SHIPPING SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 254, 16 July 1866, Page 2

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

The arrivals and departures to and from (hport,during the month are fully up to the tvveraja, although the tempestuous weather which has been experienced upon all parts of the New Zealand coast might have been expected to, and doubtless has checked trade to a very considerable extent. In this respect Now Zealand has not been singular, as our aclviaos from Australia tell of lerriflic gales, though happily unattended with serious disaster to shipping. Only once last year were we visited by weather corresponding to that, which kept the port locked up for days' during, the middle of the month, when gale after gale,»frora S. to N.W. succeeded each, other, almost without intermission, driving such a surf home that there was no facing it, and raising a sea in the roadstead that, even had it l:dd been possible for either cf the harbor ste:iuier3 to havo left (he river, would have rendered transhipment out of the question. At the same time it is gratifying to reilocb .that, notwithstanding these storms, we havo but two shipping disasters on the coast to chronicle, neither of which occurred either at Hokitika or Greymouf li. Several vessels, however, suffered considerable detention through the impossibility of communicating with them. Of these the Panama Company's s.s. Auc'Jand was tho most unfortunate, as she vounded to off the port at tho commencement of the bad weath?r, and for five days (from June 2/th until July 2nd) beat about outside waiting

for a chance to tranship passengers aud cargo and when this was eilected she was compelled through her fuel running short to run back to . Nelson for coal. The barque Alma from Melbourne, also buffetted with the samo gales for days after making tho land, but eventually arrived inside without damage : the s.s. South Australian was delayed three days by the samo weather. Further north tho gales were no less severe, the Bullor river being besieged by a tremendous surf which defied vessels inside to. face it, and for nine days the bar was impaßsable, the s.a. Thane being one of the beleaguered crafts. Her trip from Nelson to Hokitika occupied a fortnight. Even tho s.b. Kennedy, our smartest coasting vessel, noted for her punctuality and despatch, and excellent sea-goiug qualities, was compollcd twice to put back, and preferred the risk of recrossing dangerous bars than that of keeping the high seas. The passage of the schooner Isabella from Dunedin reminds us of old times, when one, two, and, even four-month trips from that port were not uncommon. It is seldom, however, that such ruinous delays occur now, although the Isabella wis six weeks making the run. She, however, like ,the lvst, arrived \inscathed. Two or three of the regular Melbourne and Sydney traders woro caught by the same weather on tho middle ground, the Mary being from tho former, and the Jane Lockhart from tho latter port. Tho Jane Lockhart suffered somewhat severely, 88 the wholo of her deck cargo was lost ; but the Mary, through being further from the centre of the gale, was not bo hard pressed, and made better weather of it. And yet, every cargo but one landed during the month turned out in first-rate order, not a bale or caae being damaged ; and this fact speaks highly of tho qualities of those vessels engaged in trade with us. "We are glad te observe th it shipowners have at last arrived at a true conception of the class of vessels to send here, and no longer lumber our rivers and beaches with craft more worthy the name of floating coffins than anything else. Smart, lively craft, from brig rig downwards, with a light draught of water, and certainly not OVer 200 tons burden, is what is required to safely navigate West Coast waters. But if an owner happen to possess a vessel similar in construction to some of the extraordinary specimens of naval architecture we have seen lying at the wharf, and, disgusted with her appjarnnce, wish to get rid of her, he has only to scud her this way, in charge of a master under strict injunctions on no account to incur tho expense of towage, and the chances arc that he will never see her more ; unless he visits the port, when her ribs and trucks will doubtless meet his gaze upon the spit. As compared with last month there has been a slight increase in our trade with Melbourne ; four sailing craft, each bearing full cargOß, having arrived here thence ; and five sti aniers have also added considerably to our stocks on hand, and much increased the population, the immigration having been something considerable. With Sydney there ha 3 beon no increase in trade, although the despatch of two steamers from that port is a remarkable fact, and worthy of being noted. The Lockhart vessels are, as usual, constant in their attendance upon us, the Lizzie Coleson and Jane Lockhart having put in their periodical appearance, and, as is their wont, given entire satisfaction to shippers and consignees. The favors thus received we have paid for in hard cash, and sent away many thousand ounces of gold during the month. Some of the ocean' steamers have shipped valuable freights of " dust" No later than Saturday last Ihc Gothenburg steamed away with nearly 14,000 ounces, the produce of thi3 district alone, and nearly 3000 ounces from Greymouth ; whilst between 17,000 and 18,000 ounces .were shipped by the Claud Hamilton on the sth inst. The exact amount exported, however, can be seen iv the Customs returns. The interprovincial trade has kept steadily at par. From Christchurch there have been five arrivals, all of them regular traders, whilst Dunedin lies only sent a couple of sailing craft — both, however, full freighted. From the Province of Auckland we have received a certain amount of producj, which was borne hero by a schooner, aud our old friend the Volunteer, cutter. The Westland coasting trade has been decidedly dull during thj month, which may be attributed more to tho inclement weather than to any falling off in demand or supply. Grey coals are increasing in demand and by many are considered superior to Newcastle (N.S.W.) fuel ; and to moet requirements in this respect a few small traders are kept pretty well employed. The Okarita ti-ade has been attended to, as usual, by the Bruce, and we are sorry to couple tho name of this well-known aud useful steamer with that of disaster. Her strandiug at Okarita is, however, ono of the dißaotors we alluded to above, and it is somewhat singular that it should havo occurred during her passage to Dunedin, whither she was bound, via Okarita, for the purpose of undergoing a thorough overhaul, previous to the resumption of tho trade she has for nine months been constantly engaged in. The Bruce left this port, as above, on the 7th instant, and attempted the Okarita bar on tho following day. A strong current swept her to. Ihe southward of the entrance, and in attempting to regain her lost ground, the surf, which was unusually high, broke on board iu'such volumes that the plucky little craft became unmanageable, broached-to, aud was cast ashore upon the south spit, where she now lies high and dry. Although the Bruce has not received any material damage l'er position is an awkward oner as a broad tongue of sand separates her from the river, across wliich she will have to bo transported, as a re-launch through the surf is almost impossible. Screws, ways, 'and other uecesssiry appliances for an overland passage, have been sent down from this port, and within three weeks it is anticipated that the Bruce will be once more afloat. In connection with Okarita we have to record that which there is reason to fear 13 a very serious casualty, several lives bui.,g imperilled thereby. The Caroline, a small ketch was freighted by some Okarita storekeepers, and despatched in the early part of the month for Hunt's Beach, some thirty miles south of that port. Heavy weather set in immediately affcor, and the little hooker has not been seen or heard of since. Faint hope? aye entertained that she may have been swept awa} r to the southward, and has taken shelter in one of the numerous indentations which intersect, the coast line in that direction. More than sufficient time has, however, elapsed to ensure he? return, wore this supposition correct, and we therefore expect that the worst has taken place, and tho Caroline gone down in deep water. Portions of a vessel's deckfittings, consisting of the hatches, a fore companion, and other articles, have been picked up on different parts of the beach ; and .as from their size they evidently belonged to a vessel of about the samo tonnage as the ketch, it is presumed that she foundered during tho gale. We can report favorably of the condition of the Hokitika bar and entrance during the month. As we have before stated, the port was locked for some days — but by the high surf only, as there was abundance of water, on the bar, and the channel ran straight out to sea. Both befoi'e and since that time, however, vessels have found no difficulty in entering and departing the port by the aid of the ofiioient tug service at command; for, although much rain fell, only twice or three times was the freshet heavy enough to render ! the bur unworkable. At the same time, the harbor steamers are much more cautious than of yore, and very properly object to risk themselves or the lives of passengers unnecessarily. Moreover, Mr Nancarrow, the Government

Inspecting Engineer, lins paid his periodical visit to Westlund, and thoroughly overhauled the river steamers. Iheir licenses were all renewed, but strict injunctions isducd that no risk should bo run in communicating with the roadstead, under penalty that the certificate of both master and vessel should bo suspended. No material alteration has taken place in tho port itself during the month, alI hough tho north spit has narrowed still more, find is at last fairly broached by the surf ; but the opening is yet too high to allow the egress of tho river that way. We fear, however, that one or two heavy floods, attended by westerly gales, will complete tho work of demolition, which Uas been going on unchecked, and thuj leave the river to a very great extnnt unprotected from the inroada of the surf. Gibson's Quay wharf remains yet in an unfinished state, bat as the contract for its completion has been at last let by the Government, we trust that by our next summary tlm needed work will be out of hand. Besides this contract, another has been let for the erection of -a transit ahed md the construction of a tramway tho whole length of the wharf, to connect it with vessels unloading. This will be a great convenience !o all parties concerned, and no less protect on to the goods, which at present lio about tho wharf exposed to the weather whilst waiting to bo inspected by the Customs' officers. As tho foundation of the shed is already laid, we trust that in a fortnight or three weeks it will be ready for tho reception of goods. Gibson'B Quay is still unimproved, notwithstanding that tho daily increasing traffic imperatively demands tho formation of a proper roadwny. In wot weather it is next to impassible, and great difficulty is therefore experienced hi removing merchandise from tho wharl\to tho different bonds and warehouses. We have no i lea when the necessary improvement will bo effected.