SHIPPING SUMMARY.

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

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Our "rcsuino" of shipping intelligence for tho month of Mnrch— April will cominonco with a talo of wreck and disaster, for almost simultaneously at all tho ports on tho West Coust vessels drove on shore, and oither becamo total wrecks or recoived serious damage, but fortunately these casualties woro unattended with loss of life. Commencing with our own Harbor, wo havo to report that on the 10th I March, tho brigantino William (a very old colonial built vessel and Sydnoy trader), inward bound from that port came to grief on tho North Spit. Sho had beon detained for eight days outsido, waiting for an opportunity to cross tho bar, and was at last fastened to by tho tug Yarra. Tho south channel was taken on entering in which tho William grounded, but dragged through it ; but this so deadened her way that beforo sho could bo got undor command again tho set of tho sea swept hor on to tho North Spit. Fortunately hor cai;go 1 was discharged undamaged, but beforo tho brigantino could bo got off sho forged into tho channel and sunk, afterwards washed across on tho South Spit, whero sho became a tolul wreck. Hardly a vostigo of her now remains. Tho day after this mishap two valuable vossols wont on shoro at tho Groy — the Eleanor, s.s., and tho schoonor Soa Bird. The former is well known on tho coast as nn old aud useful trader, aud was bound out from tho Grey to Hokitika, whon sho camo to hor ond. She had nearly succeeded in clearing tho break, when tho hoavy rollers " wipod her oil',' 1 and oro she could bo brought head to it again, was hovo up on Iho beach, three milos to tho north of tho signal station. She also has .sinco bcoomo a total wreck. Tho Sen Bird, a fino now ketch, J. 40 tons register, was inward bound from Melbourno. Sho took Iho bar under canvas, but when in the midst of tho surf tho wind failed hor, tho conscquouco being that blio wns washed up high and dry, about a milo north of tho rivor mouth. Sho has, howover, rocoived no material damage, and is now in tho courao of re-launching, although tho process promises to bo a most oxpensivo one. In connection with tho Groy, wo may Btato that as a sot-off to tho t.bovo mishaps, tho Nolson, p.s., which has for many months been lying upon tho beach, was the othor day relaunched into tho river. She is to bo taken round to Dunedin for repairs nnd alterations 5 nnd is found to bo not so soriously damaged ns wna at first anticipated. Tho Falcon, sohoonor, also, which was stranded at tho Groy on tho 3rd of last month, is in a fair way of boing onco more afloat, contracts having been issued for reclaiming her. The port of Okarita, which stands third on tho listofWestland harbors, has also been tho seeno of shipping misadventure. On tho 10th, tho John Mitchell, a smart littlo ketch, which a month or two back arrived hero from Sydnoy, was being towed over tho bar by tho Bruco when the warp parted. The heavy soa on soon decided tho result by landing her on tho Spit, but wo avo happy to say sho was not much hurt, and has sinco beon relaunched. Through tho entrance to tlio Okarita rivor being so tortuous and narrow, Bovoral vcbsols havo grounded there lately, but excepting untoward detention nothing moro serious resulted thorofrom, savo in the case of tho s.s. Thane, which haying taken tho ground on tho 10th, so seriously twisted her sternpoat and rudder as to hamper tho screw. She wns, howover, got off and despatched round to Nolson undor canvaß for repairs. Whilst upon tlio subject of shipping disasters we must return to our own port again, upon tho North Spit of which there is now lynig tho brigantino Harriet. Although this vessel cannot lay claim to beauty of design or architectural finish sho certainly has proved herself a most oxcollont soa boat and good cargo carrier, and has moro than once arrived at and departed from this river unscathod. This timo, howover, the poor old "barkcy," whilst entering in tow of the Challenge, on the Cth instant, somehow managed to hug the beach too closoly, and when she ni rived off the Spit point grounded on the tongue of sand which runs out there. Her last port of departure was Melbourne, where sho had shipped a full and valuable cargo ; and as all attempta to drag hoy into the river proved of no avail, preparations were at once made to dischargo it On tho 7th about forty tons of dead weight wero get out, and the spleuclid condition of every bag and box landed was unmistakeablo evidence of tho care takon in stowing tho cargo and tlic excellent weather she must have made during hor long passage from Melbourne. As she is of galliot build,and very Ktrong, her re launch is almost a matter of certainty, if, indeed, sho doeslnot gradually work into the channel from her present position . Already she has forged ahead a, wholo longth, and the distance agaiu has' only to bo traversod when deep wator will be reached. The remainder of tho cargo line niuoo

been discharged in good condition. Tho most interesting item of shipping nows for tho month is the dispatch of the s.s. Keura, on tho /Hh instant, down tho south coast, to tho rescue of some men who were seen making signnls on tho beach near Yatos 1 Point by tho Barwon, s.s., whon on her passago up from Dunedin. They had kindled a firo, and thoso on board the Barwon fancied they could sco thorn waving thoir arms. On tho arrival of that vessol at Hokitika, theso facts woro mado known, and excited no littlo interest and sympathy for tho unfortunate follows who woro placed in such an untoward position. To tho great credit of tho leading mon nnd merchants of Hokitikn, tho feeling was not nllowod to ovaporato in mere words 5 for action was at onco taken, and, at tho instigation of Mr M'lntyro, of tho firm of Morison, Law & Co., measures wore taken to roliovo thorn. That gentlonian having communicated with tho Government, rocoived from Mr Salo tho assurance that any sum subscribed by the public to dospatoh a vessel in search of thorn should bo supplemented by an equal amount from tho rovenuo. Tlio agents of tho Kcorn having ngrcod to placo hor services at tho disposnl of tho Rcliof Committee for tho sum of £150, thoir terms wore at onco closed with, and tho same day sho doparlod on hor mission. Captnin Turnbull, Port Ofllcor for Wostlmul, in his official capacity, accompanied her 5 and to .sco that tho contract was faithfully fulfilled by hor captain, Mr W. F'ishor, of Iho firm of ]Tishor Bros., was despatched by tho cQiumittco. According to tho terms of tho charter party, tho Kcorn was to search the coast closely from Bruco Bay to Milford Sound, and remain at anchor in the latter harbor for two clear days so that any unfortunates in distress might havo n'chanco to reach her ; but on her arrival at Jackson's Bay the very men seen by tho Barwon were met with, and instead of being shipwrcoked and distressed seamen turned out to bo a party of prospectors, who had wandered in the dircotion of Milford Sound to test •he beaches and tho country immediately adjoining tho Coast. They stated that tho firo seen by tho Barwon was ono thoy had kindled to cook somo seals' flesh, for having been without food for nearly two days they woro reduced to tho necessity of, eating whatovor chanco might throwin their way,andasasealwasthefirstanimal met with it was quickly dispatched, flayed, and roasted. From tho intelligence derived from these men (who had explored tho coast line for some distance to the south) it was inferred that there were no parties of men in distress in the vicinity of Milford Sound ; it was, howover, deoided to proceed there, but when tho Keora arrived off Cascade point, sho foil in with such a galo from tho S.W. as compelled her to boar up and run for Bruco Bay, at which port sho romnincd for a few hours, and finally arrived at Hokilika on tho 9th, bringing back with her two of the abovo party alluded to. To n certain oxtont tho expedition was a failure, inasmuch ns tbero wero no distressed men to roseuo, for which every one was most thankful. The feeling, howevo'r, that prompted tho movement wna most laudablo and benevolent, and redounds to tho credit of all concerned. Compared with that of February our trado with Molbourno during the past month has suffered no decrease, although it cannot by any means bo termed a brisk one. Shippors, howovor, aro chary of Bonding goods to a market which has moro than onco been glutted, and although a fulling oil' in Iho mimbor of arrivals nnd departures ie pcrceptiblo, tho trade now rests on a far sounder basis than it did somftfew months back. During tlio month fivo sailing crafts havo arrived from Victoriu, all of thorn, oxcopting tho Harriot, making good passages, 'xlio Alma, barque, ran down in a littlo under eight days, but experienced remarkably tempestuous woathor. On tho sth March, whilst scudding undor storm eanvns, a tremendous sea broke ou board, which smashed in tho deck house, started tho port bulwarks, nnd swopt tho deck cloan of all •' looso articles," so highly prized by the Scotchman who " did no- ship for tho mueklo wages." On tho morning of tlio sumo day ono of iho seamen foil from tho forolopsail-yard on to tho forocastlo deck, but, extraordinary to relate, received no serious injury. With Sydnoy wo still keep up constant communication, ohiolly, howovor, by thoso regular trudors belonging to Mr W.S. Lockharl, and tho smart littlo brigantino Amy Robsarl. Very fair passages havo boon mado during Iho month by thoso lively littlo vessels, although tho prevailing light easterly woathor delayed thorn considerably. In this rospoct, howovor, wo may excopt (ho* passage of tho Susannah Booth, which was rather a stormy ono 5 for ou Iho Dth March sho foil in with a heavy north-west #alo, and, whilst driving beforo i(, was pooped by v sea, which knocked away tho skylight and filled tho cabin, Sho, howover, -arrived without further mishap, and the cargo was subsequently found to bo not bo much damaged ns at first oxpoctcd. Our steam communication with Australia and New Zealand ports has not in tho slightest degreo lessonod } indeed, if anything, it has incronsod. Thoso splendid ocean sten'mcrs belonging to tho P. N. Z. Company aro constant traders, sweeping round the coast with a reguhrity and despatch which would bo perfectly marvellous wero thn perfect arrangements and rules mado and laid down for their guidance and direction not considered. The Tararua, Claud Hamilton, Rnngitoto, and Egmont have cadi in their turn anchored in tho roadstead, whilst thoso magnificent steamers tho Albion and Soilth Australian havo also visited us in due course. Wo must not forget thoso constant traders Iho Gothenburg j and Barwon, which arrive and depart with a punctuality alike creditable to their captains and ngenlß. The Jate rushes to Okaiita and Bruce Bay caused a corresponding increase in the coasting trade in those districts. Whilst thooxciioment was at its height every available steamer was laid on, for besides tho harbor boats, the coasting steamo:s William Miskin, Keera, Kennedy, and Thane, were, ns soon as thoy arrived, dispatched full of freight and passengers to tho southern "Dorado 1 " Such a etato of matters po favoi*ablo to merchants and shipping agents did not, however, last long, for the markets soon boeamo overstocked and the rush overdone, nnd a reaction is already sot in which promises to increase. Trado with Duuedin is almost at a stand still, so fow havo boon tho arrivals from that port during tho month, and woro it not for tho two cutters Lapwing nnd Eaglo, no communication savo that convoyod through tho Post Offico would exist botvfecn Hokitika and Auckland. Tho s.s. Wonga Wonga brings us occasional intelligcnco from Wellington, and our intercourse with Nelson is ontiroly carried on bysteamorß* Iho Wallaby nud IConnedy boiug constant tradors between it and tho Wostland Ports. Tho consignments thoy usually bring, nro however not hoavy. During tho month trado with Groymoulh has decronscd, which may bo attributed to tho rush South, and tho groat oxodus of minors from that district. Moroovor tho shipping interest of that port is vory considerable, nnd tho vessels which trade direct thoro from Australian ports moro than supply tho wants of its community. Wo still contiuuo to draw our supplios of coal from Iho mines thoro. In commenting on tho prosont condition of tho cntranco to our rivor, wo must ncod confess that it has altered for tho worso, the' North Spit having oxtonded a long dietauco both Southward and senward. Vessels now havo to enter a long way to tho Northward, which exposes them to a broadside sea for bovoral hundred yards. Thoro is, howover, plenty of water in the channel, and on tho bar at high tides tho load-lino soldom giving less than two fathoms. For tho noxt two or three months we cannot exooot nny material change, ns tho rain now falls in tho sliono of snow unon tho moun«

tains, and the river consequently will keep at a low level. But as compared with this time last year, wo aro in an infinitely better position to recoivo vessels which trust to canvas alono, as wo possess a most efficient Hoot of steam-tugs, tho masters of which aro _ intimately acquainted with tho intricate navigation of tho port, and are prepaied in almost any weather to cross tho bar and attond on shipping in tho roadsteal. The good qualities of (lie Lioness are admitted on all hands, whilst tho Clinllongo. which arrived last month from Melbourne, has proved herself a most useful and ollioiont boat. Tho Yarra, our first steam tug, has, during tho past fortnight, been laid up for repairs, but is oxpected to bo soon at work again. Her place has, to a cortain oxtonfc boon lakon by tho Porsovoro— -anothor now arrival, last month, from Molbourno. Sho is a clover littlo boat, although only capablo of managing light bottoms. Tho Bruco, p.s, which lias now beon ovor twelve months on tho coast, still continues Jior carcor of usofulnoss, and until yory lately monopolisod tho passongor trado coastwise Thaboundurios of tho port luivo, howovor, been oxtondod from three to fifty milos from tho cntranco, so that those boats not possessing soa-«oing cortificatos, cau trado both to Okavita and tho G-roy —which is a privilogo that boibro was doniod them. I Very shortly a now nnd improved light will bo used at tho signnl station,— and certainly not boforo it was ncodod, ns tho old ono is a mere libel on tho namo. Tho now lantern iB fitted with patent burnors, and is of largo sisso, so that it will servo ns a bet con by day as well as a guido in tho night timo. No further oxtonsion of tho wharf lias taken placo, although tho Government havo determined to protect tho river bank abovo tho Custom llouso with piles and brushwood. Through tho constant action of tho rivor, tho Spit narrowed very considerably botweon Gibson's Quay and tho signal utation ; and ♦hero is no doubt that a heavy flood, coinbinod with high spring tides, would forco a ohannel through it. What ,tho result would bo, we will not vonturo to predict.