PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 108, 22 January 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

mmt-WATKR.

IllulfUATJill, ... 1.0 a.m. ... 1.21 p.m. 'h' ARRIVKD. • „» January 21— City of Nelson, ketch, Harper, from Oknritn. v « Elfin, sehoonor, Milne, from Sydney. Passenger—Mr Lang. Fisher, Urothers, ngonts. SAII.KO. January 21— AVonya Wongn, s.s., Mundlo, for Nelson. Passengers — Miss Annie Ecnuniont, Mr Parker, and eight in the steerage Alma, schooner, Moore, Melbourne. J. ii. Eussol, Clark, for Christchurch, via Polorus Sound. OI.EAIIKD OUT. January 20 — "Wonga Wonga s.s. for Nelson. J. Is. Eussel for Christchurch, via- Pclorus Sound. Alma for Melbourne. ritOJKOTEP PEI'ARTURKS. Three Sisters , for the Grey. Dart, for Melbourne, early. Amy Robsart, for Sydney, this day. lona, for Okarita, early. John Mitchell, for Grey, this day. South Australian, b.s., for Melbourne 27th instant. Bruce, for" Okarita on Thmsday next. VESSELS IN I'ORT. Brigantines — Dart. Soiiooncrs— Caroline, Puncdin, Meteor, Amy Robsart, lona, Crest of the Wave, Tiger. Cutters — Thames, Australian Maid. Steamers — Ballarat, Yarra, lh'iicc, Lady of the Lake. The schooner Maid of Erin hovo offlho bar on Saturday night. Her agents signalled her to proceed direct to tho Grey, upon which sho stood out to sea agah>. iihmediatoly. The brigantine Dait is now lying in the tier alongMdo tho wharf, having succeeded in shipping her ponderous cargo of machinery from off the North Spit without mishap. The boiler is not resting on its main bed, the process of lowering it into the hold being n slow one, the square of the hatchway having to bo built up vith timber from the keelson to tho combing?, on which it rests. Screws ftre then used first to lift it, and then, as tho timber is removed, lower it inch by inch on to its final resting place. The Dart is expected to sail for Melbourne atan early date.

The p.s. Bruco has made another sinait trip to Okarita. Sho left Hokitika on the 18th instant, at 8 pm., thero boing very little wind, nnd fine weather, arriving off Oknriln at 2 a.m. next day. Here sho hove to for a couple of hours, and then ran in and anchored, crossing the bar at 1.30 p.m., the same day. Remained in tho river until 1 p.m. on tho 20th, discharging her cargo, when she again put to sea, towing tho ketch City of Nelson out with her. She oast oil" her tow when over the bar, and arrived off Hokitika at 7 p.m., reaching Iho wharf at 4 a.m. yesterday.

The Elfin schooner left Sydney on the Oth instant with moderate southerly breezes and line weather. On the 13th, the wind shifted into the noith, veering to tho south-west in puffs, finally settling into a heavy gale from that quarter, bofoie which the schooner scudded for 12 hours. On the 11th tho gale moderated and hence to the laud fine weather and steady breezes prevailed. Mado the land about Hold Head on the 19th, and anchored in the roads the next morning, towing into the river astern of the Yarra on the 21st. The Elfin brings a mixed cargo to the port, consisting of 15 tons of coal, hay, maize,' nnd general produce.

The Lyttclion Times reports another addition to the Canterbury yacht Heel, on the 22ud of December:— "A new ami cleverly built yacht, of about five tons measurement, named tho Hip, was successfully launched, Mr George Taylor kindly officiating, with the usual ceremonies. The enterprising owners, Mr George Taylor, of London street, and Mr Drew, of lI.M. Customs, have superintended the building of her, and, so far as model is concerned, we may safely say that nothing requisite has escaped their attention. She is 27 feet long, 0 feet 6 inches in beam, and 4 feet depth of hold, and built after the style of the celebrated yacht America, with all the additional iinproreuients. The ltip in the course of a day or two will be prepared, we have no doubt, to show her capabilities as ono of the crack boats of the harbor. She was built by Mr Salkeld, of Dampior's Bay, to whom great credit is due for the workmanship he has displayed in her building. t After the hunch she was towed round to the slip opposite Canterbury street, where she will be fitted out with all despatch. The Queensland Government has finally chartered the steamer Souchay.* for twelve months for £5,280, the Government paying all working expenses, insurance, &c. She underwent a complete survey in Sydney, prior to the completion of the chaitpr, and was declared to be in a most satisfactory condition. The Souchays left Sydney nou the 2Sth of December, and Newcastle on the 29th, for Brisbane, where the proprietors havo engaged to deliver her by the fini of January. Sho will bo despatched from Brisbane on her first trip on tho Gth of January, without cargo or passengors. It is proposed to mako a trip every alternato month, calling at Somerset, Capo York, and oij through the jrtjwutß to Coepang, on the coast of Tiinor,'4}rasf(fiio first trip or two perhaps on to 13atavin^|Mbjho Dutch lino of steamers between Singap^^ul Batavia will pick up tho sorvice. Ar^wshowing what can bo dono by these experimental trips, tho Government propose (o throw open Iho mail service, via Capo York and Timoc, to tender. — Nelson Exa miner.

The following has been received at Lloyd's ielating to the most extraordinary abandonment of tlio English ship Sir Ralph Aliercroniliic, laden with a cargo valued nt L 50.000, by her officers and crew, ami the vessol being afterwards picked up awl taken safely into the Cape of Good Hope:— "The ship Sir linlpli'Abcicrombie, of the burden of 703 tons, left Pomlicherry on the 24th March last, on a voyage to London, lailen with a valuable cargo of cotton, indigo, saltpetre, and hides, and was tight, staunch, and seaworthy at the time of leaving. The voyage was prosecuted without anything worthy of note occurring till tho 18th of Slay, when, in a heavy gale of wind, off tho Cape of Good Jfopo, tho rudder was lost, and the bowsprit sprung at the outer end, but not in a manner to compromise tho security of tho foremast and forotopmast. Tho vessel continued tight and seaworthy in all othor respects after theso accidents. Tho only thing required to enablo h,or to continuo her voyago was a jury rudder; for suoh a rudder there wero sufllci'em materials on board. Tho day after the rudder was lost tho ship Eoronia passed noad- and offered assistance, which was not accepted, undor tho impression, apparently, that nouowa? required. Tho Sir Ralph Abercrombio's head being to tho south-west tho commander was anxious lo war her, lest, ns ho slates, ho should got out of tho track of vessels. To effect this various experiments wero tried without success. On the 20th, tho ship Marlabau being observed running to the eastward, signals of distress wcro made on board, the Sir Ralph Abcrcroinbie, upon seeing which the Mart'a ban hhoilened bail and hovo to the leeward of her, and Captain Gilbert ordered his ollicers and men to abandon the ship and go on board the Marlaban, he himself preceding them for the purpose of explaining his intentions to the commander of the Martalun He was received on board that vessel without difficulty, and tho ollicers and the remainder of the crow, followed in an hour or so, and were also received on board. The abandonment of the bir Ralph Abercrombio was thus complete and not a living lSO ul was left on board. It was mado by tho order and and on the sole authority of her commander He hold no consultation with his olliceis. lie asked no one's opinion or advice, butordeied the vessel to bo abandoned because ho could not succeed in wearing ' her with her hqad lo the noithward. Neither tho first nor the second officer made any remark on this extraordinary proceeding, but did as they were told. They all (by tho captain's statement) appealed to be glad to getaway, and packed up llieir things and followed him to the Maitaban. The ofti-

ccrs admit that there would have licen no great risk in remaining on board their vessel, and this was evidently the opinion of Captain Hepburn, of tho Martaban, who having remained near the abandoned ship during the night, wont oil board of her tho following morning, and was so well satisfied that she could bo taken into port, that he placed his second oth'cer, carpenter, and ten men on board for tlmfc purpose. Tho Mauritius Marino Hoard, who held nn oflicinl -inquiry into tho ease, havo minnimouely concluded ' (hat the abandonment of tho Sir Ualph Abercrombio "was altogether unwarranted by tho circumstances, and that it is their duly to su&pond the certificate of Captain Gilbert for two years from tho dnto of this inquiry. And inasmuch as tho chief and second officers admit that whilst, in their opinion, tho Sir Ralph Aborcrombio was seaworthy at fho timo sho was abandoned, with tho oxcopiion of tho loss of tho rudder, they neither remonstrated nor protested in any way against tho abandonment of tho valuable vessel and cargo which woro entrusted to their charge, as well as that of tho commander, the Board further decided unanimously that it was their duty to suspend the certilicato of tho chief male for ono year, and that of tho second muto for six months.,' The Board of Trade havo confirmed tho decision of the Mauritius court of inquiry, and a 6pccial agent has been despatched to tho Capo of Good J [opp, by Lloyd's Salvugo Association, to nrrango with tho salvors, tho ship and cargo being insured by tho underwriters for £50,000.