong easterly winds, which carried her to the Start Point ; one day's northerly wind was then experienced, after which she encountered a fearful gale, commencing at W. and backing round to S.W., with a tremendous cross sea, during which the ship behaved nobly. Moderate winds and weather were afterwards experienced to the Equator, which was in long. 24.30 W., then 35 days out from Grravesend. She had very indifferent south-east trades, and lost them in lat. 14.30 S., wliich was succeeded by 10 davs' variable winds. On the 28th April, iu lat. 26-"20 S., long. 27.40 W., .spoke the barque Glenatton, 56 days from Valparaiso, bound to Liverpool, which promised to report the ship on arrival home ; next day exchanged signals with the ship Kensington, from London to Bombay, 45 days out, position nearly the same ; from thence had fresh winds towards the Cape, having passed in sight of Tristan da Cunha on the 7th May, and the meridian of the Cape on the 66th day out. A succession of heavy gales wa3 encountered in running down her easting. On one occasion, she was compelled to heave to for 40 hours. Passed the Snares on the 27th June, arrived at the Heads and anchored inside on the 29th. The Pasithea is a beautiful iron built clipper of 587 tons register, and classed in Liverpool underwriters' books for 20 years. She proved herself a splendid sea boat during the heavy gale3. The passengers speak in the highest terms of tke ship, and Captain Boomer, her commander. — Daily Times, 33rd July. New Vertical Steering- Apparatus. — The Liverpool Journal of Commerce describes an entirely new and improved vertical steering apparatus which has been invented and patented by Mr H. E. Skinner, of Oak Works, Oak-lane, Lime-house, London, which eombines numerous advantages over those hitherto gained by the old system of steering vessels by means of blockß, tiller-ropes, chains, or tackling of any description. It is to far surpass anything of the kind yet brought before the notice of the nautical profession, inasmuch as it is compact, occupying only 2% feet for a vessel of 1000 tons register, and tho machinery being of such a nature as to render it almost impossible for it to get out of order, whilst it is effectively protected in all weathers by the outer casing, which forms part of the apparatus. An important treatise on the water for locomotive engines and the incrustations" in their boilers, has been recently published iu America. Some instructive facts relative to the mineral constituents of water are given by the author, Br Chandler. The solubility of sulphate of lime in water — ordinarily about 150 grains per gallon — is modified by the presence of other substances. The chlorides of calcium and of magnesium, alcohol, and even a high temperature, diminish it, whilst the chlorides of sodium and ammonium, sugar, and organic substances, increase it. Above 212" Fahrenheit, the solubility rapidly diminishes as the temperature increases. At 255" Fahrenheit, equivalent to a pressure of 30 lbs., its solubility is diminished nearly three-fourths ; at 272" Fahrenheit, equivalent to a pressure of 45 lbs., its solubility is diminished nine teen-twentieths ; and at a temperature of 2SO' to 800 - it may be said to be almost totally insoluble. — Mitchell's \ Shipping Gazette.