SHIPPING SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 295, 3 September 1866, Page 4

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

As our summary for the month will, this time, be despatched for Europe via Panama, instead of the Suez route, we are compelled to anticipate by one week our usual time of publication, in order to catch the mail steamer Kakaia, which leaves Wellington ou v the Bth. This will leave us the occurrences of three weeks only to epitomise, and very considerably reduces the amount of matter we, under ordi nary circumstances, have at command to work upon. Yet, notwithstanding this abridgment, the shipping transactions of the above period compare very favorably with the business of tho month preceding it, as the number of vessels which arrived at and sailed from the port are less by sixteen only than those which traded here in July — August. From July 16th to August 12th, 55 vessels, of all classes, entered at the Custom House, and 42 cleared out, making a total 97, whilst from August 13th to September l«t. inclusive, 37 vessels arrived, and 44 departed — a total of 81. The trade foreign has considerably increased : four sailing craft of good burthen and heavily) laden having been consigned here from Melbourne, two from Sydney, and one from Hobart Town. The steam service has fallen off, only one boat (the Gothenburg) having touched here from Melbourne, and one (tho Claud Hamilton) from Sydney. Taking one month with anothor the difference in the trade is almost imperceptible, for now that Westland has become so settled the requirements of the market are perfectly understood, and so exactly supplied from abroad that the word " glut" in Hokitika may be considered obsolete. Thei'e is little fluctuation in the trade with the North Island, as the average quantity of produce and timber hns been received from the Manukau. We should imagine that on the latter commodity there is a very small margin for profit, as the local saw mills cut aud supply to all parts of the town and country the very best description of timber at such prices as could hardly pay importers. The trade, however, will doubtless regulate itself; but we bolicve that, excepting cargos for special purposes, very little timber will henceforth be shipped for this porf. Intercourse with Dunedin is carried on solely hy the steamers Wiliam Miskin and Keera, whose services are occasionally supplemented by the 1 irger boats, which make this a port of call on Their way round the coast. The former, however, are quite sufli. ictit for tho trade, which is redumi to v luiiftmuin ; but there is evevy probability that it will increase during the summer months : .aid to meet tbo anticipated requirements tho owners of die Keera have determined to lengthen her, and effect such improvements in her present construction a« will make her a first -cia."s boat for the . onvejanix* of passengers or c.trgo. ,1/iu'r-

course with Nelson is restricted solely to tlie electric telegraph, mid tin occasional visit from the large steamers which coast round the island to and from Melbourne. The Lyttelton trade has boon unusually slack, as the J. "B. Russell is the only trader which has arrived thence. The departures have not been more numerous, the cutter Sea Shell alone having cleared for Eastern Canterbury. The Westland coasting trade has decreased, whuh mny bo attributed to the decline of the goldnVlds far south, and the consequent diminution in the population there. Since the departure of.t-he" Bruce, intercourse with Okarita has beprfcarriodon by the Lyttelton, p.s., but, was found so unreinunemtive that, aftor utrffcing two or three trips,- she was withdrawn from the trade, and sent back to Nelscy*^ .The s.s. Kennedy will, by an occasionnWisit, supply the vacancy thus made. ' But as the summer advances there is almost a certainty that one regular steam trader will find ample employment between the two ports, and the berth will doubtless again be occupied by the p.s. Bruce, which is now at Dunedin undergoing repairs, and .may be expected to return to her old cruising ground in the course of a month. During the month there was one heavy shipment of genoral merchandise" by the Keera from this port to Greymouth, and the different harbor boats made occasional trips as their services were required at the latter port for towing purposes. In return, Greymouth has sent down several cargos of coal," which found a ready sale in this market. „ SHIPPING DISASTEHS. The month, we regret to say, has not been free from casualties, both Hokitika and Greymouth having mishaps to chronicle. At tho latter port, on the 10th ult., the schooner Florence proceeded to sea in tow of the p.s. Yarra, but when in the worst of the break the warp parted, and she drifted on to the north spit. At first her position was considered somewhat precarious, but she was subsequently got off without the slightest damage. On the 19th ult., the schooner Rambler inward bound to the same port, was fastened to by the Challenge, and the bar taken. When off the point of the south spit, a succession of heavy seas struck both vessels, filling the schooner's decks with water to a level with the rail, and swept three of her crew overboard. One was washed inboard again by a back swell, and happily in time to save the others by heaving Hues to them. Their escape was truly miraculous, for once in the surf, the chances of rescue are small indeed. Both vessels eventually reached the wharf, the Challenge with the loss of her tow-bridge and companion hatch. At this port, on the loth ult., the schooner Excelsior when in the roadstead, came into, collision with tho Lioness, p.s., and thereby lost her taffrail, and started the covering board. She entered the river shortly afterwards, and underwent the necessary repairs. Her cargo turned out in good order. But the month's greatest disaster was the stranding of the s.s. William Miskin on the 18th ult. , when inward bound from Dunedin. This smart steamer has for many months constantly traded to the port, and her career has been marked by a singular immunity from disaster of any kind. She has, however, at last touched too heavily on that fatal Spit, upon which so many vessels have found a fiual resting place — a fate happily not in store for the Miskin this time, although the work of re-launching her will entail a heavy expense upon the Company. The causes which led to this untoward event can not be attributed to an unnavigable channel, which has so often been made a scape-goat for the sins of incompeten'cy and carelessness ; for on the .day in question there were from 10ft. to 12ft. of water in it, whilst the surf was exceedingly moderate. Every precnution had been taken to ensure her safe entry, a pilot having been sent on board, and the beacons were so placed on shore as to lead directly through the fairway, which was clear and open, although tending to the northward; and had the pilot abided by the sailing directions of the port, the Miskin would in all probability be now on her return trip from Dunedin. He, however, failed to do so, for according to the evidence of tho captain and mate at an enquiry subsequently held, the beacous were kept open to the northward, which plumped her on the Spit point at high water, from which position all attempts to move her failed. She had on board many passengers, who were safely landed at low water, and her cargo was discharged the same night in excellent condition. When the Miskin went on shove the tides were at neap, and it was hoped that as the springs made, she would heave ofF into deep water ; but although warps were run out and every exertion made to free her, she refused to move, and it was then resolved to wait until the tides took off, when the Spit would be comparatively dry ut high water, and lay down ways to launch her. The tides are now at their lowest, and on Saturday morning the work commenced, and has proceeded so favorably that it is confidently anticipated she will be once more afloat in a day or two. Under the head of ti'ivial accidents, may be classed a mishap to the Lionebs when that vessel waß crossing the bar on tho 25th inst. There was a heavy surf running at the time, and, just as she reached the worst part of it, the starboard wheel chain snapped, aud the next sea broached her to. A hand tiller was immediately shipped, but the strain on tho rudder was so heavy that the socket burst, and thus rendered it usole3s. Her reversible engines now did good service, for being smartly disconnected she was brought head to sea, and her padUles supplying the guiding, as well as motive power, reached the roadstead with loss of a portion of both paddle boxes. In our last summary we "alluded to the btranding of the Bonnie Lass, a smart little topsail-schooner, on the South Spit, from Lyttelton. Wo are happy to say that, after gracing the beach for a fortnight, she was successfully launched on the 24th ult., and is now lying at the wharf ready for sea. No tidings whatever have been received concerning the missing schooner Oanmvu, and we wery reluctantly give her up for lost. Her owner lias done the same, nnd sent in his claim to the underwriters for the insurance. She has doubtless foundered at sea, taking down all hands with her. The list of vessels missing on this coast is sadly increasing. This month (September) has commenced inauspiciously for the port, as, since writing the above, the steam-tug Lioness has got into difficulties from which she will bo hardly released without incurring a heavy expense. She l»ffc tho river yesterday morning, two hours beforo high tide, there being then only six feet of water in the channel, and when in the shallowest part of it, took the ground, heavily. At this critical moment two or three heavy seas rolled in, and swept her on to the North.Spit and in tho course of an hour she was left nearly high and dry, for, although tho tide was making, it only served to send her further up on the beach, close to and astern of the s.s. William Miskin. To float her, an overland journey is inevitable. THE WEATHER AND BAR. Fine weather has predominated during tho month, although the coast was visited by several westfirly gales, which occasioned some detention to the shipping, both inside and out, by silting up the bar and raising such a sea in the roadstead, that transhipping was not to be thought of. But little rain fell, and consequently the rivor has kept within bounds — although, once on the 13th, there was*a heavy freshet which kept the harbor boats inside, aud delayed f'io Gothenburg — then waiting in the roads tor mails and passengers,

twenty-four hours. From the 111 It lo the 20th pleasant weather prevailed, ami there was great activity amongst the shipping, the arrivals jlncl departures being tnimcrous. ,At the same time the bur was not in good condition, as a constant westerly sea banked it up, and compelled the river to make its exit somo distance to the northward. On the 20th and 21st, very severe westerly squalls swept across the roadstead, raising a heavy sea and loukine .up the entrance most effectually. The s.b* Eangitoto, bound to Sydney, was delayed two days in the ofling, and in Hie meantime lost an anchor and chain — the latter snapping, through the constant and heavy jerks upon it. She kept under weigli during the rest of her stay, and was finally despatched with gold and passengers on the 22uil. Thence to date the weather has been favorable, and the entrance open until yesterday, when the channel wa* contracted and shallow through the .South Spit having been hove hoire by the steady westerly swell which prevailed during the preceding twenty-four hours. HABBOK IMPROVEMENTS. It is with much pride and gratification that •we revert to the extensive works all but completed on Gibson's Quay, which v ill give ilokitika wharfage accommodation second to that of no other port in New Zealand. Months ago the wharf was commenced, and a section more than 200 yards in length completed, but this was found to be so insufficient for the requirements of the port that (with the intention, as well, of protecting tho river bank below) another erection over 100 yards long was commenced, and will, in ' a week or so, be finished. This will give the port a wharf 340 yards in length, which will supply quay berths to fourteen or fifteen goodly-sized crafts. It is constructed entirely of wood, double rows of long heavy piles having been driven and waled together, and the space between them filled up with sheet piles driven a' considerable distance into the river bed. Strong double mooring posts, well backed and bolted, are conveniently placed at regular distances along tho wharf to which vessels may make fast, and during the heaviest freshets feel secure. Sack from the coping a space twenty-five .eet wide is reserved as tho wharf way, and separated from a good metal-, ed road, which connects the shipping with all parts of the town, by a stout kerbing of wood, against which drays can back and load or unload goods. The " way" of that portion of the wharf first completed is metalled, but the lower section is boarded with four-inch planking, laid diagonally, and is by far the handsomest part of the structure. It is much to be regretted that — through counting the cost too carefully — the wharf was not extended 200 yards further down tho river, ns by so doing much valuable property would have been preserved, and the appearance of the town immensely improved ; for through the encroachments of the river the lower end of Revell street is a complete ml de sac at high water, and those buildings next the stream are half undermined and partly stand on piles. To preserve this portion of the bank from further inroads, a protective work is now being constructed. It consists of two rows of piles , fourteen feet apart, the outer driven to a level with low water mark, whilst the tops of the inner row will be level with the street. The outer piles are connected by a double waling, and between itlong saplings are perpendicularly laced, their lower ends, to which the bush is still attached, extending some distance into the river bed from the bank. Tho iimer piles are backed with planks, and the space between them and the bank will be filled in with gravel. The sloping space between the two rows of piles is covered with facincs, which are kept in position by heavy battens firmly bolted to transverse timbers which connect the piling. This work, when finished, will be of great service in protecting tho river bank, but of little practical utility, as it fails to connect, by even a pathway, upper and lower Gibson's Quay. In our last summary we alluded to tho transit shed then building on the wharf. It has since been completed, and is a very commodious double building 50 feet long x 40 feet wide. Extending to the very edge of the wharf, it encloses a space whore passengers and luggage on arrival will be conveniently landed, and, as at such times the general public are excluded from the building, that abominable rushing and crowding of the town idlers whenever the harbor boats arrive from the roadstead, will be thus avoided. Tho shed has already been used for the above purpose, for which its adaptability is admitted on all sides. On Saturday last, 150 passpngers were landed from the Gothenburg, and yesterday, 230 from the Otago. In both instances the lunging was effected without the slightest confusion, under the supervision of a strong stalF of customs officials, who with gentlemanly courtesy received the new arrivals, and quietly examined such parcels of lufgage deemed worthy of attention. The shed is entered from the wharf through largo double doors and will be used as a receptacle for such goods as require special examination by the custom authorities. Whilst admitting its very great utility we are fain to confess that the shed is much too small, and trust that no time will be lost in commencing another, but on a different plan, lower down the wharf. We believe it is intended by the Government to do so.

VfSSeiß trading to WHS puru mivy uun depend upon prompt despatch, as the faeil ities for landing cargo are very great, and as an instance we may mention that 170 tons of goods were landed from one vessel in thirty-six hours, which, considering the age of the place, is very fair work indeed. The imports for the month are heavy, and the difFeront cargos turned out in excellent condition.

Although hardly to be classed under the head of harbor improvements wo yel. consider it will not be misplaced if the Ilokitika and Kauieri tramway is mentioned iv this column, as it extends along the upper part of Gibson's Quay, and is even now throwing out a branch line to the wharf which will connect it witli the shipping. The main objects of the tramway company (a joint-stock concern) is the construction of a good permanent road between the town and the Kanieri goldfield for the conveyance of goods and passengers to and from both places at a moderate charge. Other objects are embraced in the undertaking, one of them, not the least important, is the supplying outward bound vessels with ballad at a cheap rate. This can be easily accomplished, as tli3re is a very large shingle beach about a mile up the river, from which the company procured ballast for the line by a branch tramway to it. Within the last week an agreement was entered into with the wharf works' contractor to supply shinglu for the roadway at two shillings per cubic yard, and Mr Hamilton, the company's manager is confident he can provide any quantity of material for ship ballast at the same rato with I a fair margin of profit. The distance to be traversed by the tramway is three miles, one mile of it being already completed and in full work, whilst another is cleared and ready for hiying. This work will confer rery great advantages upon both the towns it is intended to connect. ARRIVALS.— FOREIGN. August. 15 June Lockhait, brigantine, from Sydney 15 Maid of Erin, schooner, from Melbourne lb" Mary, brigautine, from Melbourne 23 ClaudHainilton, s.s., from Sydney 24 Alma, barque, from Melbourne 24 Hector, brigantine, from Melbourne 25 Lizzie Coleson, brigantiue, from Sydney 28 Cosmopolite, brig, from, Hobart To\yn

DEPARTURES.— FOREIGN. Augufet. 14 Gothenburg, s.s.. for Melbourne 14 John and Jane, schooner, foe Melbourne 22 Rangitoto, s.s., for Sydney 23 Mary, brigantine, for Melbourne 23 Clarendon, brig, for Melbourne 23 Jane Loekbart, brigantine, for Sydney 28 South Australian, for Melbourne 28 Hector brigautine, for Melbourne 30 Alma, barque, for Melbourne 30 Lizzie Coleson, biiganti.ie, for Sydney 30 Taiarua, s.s., for Melbourne ARRIVALS.— COASTWISE. August. 13 Wallab3 r , s.s., from Nelson 14 Excelsior, schooner, from Manukau ' 14 Volunteer, cutter, from Manukau 14 Gothenburg, s.s., from Nelson 15 Kennedy, s.s., from Nelson 15 Lyttelton, p.s., from Okarita 15 Stanley, schooner, from Kaiapoi 15 Challenge, p.s., from Greymouth 16 Keera, s.s., from Greymouth 18 William Miskin, s.s., from Dunedin 18 Lyttelton, p.s., from Okarita 18 Rangitoto, s.s., from Nelson 20 Woodpecker, p.s., from Okarita' 20 Challenge, p.s., from Greymouth 21 Lioness, p.s., from Greyraouth 22 Lord Ashley, s.s., from Auckland 24 Egmont, s.s., from Nelson 25 Kennedy, s.s., from Nelson 25 Emma Eliza, schooner, from Okarita 25 Jane Elkiu, ketch, from Greymouth 26 South Australian, s.s., from Dunedin 26 Airedale, s.s., from Bluff and Dunedin 30 Kennedy, s.s., from Greymouth 30 J. B. Russell, schooner, from Lyttelton - 31 Slary Anne, schooner, from Milford Sound 31 Tiger, schooner, from Greymouth DEPARTURES.— COASTWISE. August. 14 Wallaby, s.s., for Nelson 14 Challenge, p.s., for Greymouth 14 Keera, s.s., for Greymouth 15 Jane Elkin, ketch, for Greymouth 1 5 Falcon, schooner, for Greymouth 15 Prince Consort, schooner, for Picton 15 Cymraes, ketch, for Dunedin 15 John Mitchell, ketch, for Greymouth 15 Emma Jane, schooner, for Grey mouth 16 Keera, s.s., for Dunedin 16 Sambo, schooner, for Greymouth 16 Lyttelton, p.s., for Okarita 17 Sea Shell, cutter, for Lyttelton 18 Challenge, p.s., for Greymouth 18 Lioness, p.s., for Greymouth 18 Flying Squirrel, ketch, for Dunedin 22 Lyttelton, p.s., for Nelson 22 Lord Ashley, s.s., for Greymouth 23 Volunteer, cutter, Onehunga 23 Lord Ashley, s.s., for Bluff and Dunedin 23 Woodpecker, p.s., for Greymouth 24 Excelsior, schooner, for Onehunga 24 Stanley, schooner, for Onehunga 24 Claud Hamilton, s.s., for Nelson 25 Egmont, s.s., for Nelson 25 South Australian, s.s., for Greymouth 27 Airedale, s.s., for Nelson 28 Kennedy, s.s., for Greymouth 29 Tararua, s.s., for Nelson 30 Jane Elkin, ketch, for Greymouth 30 Lioness, p.s., for Greymouth 30 Challenge, p.s., for Greymouth 31 Kennedy, s.s., for Okarita