PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 111, 25 January 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

Hiail-WATKIt. Thursday ... 4.0 n.m. ... 4.24 p.m. AKRIVED IK THE BOADSTEAP. Egniont, s. ARRIVKD. January 24— Threo Sisters, sell, Shcrbevl, from Groy Lapwing, cutter, Edwards, from Grey Konnody, s.s., Whitwcll, from Nolson via Grey. Edwards and Co, agents. SAILED. January 24— Nil. expected amuvat.s. Rangitoto, s.s., from Melbourne, on the 27th Gothenburg, s.s., from Melbourne, on tho 30th South Australian, b.s., from Kelson via Dunodin, on Friday Kcora, s.s., from Dunedin, early Phconix, seh, from Dunedin Lloyd's Herald, ketch, from Dunedin. PROJKOTEI) PEI'AKTURKS. City of Nelson, for Okavila, to-day Thames, for Bruce Bay. to-day Australian Maid, for Okarila, early Tiger, for the Grey, early. Three Sisters , for the Grey. Dart, for Melbourne, early. lona, for Okarita, early. John Mitchell, for Grey, this day. South Australian, s.s., for Melbourne 27th instant. Bruce, for Okarita on Tlnusdny~next. • Egmont, s.s., for Bli.ff and Dunedin, this day. < William Miskin. f.s., for j Nelson and Dunediu, this day Konnedy, s.s, for Nelson, this day Crest of tho Wave, for Christeluirch, via Pelorus Sound, to-morrow. VESSBLS IS I'OUT. Brigantines— Dart. Schooners— Caroline, Dunedin, Meteor, Amy Robsart, lona, Crc&t of the Wave, Tiger, Matilda, Throe Sisters. Cutters — Thames, Australian Maid, Volunteer, Traveller's Bride, Lapwing. Steamers — Ballarat, Yaria, Bruce, Lady of tho Lake, Lioness, William Miskin, Kennedy. IMPORTS. Per Kennedy, transhipped ox Albion — 2 cases, Mulligan and Co ; 4 pkges, -Unvnctt. and Co j 2 pkges, order ; 3 enses, Stewart j 1 case, Munson j 1 case, Byruo j .17 pkflics Walters ; 1 sack, Boyle j 2 boxes fruit, Dunning. Shipped at Nelson — 75 pkgea, N. Edwards and Co ; 4 do, Lunnimnn j 9 pkges, Bront ; 2 do, Palmor ; 1 do, Clurko Bros ; 1 trunk, 6 casks ale, Marks and Co ; 2 brie, Dunning and Eoss j 0 case.", order j 1 cask, Coßshi3 and Co ; 2 pipes, Trist and Bertram; 25 casks ale, J. liontly uiitl Co; 6;do, J. Drow; 62 pkgos, Morison, Law, mid Co ; 72 pkgos, J. Solomon and Co. ; 1 pkge, Harper ; 2 pkgos, Gray ; 2 pkges, Bank Now Zealand ; I case, Mcßeatb and Co ; ' 1 trunk, 17 casks ale, T. Munro aud Co ; 2G pkgos, Polo and Co. Tho s.s. Kennedy left Nelson n,t. 2 p.m. on tho 22nd, bound to tho Groy, arriving tit that port tho noxfc day at 8 p.m. making tho run in 25 hours, during which, lino woathor and moderate SE breezes prevailed. She remained at tho Groy for 24 hours discharging cargo, and then left for Hokitika on tho 24th at 3 p.m. arriving at tho wharf at 5.30 p.m. She brings a general cargo, and a number of Bheop.

Tho entrance to the river is at present most passable, as at high water there is a broad open channel with from two to two fathoms and a half of water all over it. Strictly spouking thero aro two channels, although tho ono to the southward is exceedingly narrow, though deeper than that running to fho N.W. Tho bar, however, between them can be safely crossed at high water by vessels of a moderato draught.

The p.s. Lioness, which has been absent at the Grey during tho past fortnight, hns hud one or two narrow escapes from shipwreck since her departure from Hokitika. Sho left our port on tho Bth instnnt, with tho schooner William aud Mary in tow, and. arrived in tho v Groy roadstead at 5 p.m. In attempting to cross the bar sho took tho ground, and whilst, striving to clear herself the hawser parted, her cbargo shot past, and went on shoro on tho beach. Tho tug, however, managed to back off, and camo to an anchor in tho roadstead. On tho 9th, at 3 . n.m., sho steamed across tho bar into tho river, grounding slightly in so doing. Sho was unable to leave again that day on account of tho impassublo stato of the bar, the chnnncl being closed and a tremendous sea breaking over it. On tho 10th tho same stato of things continued ; and on tho 11th " a heavy surf was breaking on tho bar, rendering it impassable." Tho 12th brought a slight chango for tho better, the channel being a littlo clearer-* so steam was got up, and tho Lioness proceeded to sea, but took tho ground when crossing tho bar, and in spilo of every effort mado to releaso her sho remained there for two tides. The noxt day saw her in tho samo predicament, but by lightening her ns much as possible, and keoping tho engines going, sho gradually forged a-hend into deep water, and at 8 a.m. floated and steamed up to Iho wharf. On thi3 day no further attempt was mado to work the bar, as,' according to tho log, " thoro \ras no channel." Tho l'Jfch being tho Sabbath, work was suspended, mid the bar continuing still closed, tho day after was spent in idloness. On tho lGth a very heavy surf wii3 rolling homo, which kept Iho steamer at her moorings. On tho 17th sho was surveyed by tho Government inspector, which resulting satisfactorily tho usual passenger licenso was granted her to carry ono hundred and oifthtyfivo adults. January 18th saw tho bur clear, the opportunity being seized by the tug to tow out to sea tho Gn/.clle, Miranda, Hurra) , Spray, Rifleman, Mary Stewart, Jane Anne, Tiger, and Sea Bird. On tho 19th sho had a slight disaster, for in towing out tho Martha, schooner, the latter took tho ground, and tho hawser parting through tho sudden jerk, she was placed in great peril. Luckily for her, the surf this day was not heavy, which allowed the Lioness to back alongside and send her largest hawser on board, and after a few heavy pulls the Martha, once more floated, and was towed safely outside into de«p water, not the slightest injury having resulted to her. Nothing daunted by this mishap, the tug re-entered tho river and fastened to the schooner Margaret Chessel, and towed her cleverly to sea, returning the same tide to her moorings inside, thus completing her work for that day. Next day (the 20th) the River Grey gave unmistakable notice that it was about to rise far above the ordinary level, which set nil tho shipping at work getting out extra uiooriugs and making due preparations to receivetho approaching flood. Towards midday the river had swollen enormously, the current rushing by the town with ten-knot speed, carrying with ii to the sea an immense quantity of logs and driftwood, and through the lack of wharfage accommodation and proper mooring piles, placing every vessel in imminent danger of being torn from her fastenings and swept over the bar. The utmost anxiety was felt, and fears were entertained for the steamship Thane and one or two other crafts which occupied outside places, and were therefore more directly acted upon by the force of tho stroain. TbeßO unfortunately were too well founded, for tlio Tlinno, unable to resist its forae, bvoko adrift, and wn» swept into ibe tain, carrying It))? Um^ with )m;

This seemed to bo tho signal for others to join company, fcr immedia'cly, after the cutter Lapwing and two coal boats broke ad lift, followed by the Volunteer and Mai tha. All these vessels foil foul of tho two stcamerp, and although anehois were let go from each ciafb, they wauld not hold, and tho vessels, all in a heap, commenced di if i ing down tho river Steam, however, was soon got up on board the tug, which enabled her I o break llnougli the "ruck," and reach the bank again. Happily for her. sisters in misfortune, tho ilood commonced subsiding, and as they had managed by this limo to separate themselves and run waips on shore, they were enabled to hold their own, and finally haul inshoro again. On tho 2Lst the i Lioness did a little towing in picking up ono or two of yesterday's castaways and restoring them to their original stations alongsido whoro a wharf should be. Sho also mndo an attempt to get tho s.s. Eleanor in tho water, which resulted unsuccessfully. Tho next day the bar being in a fit stnto to work, tho tug was fully employed clearing tho river of outward boundors, with which it was lumbered. Sho safely oscortod to sea the. Martha, Volunteer, Rambler, Traveller's Bride, Threo Sister*, and Lapwing; towing insido tho Maid of Erin besides. Sho also mado another effort, to roleaso tho "Eleanor, and this time succeeded, and towed her right up to a snfo mooring plneo at tho head of tho town. This was her last exploit at iho Groy, for on tho 23rd, having taken on board a number of passengers sho Biiilod for Ilokitika, where sho arrived tho samo afternoon at -I p.m. Tho abovo rough account of hor last trip to tho Groy is taken from tho logbook of tho Lioness, and wo can thereforo vouch for its accuracy. From it some idea may bo formed of tho occasional state of the Grey bar, and tho groat risk rim by vessels attempting to cross it. Tho Lioness has escaped destruction by a mere fluke, nothing but her power and strength having raved hor. It was supposed by, many that her plates being worn thin by age would not lie able to resist a heavy sea shouM she get aground on either Hip Grey or Hokilika bar, but her late trial has triumphantly proved her capable of enduring much more buffeting than many a vessel of a stronger appearance. We arc oxceeeingly glad to see her once more, and think Capt. Whitfoul is right in not to work 'the Grey again, but remain entirely at Hokilika. There is no doubt the former is by far the most dangerous bar, for besides tho heavy current thero is usually a nasty sea to contend with, and the channel at times is cxceedinglyXintricato and narrow. At present it consists of v narrow gut with over three fathoms waier Jin tho centre which shoals immediately to two fathoms and less, directly the beacons are opened. The Lioness will make ono more tiip to tho Groy to tow in tho Reliauco now in that roadstead, and will return again immediately to Hokitika.