PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 132, 19 February 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

mon waikr. Monday .. 12.24 a.m. .. 12.18 j.m ARiuvxr. February 17-^Jane L?ckbart, 81 tons Bau« man, from Sydney Yarra, p b, Nicol, from Grey Bnllarat, ps, Quancc, frrrn Grey Kgraont, b s, 550 tors, Hagley, from Dunedin tui intermediate ports — Fosscng >rs : Saloon, Mr Bastard. Fore c.\bin, 56. February 18— Kale, schooner, 33 tons, M'Kenzie from Sydney— Passenger, Mr Walker Challenge, ps, 77 tons, Kirkpatriok, from Melbourne. Bruce, p b. 'from Grey . Star of the Evening, s.s., Tumor, from tlio Grey. BAILRD. F«branary 17— Eagle, .cutter, Garland, for Manukau Februaiy 18— Lioness, ps, Whitford, for Grey Bruce, p s, Kerley, for Grey IN THR ROADSTEAD. Star of tho Evening, s.s. / Egmont, s.s. Three-masted schooner, supposed to bo tho Lady Darling. ' KNTEUKD I .WARDS Jane^Lockhart, from Sydney OIiF.ARED OUT. lona, for Okarita IMPORTS. Per Jane Lockhart— l hhd ruin, o>9 caso brandy, 50 do geneva, 5 do sardii.es, 2 do cheese 30 do bottled beer, 4GO bags flour, 31 sides bacon, 2 cases chairs, 20 c.v*ks pork. 8 bags beans, 1 case turmry, 200 pieces («lar, 2o cases 011 stones, 200 palings, 36 oars, G cask* tar, 4 packages beef, 2 tons potatoes, 1 do onions £2 do coal, order. Per Kate— 20 barrels poas, Caseins and Oomiskcy ; 1 piano, Kcbblc ; 28 bags onions, 17 cases do, Anderson nnd Mounlt ; 17 bogs, 13 cases onions, H- case} fruit, G hi id a oggs, Buff; 3 hhds cprcs, 12 casrs, 7 hap onions, 1 rase spiced bcof, 21 caso3 fruit, Buchart ; GO cases fruit, 8 rosca pines, 3 pkjjts bacon, H. Q-riflttlis ; 30 torn coals, 35 pair of geese, 32 rolls spiced beef, 3 pkijs bacon, 1 2 bags oysters, G cases fruit, 1G b, a g 8 potatoo?, 12 boxes onions, 11 Ivigs do, order. Kxponi's. Per lona— Duty paid and fico— 3oo boards T and G, 13 pieces tim'-rr, 1 stove, Throcknioiton; G mats su;;ar, 2 half chests t% Uosney aud Co; 48 pkgs lmtz Hillier ; 1G cases H'lit-s wino Mitchell ami Co; TOO shoots iron, 32 boaids. 14 pieces ridging, 3 doors, C nnel ; 8 pUgs mdz, 6 casks and 5 oases porter, ITiro ; 52 sheets iron, 4 cases, Bull 191 pieces timber, 20 sheets iron, 11 pkgs mdz Kilmar in ; 7 casks a:id 1 case porter. . Murphy ; 1 cask aud 4 cases porter, order ; 1 bale, Chambers and Co ; do Colo and Co : 20 ma«s sugar; 10 casks beer, 6 pkga mdz, Lou Hit, llnid and Co ; 28 pkgs mdz, Walker ; 20 cases stout, 4 cases bacon, 26 pkgs sundries, order. EXl'ECTlin AHHIVAT.S. Lloyd's Herald, ketch, from Dunedin. Auckland, s.s., from Sydney Thane, s.s., from Nelson via Grey. > William Miskin, s.s., fiom Dunedin. Isabella, from Dunpdin. Dispatch, from Dun<din. Pearl, from Dunedin . Lady Darling, from Molbourno Alma, from Melbourne Colouist, from Sydney » , Amy Robsart, liiig.ii'.tinc. from Sydney William, brigantinc, from Sydney Spray, schooner, from Christchurch Wallaby, from Grey PROJECTED PKPAnTUJtES. Jolin Mitchell, for. Grcyitivcr. ' Matilda, schooner, for Okarita. - . lona, soliooner, for Okarita. Star of the Evening, for Wellington and Dunedin, this day. Egmont, 6 8, for Nelson, to-day 'Bruce, for Okarita, to-day VKS3KIS IN POUT. Brfgantine— Jane Lockhart Schooners— Caroline. Meteor, Matilda, Emma, Eliza, John Mitchell, lona, Kate. Steamers— Bruce, Ballarat, Yarra, Challengo The steam tug Challengo left Port Phillip Heads on tho Gth instant, with fine weather and easterly winds, but on getting into tin Straita found a strong galo blowing, which drove her for shelter into Western Port tho Barae day. Next morning, Iho woathor haying moderated, she left and arrived nt. Soym6ur on the 9th. There sho romnined for two days, tnking in coal, leaving for Hokitika on tho 11th ; and afier a passage of seven days, dining which fino weather and modorato breezes prevailed, crossed tho bar safoly on tho 18th. The arrival of tho Challenge has boou for some time expected, nnd various rep6i ts respecting her style and capabilities wero diligently circulated. There is no doubt, however, that sho is a valuablo addition to our steam fleet, and from her nppcaranco wo believe Bhe will prove a most ÜBoful boat. Comparatively speaking the Challenge is a stranger in Australasian waters, having only left England some nix months ngo ; but during her short career in Hobson's Bay she gave universal satisfaction, handling tho heaviest vossi>l* there with eoso. Sho is substantially built of ■wood, and is sevcnty-soveii feet long with sixteen feet breadth of beam in her widest part, and draws n littlo over six feet of wator whon hor bunkers nvo full. Sho is fitted with a pair of disconnecting engine?, of twenty-five horso power- each, but ciipnble of working up to over a hundred, aa Im- boiler is in oxcellent condition and nble to carry twenty, four pounds of steam, an amount considerably above the average of low pressure. Just before leaving the Thames the whoto of hw machinery received a thorough overhaul, which rendered it almost equiil to new. She possesses one great adyantnge -over ntiy other tug here and thnfc is patent flo.lts to her wheeN, which in itself is no Blight consideration, aud of which she will feel tho benefit when steaming against those heavy freshets the Westland rivers are so subject to. This and the two smoke stneks is her only peculiarity Captain Kirkpatrick ran her across; but aho will bo worked here by Captain Wilson, for a Jons' time commnndor of the Sophia, steam tug, in Hobson's liny, and • who ha^a^d much experience in si/eh vessels both ;in tho{3goYth of* ICnglam] nnd elsewhere Wo • wish the ChnllenKP every success, nnd tbnfc she will 'prove a foituimio speculation to Messrs Spence Brother", lipi- present ownors. The schooner Kute loft S^ dney on January 27th, clearing the TFeu'ls with a strong E.N.JO, breeze and fino weather. Sho was hardly out of eight of land when tho wind iueraisod to a gale, reducing her to storm canvas, and continuing almost without intermission from S.E. to S. until tho Ist, instant, accompanied by thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. On the 3rd sho was subjected to another eevcro blow from tho S and S.W. that, raised a very heavy sea, compilling her to heavo to under closo-reofod inuinsail. From tho 4th to tlu lltli light oaslei-ly winds and fine wcalhor prevailed, driving tho vessel a long way to the ■outhward of liv* course. On the ill!* tho wind veered into tho S. and S.W., flying into the N.W. on the Mlh.nnd fora few hours blow a heavy gale. On tlio 15th Mount Cook was eighted, and tlm anchor dropped oft 1 Hokltilta the day after, but owing to tho absence of the Yarra steam tug nt the Oroy, sho did not reach tho whnrf until tho 181 h. The Kato brings 30 tons of coal a quantity of fruit *nd qMw produce,

We arc glad to once more see the Yarra at her usunl station in tho river, after her week's knocking about at the Qrey. During her stay there, she towed Boveral vessels in and out, and lias, wo should imagine, made a profitable trip. Tho aceidont to her funnel was soon repaired, and was not the reason of her long stay at the Qrey. The fact of her services being in requisition was the cause of her sojourn .

The Ballarat, p.s., raiule a ti-ip to the Groy on Friday, discharged passengers and cargo thore on Saturday, and, after taking more on board relurncd to Hokitika the same day. Our trade with the Qrey is certainly increasing, for during the past week three of the harbor steamers have viNited that port and returned ngain. The Lioness, which left yesterday, may bo expected back about Tuesday next. The Bruce made a smavt trip to tho Grey and bnck again yesterday, tho first time tho run both ways hns been accomplished in oio day. In tho morning she brought the Eginout's passengers on shoro, and after taking on board a number of excursionists, started for tho Grey at 10 a.m. She arrived there early on tide, at once crossing the bar, and after staying an hour and shipping a few return passengers for Hokitika, and two or three for the Eguiont, loft, arriving in the river by 7 p.m. This is the first timo wo ever know a vessel cross the bar at dead low water and wo are surprised that even the IJruco should have attempted it.' $he, howover, did ; and, what is more, succeeded iv effecting un cniranco," although she grounded in the river, aud lud a desperate stiwgle to reach the wharf, dragging herself along inch hyinch through tho gravol. But tho fact of her lnving managed to get insido at such a time of tide speaks loudly in favor of the present state of the clnnnel. That smart brigantiuo, tho Jano Lockhart, hns again arrived at this port from pydnoy, after an excellent passago of eleven days. Sho left Iho Heads on tho Gth inslaut, with light S.J3. winds and fino weather, whioh sho carried all the way across, making tho land of tho MiGcllo Islnuu on tho IGth, and towing to tho wharf nslorii of tho Lioness tho day after. Sho brings a full general cargo. On her last trip hero from Sydney tho Jane Lockhart was delayed two or three days in tho ofihif;, waiting for a Btcum lug to tow hor in, Captain Bowman stating (hat his signals woro dijrogarded. J'eing fearful thai such might bo the easo this time, mid determined if possible to prevent its recnrivnco. lie before leaving Sydney provHod hinr-flf 'vith a aigiial most s!r.ui;;o and original, hoping that should tho ordinary bun tin« fail in attiac'/ing attention* the display of this one would be crtiin to onlisl the sympathies of all who beheld it, and ensure the prompt ns'ifttncQ of a ' tig- bout. On arriving off the b'ir on Siturdiy, the Jano Lockliart hoisted fie usual signal for tut', which of course was at onco made ou" by the signalman and promptly responded to by tho Lioness. But when that handy steamer reached tho roa'lslea'l slio found there wtvo two vessels instead of ono needing hor assistance, both of which woro from Sydney. Sho accordingly made for that ono furlho.4. in tho ofiing, which happened )o bo tho Kntc, schooner, passing tho Lockhart. on her way, intending to " pick hor up " noxt trip. Long boforo she reached tho Kale, howover, the attention of thoso on board wero ' atractod by an extraordinary looking object flyinK nt tho brignutino's main peak, and which blew out in tho shape of a billoon. It was evidently not a national flag, .illicit some might consider it an ensign, and for a timo it puzzled them to make it out ; but on glasses .being called into requisition, it was dif-coveivd to lio nothing moro or less than a ciinolino, nnd on lowering tho glasi to 'Jio, qu .i tor-deck, a number of ladies wore discovered waving their handkerchiefs, and making ir mistakenWo flomonil rations that they considered their turn rhould bo first, served. Tliia quickly decided tho movements of the Lioness, for lika a true seaman, Cap'nJn Whitfoid at once turned liis vessel's bows in the direction of the fair fleet wlireu had so suddenly hovo in sight, Boon ranged nlnng&ide, and his services being cngigerf, ho took the brigantine in tow, and convoyed hor safely across the bar to the wharf. This little episode occasioned no slight airuseinent and chaffing, and on being questioned, Captain Bowman declared he was afraid that if not taken in tow at once, he should bo compelled to remain outside another night, and having lady passengers on board, ho thought he could not adopt a bettor plan to make that fact known, and to secure prior attention, than to hoist a crinolino. Ho certainly paid a high compliment to the , gallantry of Captains Nicoll and Whitford,' nnd wo think it is much to bo regretted tho formor wa* absent at tho Groy, otherwise thero would no doubt havo beon a generous emulation between them who should havo arrived first to the rescue. We 'certainly must say we never, savo once, heard of tho signal boforo, although wo aro staunch bo.lievers in tho potency of il3 power. Tablo cloths aro occapionally mado use of by sea captains, hospitably inclined, when they dosiro tho society of a brothor salt at thoir dinner tablo, but that a modern dress-extender should bo used as nsignal^of haste is something quito out of tho common order of things. Its efficacy, however, has been proved beyond doubt, ' and wo daro say it will for tho futuro bo recognised as legitimnto, ovon if it is not included in Mnrryntt's code.