PORT OF HOKITIKA

West Coast Times, Issue 176, 12 April 1866, Page 4

PORT OF HOKITIKA

HIGH WATER. T ' * "*' Thursday..! ... 6.56 a.m. ... ir.2op.in. ABIUVKD. April 11. — Wallibi, s.b., Palmer, from Groymouth, 47 passengers. — N. Howards and Co., Agents. Gothenburg, s.s., Mackio, from Nelson! — Henderson and Bonav, agonts. Brucp, p.s. Kerloy, from Okarita, 72 passougors. — F. G-reor, agent. BAIIIED. Nil. f, ENTKBBD IN. , OLEABED OUT. /' Nil. EXPECTED ABBIVAIi9. Isabella, from Dunedin. Pearl, from Dunedin. Duuedin, from Dunodin, early. Lizzio Coleson, from Sydnoy, early. Star of tho Evening, from Molbourno 12th iuet. Maria, from Melbourne, eavly. Mary, from Melbourne, oavly. PnOJECXED DEPARTURES, Australian Maid, for Bruco Bay, to-day. Mary Anne, for Bruco Bay, to-day. lona, for Bruco Bay, to-day. Kate, for Okarita, this day. Lapwing, for Okavita, to-day. Gothenburg, for Melbourne, April 12th. Star of tho Evening, for Melbourne, early. VESSELS IX TOUT. Schooners — Caroline, Meteor, Tambo, Elfin, Mary Jano, Moyno, Matilda, lona, Aparima. Cutters — Mary Anno, Lapwing. Steainors — Yarra, William Miskiu, Porsovero, Bruce.

We aro very happy in reporting the brigantino Harriett onco more nflont in deep wntcr. Last evening, aided by a slight freshet in the river, she was hove off into the channel, nnd late lost night was riding to her anchors, ono being on tho north and tho other on tho south spit ; and as both of them are well backed-up, sue has doubtless ridden tho night out safely, and is now, wo trust, moored alongside tho wharf. Yesterday, tho last of her cargo was discharged upon the spit, in excollont condition. > That smart little schooner tho lona, which lias so long traded on the coast undor tho command of Captain Smith, arrived from one of her periodical visits to Okarita on Monday lost, and as a fresh cargo is engaged for her, eh© will Bail ngaiu for that port on Saturday next. Tho Wallabi, s.s., loft Nelson on tho 4th inst., via tho Groy and Bullor, with light winds and fine weather. Sho arrived off tlio latter port at 10 p.m. on tho sth, nnd the night boing exceedingly thick, she laid outsido until 10 a.m. the next day, when sho crossod tho bar. After leaving Farewell Spit, sho oxporiencod strong head wiu/ls and sea. Heavy weather delayed her at Iho Buller until tho Bth, whon sho left at 3 p.in, and arrived nt Greymouth at 5 a.m. on the 9th. Hero she discharged cargo and passengers, and left tho day after at 1 p.m., and reached Hokitika wharf at 7 a.m. on tho 11th. She brings a littlo cargo and 47 passengers irom Greymouth and Nelson. We notice in the " Okarita Tim«s" a vory flattering testimonial tf> Mr C.L,Throckmorton fiom tbo passengers of the Lionessjand Lloyd's Herald. The p.s. Bruco arrived yesterday from Okarita at 3 p.m. Sho loft this port for tho South on tho 10th, and anchored off Okavita bar at noon. Ran insido on tho ovoning tide, and next day having discharged passengors and cargo started on her return trip at 9. 30. a.m., and arrived as nbovo. On tho pnssago back Bhe oxperioncod tempestuous weather ns a heavy galo was blowing from W.S.W., voring to tho N.W. in squalls. It was accompanied by a high sea. Sho reports tho Lioness, bar bound, in Okarita. The Bruco loaves again for Okarila with tho schooner Kate in tow this afternoon. With regard to the quantities of wreck which have been reported from timo to time by various arrivals coastwise, during the last fow weeks, ns having been seen off the neighbourhood of Wilson's Promontory, ihoro can now be no doubt but that nearly all, if not tho whole, of theso fragments, once belonged to the barque Mandarin. It was at first surmised, from the information supplied by Captain Darby, of the Charles Edward, s.s., that the portions of wreck found floating were those of a large ship, but the minute and circumstantial details furnished subsequently by Captain Finlayson. of tho sohooner Yarrn, have set the matter at rest ; and there is too muoh reason to fear that the barquo has bocome a total wreck ; nnd from absence of any intelligence of survivors, that all on board have perished. The wreck lying on tho Fivomile Beach, between Rabbit Island and Corner Inlet, consists of a figure-head, that of a man, , painted white, with a short conical cap or covering, turned up at tho rim, tho turned up portion being painted black, and the dress rosembling a loose tunic. Tho countenance is smooth, and of Grecian cast, with a black moustache. Round tho neck is a large ohain, or ornament of bead work, and in the right hand of the figure is a roll of paper. Those particulars apply so accurately to the figure Lead of tho Mandarin that thoro is no question as to tho disaster which has taken plajc, and nono as to the identity of tho vessol which has suffered. On tho boach there are also a inizen-mast, partially hncked through; portions of the deck nnd beams of such a description of vessel as tho Mandarin; together with portions of a largo deckhouse, with codar doors and fittings ; a brass-bound binnacle in a skylight, with largo heavy brass hinges; and a portion of a compass frame, with brass mountings. Tho wreck likewise comprises a white-painted whale boat, in pieces, with five oars, two of them new, and branded Din a diamond. A life-buoy with a handkerchief attached, supposed to havo had some valuables tied up in it, has also been picked up. Tho Mandarin loft Hobson's Bay, outward bound for Newcastle, N. S. W., on the morning of March 7, in good seagoing order with Captain Hammond, first and second mates, nnd a wow of nine men on board. It will be recolheted that it was on tho evening of tho same day that tho late disastrous gales commenced which did such damage to tho shipping off tho coast. Tho Mandarin kopt on hercourso in company with tho barquo Ann and Jauo, bound for tho samo port. Both vesßoli woro in company until about midnight l and tho wind, which hitkorto had boon comparatively light, suddenly increased to a heavy galo blowing from W.S W. At this timo tho Mandarin was about a milo to leeward of tho Ann and Jane, and continued at that distanco for a short while, when sho was suddeuly lost •ight of. Tho barquo Ann aud Jano was then about eight miles west of Rhodonda Island. It is conjectured that she had got among tho rocks at Glennio Islands, and had becomo unablo to extricate horself. Ono portion 'of tho wreck— tho mizenmast — shows unmistakable evidonce of having boon chopped nearly through, with the inotivo, no doubt, of lightening tho 'Barque, but boforo she could be eased sho must havo Btruck heavily and gone to pieces. Tho Mandarin yn« & Britiih barque, of 388 tons register,

built in Soilly somo thirteen years ago, and was owned in Adelaido, and is stated to bo insured in tho Univorsal' Marino Company for £2300. Tho following, as near ns can bo asccrtniuod, avo the names of thoso who wero on board : — A. Hammond, master ; Thos. Chalmers, first mate ; Peter Flynno, second mate ; .Tns. Russoll, Cook j Honry Bindan, John Gill, W. H. Sander, Wm. Dillon, Josoph Henry, Jas. Holdon. Wm. Brown, nnd Wm. Gibbons, seamen. Chalmers, tho chief mate, is said to l;avo left a widow nnd eight young children quite unprovided lor. — Melbourne Argus. Tho first overland trip accomplished hero by a vessel has been achioved by tho John Milohell, ketch. It may bo remembered that whon in tow tho Mitchell slipped her warp, and forthwith wont on to tho north spit. Tho distanco from whero sho lay was not groat into tho rivor, nnd so it wns determined to rolaunch her. Tho journey wns not a porilous one, and last week shown 3o wn3 sot fairly afloat agaiu, and is now nearly ready for soa. She has sustained vory littlo injury, and, ns wo understand, is perfectly watertight. Tho river slopo through which she has passed is donsoly covered with brush, and a porfect, and at tho same timo uaolul avonuo is formed whoro tho littlo craft has passod. — Okarita Timet, 11th April. The condition of the bar here during the past few days should cause considerable uneasiness, and it is high time that if anything can, it should bo done to allow ingress and egress to vossels frequenting our port. For sovoral days past there Ins been established an almost complete blockade, and a number of craft have been kept unwilling prisoners in the river. Tho Bruce certninly managed to get over on Sunday, but then she drew only 3 feet 8 inches forward, nnd 4 feet odd aft. The Lioness, tho most powerful, and one of the best handled boats in New Zealand, drew too much water, and could not get away. Dependent on her towage, there are several vessels now in the river, and this silting up of the bar is a most serious matter to tho port. We aro not engineers enough to oner any suggestion, but surely there can be some means by which the obstruction cau at least be in somo degree mitigated. We have heard it suggested, but as to the practicability of the idea, wo offer no opinion, that it would bo easy to cause a diversion of the river through the southern extremity of the north spit. It is stated that during winter months the bar is frequently closed. The authority is of Maori origin, so it must be taken for what it is worth. One thing is certain, and thnt is, that we cannot afford to be cut off from the outside world, and if we can discover some some means whereby this undesirablo contingency can be prevented, it will be to our material advantage. — • ' Ibid."