PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 240, 29 June 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

High Watbb This Day:— o.l7 a.m. ; 19.40 p.m. JISRIYBD. Nil. IN TICS BOADBTEAD. Alma, barquo, from Melbourne. Auckland, a.s., from Nolson. B2TTSBBD IX. Mil. CLTJABBD OUT. Eb'aabeth Curio, 72 tons, Barnard, for Pdlorus Sound, in ballast. . > BXPKOTBD ABEIVAL9. Vlor«nc«, from Melbourne, early. Moyno, from Melbouruo, oarly. Dunediu, from Dunodin, early. I*abdl», from Dunedin, oarly. South Australian, from Dunedin, to-day. Jruo Lockhart, from Sydnoy, early. Koora, from Dunodin. - PBOJBOTSD DBPABTU3ES. Auckland, for Melbouvno, this day. South Auitralian, for Melbourno, to-day. VBSSBIS IK FOBT. tfchooner*. — lona, Ellin, Isabella Jackson, Bluabetli Curie, Princoss Alexandra. Stotmers— Yarra, Lipues9, Challenge.

Yesterday, the Alma, barquo, several days overdue from Melbourne, mado her appear»neo in the roadstead. It is to bo hoped that this morning's tide will sco her safely across the bar, aud at hor usual mooring placo alongaids tb« wharf. Nono of tho other expected wmaU woro in sight last night. Wo wonder what has becomo of tho Isabella, now a long time overduo from Dunedin. A fortnight^ago, she was. seen at the mouth of Blind Bay, and •what has kopt hor all this timo to tho northward to are at a loss to imagino,as there havo been ono or two slants which would havo easily enabled a smart vessel to reach tho port Ojer«caution on the part of ship-master*, i much to bo deprecated ; for at this season no an opportunity should bo lost. "Nothing venture, nothing win" is a good sound adago, and ono tbat should bo over borne in mind by West Coast traders.

Throughout yostorday, communication with tbo roadstead vra3 impossible, tho river still continuing in a stato of high flood, and a hoary surf broke upon tbo bar. Provontermooringt woro run out by all the vessels in port, and tho steamers kopt tboiv fires bankodup in readiness for nny emergency that might arise. Fortunately, nothing unusual occurred, and as tlio day closed in tho weather cleared up a little, whilst both tho freshet aud surf had considerably deoroased. During tho aftornoon the fl.s. Auckland ran in, and made tho signal, " Can tho bar bo crossed," and on receiving an answor in tho negative signalled that she should stand off for the night, and como in again on the morning's tide. This delay is most unfortunate ; but wo boliovo, from the appearance of the entrance last night, that the harbor steamers will bo able to leavo the rivor this morning, and end hor most disagreeable and unprofitable sojourn hero. Tho " Groy River Arguß,," of yestorday, states that tho b.s. Kennedy took her doparturo from tbat port, for tho BullorandNolson, on Tuesday morning, There , was a pretty heavy break on tho bar at tho time, but tho weather was clear, although tho glass was falling. She cleared tho bar s'afoly, and steamed to the northward, but had not made many miles when sho^was met by a heavy galo, dead ahead, -which continued to blow in hoavy squalls, raising a nasty head sea. Tho Kounody had only made ten milos to tho northwards when Captain Whitwell determined to lay-to for tbo night, as ho know that he could not tako tho Groy bar with tho evening tide. The Kennedy was accordingly hove-to juuring the whole night, in a vory heavy sea, which frouuontly broko over her, and washed tho deck cargo about in a vory dangoroms manner, but, fortunately nono of it was lost. At daylight, yesterday morning, Captain Whitwoll found that his vessol was off tho Groy bar, having drifted back, during the night, all the headway she had made on tho previous day. He took tho bar with tho morning's tide, voentering tho river in safety, and steaming up against the heavy flood, 'mado his vessel fast to the new wharf, where she lay all yestorday with steam up, ready to meet any omergoncy vrhioh might arise. For tbo first time since it had an existouco th» Greymouth wharf was yostorday put to tbat practical uso for which it wob originally deiigned, for there were actually three Bailing reaiels and two steamers moored alongside of it. But tbis could only bo done under oiroumstanees similar to tboso of yesterday — whon the river was overflowing its banks, and nearly one half of the town was under water. It was a fortunate matter that tho vessels werenot anchored at tbo usual mooring-place in tbo river, as tho tremendous flood of yesterday must eithor have carried them out to sea, or, when it subsided, left them high and dry on the top of tbo bank. We are glad, therefore, to find that our much-abused wharf is really good for somothing, tbat in tho time of floods veiseli can lie in Bafety alongside, without being oxpoied to the danger they formerly ran of being left to ornament tho main strcot of the city with their graceful (?) outlines. Yesterday morning, when the flood was at its' height, the littlo p.s. Woodpecker found that •he was in a position of danger, for if the river had risen auy higher she would havo been landed on the top of her wharf, floated on to the middle of the roadway, or carried away out to ie», if it gave way. She accordingly got up steam, and, proceeding up tbo river, took ■nelter alongside of tbe s.s. Ballarat in Whitford's Bight. That frail-looking structuro the Woodpecker's wharf stood tbo test of tho flood well, indeed far better than we ever expected | but shortly boforo five o'clook yesterday afternoon, it gavo way with a loud tearing noise, and the whole front of the structure, tbe landing stage, floated majestically out to ma. Other parts gave way during tho night ; and it ii much to bo rogretted that the wharf it now a oompleto wreck. — "Grey River Argut," 28th insL