Shipping.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 255, 19 December 1872, Page 5

Shipping.

PORT CHALMERS.

The brig Drover, whioh was reported on the 12th inst. with 260 tons of coal, left Newcastle on November 28, and experienced light and variable winds until the Bth of this month, when she fell in with a heavy gale from the N.E., with a terrific sea. Shipped a great deal of water, and stove in her port gangway.- Ultimately had to heave-to, the sea being too heavy to run. Passed South Island last b'riday, and went through Foveaux Straits the same day ; sighted the Nuggets on Wednesday morning, at 8 a.m., and came off Otago Heads the same afternoon ; and the wind having changed from the southward, she sailed up the same evening, bringing up at 10 o'clock. She will haul along* side the coal-hulk Henry to-morrow, to discharge her coaL • A most excellent system of saving life and property has lately been brought into operation on board the Nebraska and Nevada, in case of fire. Unfortunately, it too often happens that when-a fire occurs upon an ocean-going vessel, on the first alarm being given all is confusion. When there is any danger of the flames getting the upper hand, an indiscriminate rush is too often made to the boats, generally ending with loss of life. In these ships, directly the alarm is given, every man and woman in the ship's company (including stewardesses) know exactly what to do, each having previously had a station assigned to him. For instance, so many would work the hose, so many stand by the boats, so many prepare to save property, &c, and not a man, woman, or boy in the ship would be idle. If danger is apprehended of the vessel being altogether destroyed, the boats are lowered- and manned by hands previously told off for the purpose, and provisioned for a voyage. This system is a splendid one, and should be followed by every vessel in the merchant service. In the nuvy, of course, it is the rule. The rules arc hung up in different parts of the vessels, and it is the duty of everyone in the ships to make himself fully acquainted with their contents, so that he may know exactly what is his station in case of fire.

Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co.'s steamer Alhambra, Capt. Pierce, came in from Bluff Harbor on Saturday morning at 5 a.m. She left Hobson's Bay at 6 p.m. of the 7th, passed Swan Island at 5 p.m. next day, and arrived at Bluff Harbor on .Thursday, the 12th inst,, at 5 p.m.— the run from port to port being made in five days. Experienced fine weather, with light winds, throughout ; discharged 90 tons of cargo at the Bluff; left for Port Chalmers at 4.30 p.m. on Friday, the 13th inst., and arrived as above. The Alhambra leaves again on Monday. "We have to thank her purser for files. The Tararua, another of M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co.'s steamships, came into Port Chalmers on Saturday morning, at 11.30. She left Hobson's Bay on the 2nd inst. ; passed Swan Island at 4 p.m. the next day, and arrived at Hokitika on the Sth ; called at the Grey, and left the same evening. Qhe experienced fine weather, with fresh easterly winds across. Arrived at Nelson on the 9th"; left on the lOth for Wellington, and arrived on the 11th ; left again on the 12th' for Lyttelton ; left Lytteliqn at 4.30 p.m., and arrived as aboye..'