PORT CHALMERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 228, 13 June 1872, Page 5

PORT CHALMERS.

June sth.

The s.s. Maori, for Lyttelton via intermediate ports, and s.s. Stormbird, for Invercargill, sailed last night. The Parana from Mauritius was signalled at the heads at 3 p.m. The ss Beautiful Star arrived at 2 p.m. ; sailed from Lyttelton 4 p.m. on the Ist ; arrived at Akaroa 10 p.m. same day ; remained there till 5.30 a.m. on the 2nd; sailed, and arrived at Timaru 9 a.m. on the 3rd ; discharged and loaded cargo, and sailed again at 9 p.m. ; arrived at Oamaru 3.30 afm. to-day ; discharged, and sailed again at 7 a.m., arriving at Port Chalmers as above. Fine weather throughout. A search party sent out from Nelson for the missing crew of the Ocean Bird, returned unsuccessful. Mr Morris Levy, who conducted the search, reports that the bays and shores of D'Urville's and Stephen's Islands were searched without any trace being discovered of the missing men. The party then went to Pritchard's station, and received much kindness from the overseer, Mr Geo. Guß«on, who said that he took particular notice of the Ocean Bird (she passed on a Saturday, but he could not tell the date) as being out of the track of all vessels, aud clos in shore, a fearful gale from the S.E. blowing, and she appeared very deep, and evidently in difficulties under reefed canvas. Coming through the Rangitoto Islands, she passed between the Tower Rocks and D'Urville's Island. On nearing Cape Stephen she had to contend against the ebb tide and frightful " ripp" that was running, aud could make no headway. They then tried to push her through it by putting on more canvas. She was at that time not a quarter of a mile from the shore and apparently shaping for Port Hardy. All this Mr Gasson and his men saw from the top of an adjacent hill, between 2 and 3 o'clock p.m. The attention of the watchers was diverted by something else for a few minutes, and when they again looked she was nowhere visible, and in their opinion no boat could have possibly lived in the terrific weather it was. After further search, especially at Port Hardy, where numerous portions of wreck of vessels from "20 tons to upwards of 1000 " were seen. With a leaky boat and in unusually tempestuous weather, the party returned to Nelson with the impression that it was most improbable that any of the missing men were alive.