SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Southland Times, Issue 544, 20 August 1866, Page 4

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

A correspondent at Bruce Bay, writing to the " WL-stland Observer " f the 17th July, says : — " A friend of mine, Mr Daniel Fern, has just arrived, after uuheard-of suffering, overland from Jackson's Bay, and has informed me that three miles to the norih of the Haast River, he saw a boat, or waterman's skiff, marked 'R&ngitira — T. Parkinson.' She had been hove up on the beach high and dry, and but slightly damaged. From the barnacles on her. ho judges that the has been about six months in the sea. The London ship King of Trumps, Captain G-. Jenkins, bound for Otago, New Zealand, with p-jssengers and general merchandise, and which has put in here to repair damages, was towed up from Trumpeter Bay yesterday to her anchorage in the Cove. The ship was first signalled as a stranger, with loss of bowsprit, on Tuesday, and was not made out until yesterday. Captain Jenkins reports that he left London on Ist March Gravesend on the 3rd and Land's End on the Bth March ; crossed the equator on the 2nd April, in 23deg. 20min. W. ; had then bad south-east trades and light winds until 29th April, when the ship then inlat. 44deg. 24min.S., dong. lOieg. 14min. E., experienced a very heavy gale from the N.W., veering to S.W., which continued until May 5, the ship then in 41deg. lOmin. S., and 24deg. 30min. E. Had fine weather to May 10, when in hit. 43deg. 43min., long. 3Sdeg. 20min., a hurricane commenced from X., veering to N.E., with a fearful sea. On May 12 the wind veered from N.E. to W.S:W., then to W , ftiwt then to N., itill blowing a hurricane. The wiud moderated on the 13th, and on the 18th heavy gales again came on from S.S.W., S.S.W., and S., which continued for iwenty-four hours. Had then a suc;'es3io-> of very heavy gules until June 4, when in lat. 49dpg. S., long 133deg. E., a cyclone was experienced, accompanied by a heavy sea. At two a.m. a sea struck the port bow and carried away the bow-sprit, I reaking it short off at the night heads, a second sea washing everything off the decks. The masts were stayed, and endeavors were made to clear the wreck, whi-h was a task of great difficulty, the bowsprit hanging by the bobstays, chafing the starboard bows nearly through ; and it was expected that the bowsprit would make its way through. At noon, however, the wreck was cleared away ; Captain Jenkins unfortunately, whilst engaged in the work, getting his hand jammed between a portion of the wreck and the rail, receiving si very severe injury from which he is still suffering. The weather then moderated until the Bth inst., when in 48 deg 12min. S., 135deg. Bmin. E., at half-past four p m, a hurricane set in, the wind veering from E.N.E. to S. and S.W., with a frightful s-.-a. — Southern Cross, 19th July. | We are indebted to Captain Parr, of the Phoenix, for a copy of the " Okarita Times " of the 21st. The Phoenix left Okaiita on Saturday night, and arrived at the Heads on Friday morning, i3t 2 o'clock. On the passage, spoke the schooner Danzig, from Dunedin to Invercargill, which put back under the Nuggets on Thursday, in consequence of a head wind. — " Daily Times, 28th July. The s.s. Egmont left Hokitika at 4 p.m. on the 6th inst., experienced fine weather, arrived at the wharf at 5.30 p.m on the Bth inst. The Egmont has just returned from Sydney, where she has had a thorough overhaul, and s*me improvements, whereby her speed has been greatly increased. She is intended to be employed regulerly in the coasting trade, and will visit this port regularly every month. The i-.s. Alliambra, Captain M'Eaehren, left ; Hobson's Bay at 3 p.m., on the 3l*t ult.; off Goose Island some portion of her machinery broke, compelling her to anchor under the island for 30 hours ; resume 1 her voyage on the following day, experienced fine weather with W. and N. W. winds, made the land at 4 p.m. on the 6th inst., and Stewart's, Island at 11 p.m., when the engmes were stopped, and arrived at the wharf at 7.3 ! > a.m. to-day. Akhival op the s.s Sakaia, pkoh Panama. — The P.N.Z. and A.R M., Company's s.s. Rakuia, Captain J. H. Wright, arrived in harbor at midiiight of the 23rd. She left Panama on the 25th June, bringing the mails from 2nd June, as well as cargo and passengers for New Zealand and Austral;! sia. The voyage from Panama was accomplished in twenty-eight days, during tne first twelve of which she encountered fair weather ; but after passing, Pitcairns Island a rios of heavy gales was encountered, which caused the slight delay in her passage from Panama The Raknia left Milford Haven on the 2 1st April, and called at St. Vincent and Rio Janiero for coaling purpose.*. She passed through the Strait ef Magellan and arrived at Panama on the 17th June. The arrival of this ip.oneer steamer at Panama was greeted in the mo st enthusiastic manner. The passage from England to Panama was stormy in the extreme. A heavy pampero was encountered off the Rio de la Plate, obliging Captain Wright to heave-to his ship for fortyeight hours ; and in the Strait of Magellan the weather was so severe thav. tho vessel was anchored in Borgia Bay for twenty-four hours. The distance from England to Panama has been accomplished by this splendid steamer in forty-six actual steaming days, and the total distance of over 19,080 miles has been run in less than three months, including seventeen clays' stoppage. The Rakaia brings five passongers and a general carjro from Eugianel. She will leave for Sydney, where she will receive a thorough overhaul, this afternoon, — " New Zealand Advertiser," 25th June LOSS OF TOUR P.N.Z. AND A.X.M CoilPAKY's Coal Ships. — By the arrival of the s.s. Ruahine, from Sydney, Captiin Benson, the Manager oi the P.N.Z. &. A.R.M. Company, has received intelligance of the ios3 of four large vessels either belonging to, or chartered by the Panama Company, and on their way to Wellington with cargoes oi coal. The first of them is the ship Esk, which vessel became water-logged ; and was compelled to run into Sydney f Harbor, where she was run upon the beach, became immediately a total wreck. The barque Midas, William Watson, and Sorata have all been wrecked near Newcastle, and their cargoes entirely lost. From what we have been enabled to gle »n, the crews of the vessels effected their escape, except in J;he, : case of the William Watson, and we : vt gret to leaJn that her captain (Moran) and one of the stewards were lost in her. The sudden and unexpected loss sf so many vessels at one time is not only a source of great regret, but the circumstance will involve the Panama Company in considerable difficulty with regard to the supplies they have been calculating upon coining to hand almost immediately. These four cargoes of coal were confidently reckoned upon, and , the greatest inconvenience will arise through the wrecks of the vessels conveying thorn. — ; ' New Zcuiand Advertiser,' 23rd July. , Nelson Lighthouse Towiin. — The following notice to mariners has b.-un published by the President of the Marine Board:— "A red light has been placed in the lighthouse tower at Nelson, and will be. exhibited on and after the first day of August, 186; i. It will be visible from the edge of the bright light, bearing W. by S. to S.W. This red light is only intended to assist pilots and others well" acquainted with the port when taking vessels into the harbor at night. Strangers are warned not to be misled by the light of.which notice is now given, but to follow the directions alreri i.y published when approaching the anchorage of the Port Nelson." — "Nelson Examiner, 18th July. We are able to report very favorably of the condition of the bar, which ut. high tide has twelve feet of water upon it. Although the freshet cause-1 by the late, raius was not a heavy one, it proved sufficient to scour out the channel, which now runs nearly straight out, and is workable for nearly three hours on oacii tide. Just now, unfortunately, it is but. little used, so few are the vessels arriving and departing ; but we hope that in the course, of a -day or two, some of the expected ar ivals from Melbourne, Lyttelton, and elsewhere will make their appearance in the offing, wKen they may depend upon the prompt attention of the river steamers, which lately have been compelled to a state of inaction. — " Weßt Coast Times," 2nd August.

The p.s. Phcebe left Port Chalmers at 5 p.m. on the 27th July, proceeded down to the heads, and waited the arrival of the " Keera " to tranship the Enulish mails for the Bluff. Experienced fine weather during the voyage, and arrived at the Bluff wharf at 8 a.m. on Saturday, the 28th July. Captain Wheeler, one of the oldest and most popular of the company's commanders, has charge. At present the entrance to Hokitika Eiver is in a very sad .'■tate, and promises to remain so unless a freshet comes down to clear the bar. There are now three channels — one running round the point of the South spit in nearly a S.W., direction, another nearly due west, whilst the third is cut through the bar, to the N. W. The two last are navigable, although that to the westward was alone worked yesterday, and in it was found ten feet of water at high tide. At low water the entrance presents a somewhat strange appearance, intersected as it is by sandbanks, between which the river current runs rapidly outwards. One large bank extends from near the old Maria several hundred yards in a S.W. direction, forming, with the end of the north spit, a deep bight within which the water is perfectly smooth, which contrasts strangely, with the soothing surf on the one hand and the rapidly flowing river on the other. Bound the point of this bank the N.W channel runs, and even at low water looks deep but rather narrow ; and on the other side of it is the middle bank, a mere patch of sand forming, however, with another patch which lies off the point of the seulh spit, the west channel Between the patch last named and the spit is a narrow gut way, by courtesy called the S.W. channel, for it is jiot navigable, although a considerable quantity of the water finds a passage through it. Through the west channel the steamer Keera safely entered the river atone p.m. yesterday ; but it was careful pilotage, backed by a thorough knowledge of the lay of the banks that alone brought h-r in. We aye sorry that as much cannot be said of the p.s. Lioness, which after taking Captain Tumbull outside to the Keera, ran down to the brijjantine Dispatch, then some miles in the offing, ami brought her up abreast of the bar ; but as by this time the tide wus considerably out, and the tow-line parted, the Dispatch came to for the night, preferring to wait for this day's title than run unnecessary risk The Lioness, however, made f<>r the river, as her draught was light compared wilh that of the brigantine's ; but, keeping a little too far north, she grounded on the south side of the middle bank, from which position she then failed to extricate herself. At low water she was nearly high and dry .but not by any means dahgerously placed, as there was deep on both sides and ahead. Last niaht, Captain Turnbull, the Deputy Harbor Master, Captain M'Ghll, and Mr Gillies, of the firm of Carey and Giles; the agents, proceeded to the Spit, attended by ja la.ge party of men, who were engaged for the nigiit to render the vessel the necessary assistance. A warp was run out to the soulii spit, at'd preparations made to clear away the sand from under her bows ; and as the night was fine, and fortunately continued so, the efforts made to float this most serviceable boat were happily successful. At about a quarter to one this morniug, she found herself once more in her o\vn clement, and now, we are glad to say, lies at her usual mooring place at the wharf, having sustained no damage whatever to interfere with or delay for a day her valuable services to the port. — West Coast Times, July 18. H. M S. Falcon, Captain Parkin, arrived in harbor at sunset last eveuing from Sydney, via Elizabeth and Middleton Islands, on a cruise. The Falcon has been absent from these waters several months, during which she has been in dry dock at Sydney for a thorough overhaul. In consequence of tiie receipt of information of the wrecic of the barque Mary Lawson, particulars of which have already been published iv these columns, she was placed under orders fir a cruise to the Elizabeth and Middleton Islands, three survivors of the barque's crew having arrived from the latttr place, in a longboat. The Falcon left Sydney on the 30th, with instructions to come on to Auckland alter an inspection of the islands. Arrived at Elizabeth Island reef on the 4th inst., and found the remains of a wreck, which appeared to be in the water upwards of a month, but saw no traces of human beings on the reef. Left the same day for Middleton Island, and arrived there ou the sth. Found the remains of two more wrecks on the reefs sLr/ounding. The figure-head of one was that of a female clasping a book, which is supposed to be the barque Mary Lawson, lost off the reef on the 10th juna. The barque, as previously stated in these columns, was bound to Shanghai from Sydney, and all hands, except three were drowned. The three were picked up at Clarence Heads by the Susannah Cuthbert, on the 17th ult. ; and infoi mation of the wreck having been received by Commodore Wiseman, the Falcon left for the islands, which are some twenty-five miles apart, and composed of coral reef's, over which the sea washes at high water, and forms a lagoon on the inside of the reefs. The two other wrecks were on a reef to the northward of Lord Howe's Island. Saw no traces of any o the crew of the wrecked vessels on the coral reefs, the centre of which, forming the lagoon, is very shallow. Noticed an unusually large number of sharks near the islands, and captured several. On opening one discovered a quantity of male apparel, resembling, that of a sailor. Left Middleton Reef ou the evening of the sth, after a forty-eight hours' cruise amongst the islands, and had line weather until reaching the North Cape, with a heavy easterly swell. Made the Oape on Saturday morning, and arrived at the Kuwau the same evening. Remained at anchor at the Kawa,u until yesterdcy morning, when she left for her anchorage in this harbor. Reports 11. M.s. Curaeoa to leave Sydney for Auckland about the end of next month. H.M.s. Eclipse, Captain Fremantle, arrived at Sydney, from Auckland, on the 15th ult. H.M. s.s. Salamander was also lying in Sydney, and was about to leave for Cape York on survey service. Te only sighted by the Falcon was a double topsail barque, with painted ports, bound here, off the .North Cape, on Saturday moruing last. The Circular £aw barque Alice Cameron was to leave Sydney for this port the day tha Fa c n sailed. The next visit of the Falcon will be to Norfolk Island, for which place she leaves in a short time, with a number ofv^outh Sea Islanders from the Mission College at Kohimaraina. — '"Southern Cross," 17th July. The Albion, s.s., Edward Kidney, commander, left Port Phillip Heads at eight a.m. on the stli inst. Had light N.E. winds, with fine weather, to Hokitka, arriving off the bar at eight a.m. on {he 10th. On the morning of the 11th transhipped eighty passengers and ' cargo, and left at half-past ten a.m. on the same day. Lay off the Grey Eiver for two hours, and arrived at Nelson t fifty minutes past eight a.m. on the 12th ; left at half -past eight a.m. ori the 13th ; encountered strong S.E. winds to Wellington, arriving there at five minutes past eight p.m. on the same day ; left at a quarter past nine p.m. on the 14th, and arrived at Lyttelton at forty-five minutes past eleven am. on the 15th ; left at half-past five p.m. on the 16th j experienced stroug S.li. winds, with dense: fogs, the whole passage to Port Chalmers Heads, owing to which Captain Kidney was obliged to steam dead slow for several hours ; arrived in Port Chalmers at ten a.m. on the 17th, and left at eight p.m. on the 2Gth, thus giving amrlle opportunity to reply to the English letters received per South Australian ; arrived at Bluff Harbor at nine a.m. on the 21»t ; discharged cargo, received English mails and passengers, and left at a quarter past twelve p.m. on the same day. For the first twenty-four hours experienced p.lrong S.E. wind«, and afterwards moderate W.N.W. winds uutu inside the Straits, when strong N.W. winds, with a heavy sea, were encountered. Passed through Port Phillip Heads at half- past four p.m. on the2sth,thusmakingtheextr;iordinaryquicj£ run of four days seventeen hours from Otago to Melbourne. The s.s. Rangitoto left Bluif Harbor in company'with the Albion, and arrived sixeteen Lours after her. — ''Argus." The William Miskin left Port Chalmers at lo p.m. on the 28th inst, with an east wind, and. arrived at the Bluff at 4 p.m. on Sunday, the 29th ult., and sailed for Hokitika and the Grey the same evening.

The Monarch, Captain C. J. Macev, from London to New Zealand, sprung a leak, 30th Ma-oh, near the Brazils ; the crew mutinied, insisted on returning to England, refused to work, and ultimately, forced the captain to put into "Rio Janeiro, 11th April, for repairs. Dangerous disturbances then occurred on board. The hapless passengers were called on to take sides with the crew or captain ; and it required an armed force from the Magsera to restore .order. A survey was made of the snip, which had to be lightened for the purpose of stopping the leak ; and a Court of Enquiry was being held on the insubordination of the crew. We shall be happy to hear of the Monarch's safe arrival at her destination. The European, from Liverpool, was totally destroyed by explosion at Aspinwail (Colon), 3rd April, and and 40 persons are reported killed, wounded, and missing. The Challenger, 18-guns, screw-steam corvette, is about leaving Eagland for the Australian station. — London correspondent of "Daily Times." The s.s. Tararua left Hobson's Bay at 4 p.m. on the 10 inst. ; experienced strong head winds till the 13th inst., and light westerly winds to the Bluff; made the land at 11 p.m. on the 15th, when the engines were slowed till daylight : arrived here at 7 a.m. on the 16fh. There was no news of the mail when the Tararua left Melbourne. The s.s. Queen left fPort Chalmers, at 4 p.m. on the 1 3th inst., experienced fine weather ; arrived at the Bluff wharf at 1 p.m. The Queen iB one of the N.Z.S.N. company's boats, and has taken the place of the Taranaki this month. The Zephyr left New River on Thursday last with light E. winds, and proceeded on hervoyageas far as the Solander, when it was discovered that the shio was leaking badly, and making more water than the pumps could'keep free. The ship was r>ut about, and arrived here on Sunday, 12th August. Captain M'Farlan seems to think that it will be necessary to take her to Port Chalmers to to go on the slip.