June 10th.

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

June 10th.

The barque Medea, irom Newcastle, with a cirgo of coals, was this afternoon towed in from sea, and berthed alongside the hulk Cincinnati to discharge cargo. The ketch Plying Squirrel, with a number of coal miners, sails for Preservation Inlet to-niglrt, calls at the Bluff for additional passengers, and then proceeds to the Inlet to load a sample of coals for Dunedin. The schooner Dagmar, for Catlin's River, and the ketch Trial, for Waikouaiti, were to-day anchored at the Heads. The repairs to the s s. Taranaki would be completed this afternoon, after which she would leave the Dock. She proceeds to the jjorfch os Wednesday next.

The facilities afforded to shipping at the port of San Francisco must be very great. At a recent meeting held at Auckland to consider the formation »f a freight company, Mr T. Henderson, of the firm of Hendersm and Maofarlane, stated that he had known a vessel of 1700 tons discharge her cargo ami Uke in 600 tons of ballast in 37 ho:, re at San Francisco. The following paper was picked up in a bottle on the North Beach, about half-a-mile north of the flagstaff, on. the 27th May, at 3 p.m., 'by a party of miners, and has been handed to us for publication. It is evidently genuine, and written by Captain T. Underwood : — "This paper was despatched from the steamer Alhambra, of Melbourne, off Cape Farewell, N.Z., for the mirpose of discovering the set and drift of the current on the Coast, on the 29th February, 1872 ; will the finder please forward it to some of the N.Z. papers, and oblige. — T.U. WindS.W., fresh." The A.S.N. Company's steamer City of Melbourne, which sailed from this port ten days ago, with passengers, mails, and cargo to be transhipped to the mail steamer Nebraska, at Auckland, returned to port yesterday morning. Capt. Moore reports that all went weU until noon on the 12th instant when, with one or two Budden^ crashes, the engines were brought up standing. On examination it was found that the gear-wheel had stripped j nearly the whole of the cogs being gone or smashed. After due deliberation, the steamer then being 600 miles from Sydney, Captain Moore determined to return this being considered by him the most judicious cqurse under the circumstances for the safety of the Bhip and all on board. The wind being nearly fair, the steamer was headed for Sydney, propeller disconnected, and all available sail set. Mr Cromack, the chief engineer, having ascertained that there were a sufficient number of spare cogs to complete a single set of teeth, at once set to work with his men and the carpenter to get them fitted, and with such energy had the work been done, that they were enabled to give the vessel the assistance of the propeller in four days, since which time the winds and weather proved favorable. The City, however, only reached port in time, as the remaining cogs were giving out as she came up the harbor. — Sydney Herald, 20th May.

The following preliminary prospectus of a new company, to run vessels between England and Australia (we presume via the Cape), has been printed and circulated privately: — " The London and Australian Steam Navigation Company (Limited). — Incorporated under The Companies' Acts, 1862 and 1867.— Capital, L 1.000,000, in 20,000 shares of LSO each (with power to increase), of which L 200.000 is reserved for the colonies. L 5 per share to be paid on application^ and L 5 on allotment. Future calls, as required, will be made at intervals of not less than three months, and not to exceed LlO per share. Interest at the rate of L 5 per cent, per annum will be allowed on pre-payment of calls. The directory includes the names of Admiral Sir R. Spencer Robinson K.C. 8., late Controller of the Navy, chairman ; Right Hon. W. N. Massey, Director of the British Australian Telegraph Company ; Thos Skinner, Esq, Messrs Thos. Skinner and Co, shipowners, London'and Glasgow ; E. J. Reed, Esq., C.8., late Chief Constructor of the Navy ; John Hill, Esq, Messrs Young, Ehlers, and Co, merchants, London ; Lord Henry G. Lennox, M.P.