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West Coast Times, Issue 326, 9 October 1866, Page 2

vemed her reaching the roadstead until the Bth, in time, however, for tide, as sho, was towed into the river.that morning by the p.s. Challenge. She brings a full cargo, chiefly of produce. The schooner City of Nelson, coal laden, arrived fioufGreymonth yesterday. Site reports the Grey bar to be very workable, as there \va3 but little sea en 'when she left, with a good straight channel. Such an opportunity was not to be neglected, so the " Oily" left the river under ctin'rns, and thus saved towage oxpenses. We sec that the p.s. Bruco is ugain placed on tho berth for Okarita, as she is advertised to leave for that port to-morrow. Since her absence in Dunedin tho southern trade has much declined, but we believe ■ that its resumption by this smart vessel will be tho nieans of— lo a certain extent — placing it on its former, footing. We are glad to hear that the p.s. Lioness has reached Dunedin, having made a very fair run round, considering her condition when she left this port. Contrary to general expectation, the Lioness made little or no water on the passage, and altogether behaved, as she weatherd a north-west gale in good style at the mouth of the straits. The "Lioness passed through Otago iTeads last Saturday, night, and notification of her arrival was duly forwarded by telegram to her agents, Messrs Carey aiuF Gilles. It is expected that in a month or six weeks she wi|l be again rcafly for sea. - We understand that the s.s. Kennedy' is In id up for an overhaul in Nelson ; therefore is not likely to again visit the port for some little time. She has hitherto pursued a very 'useful and profitable career on tho West Coast, and' having been for- many months kept incessantly at work, must, we should imagine, require a little attention on the part of the shipwrights. We trust to see the Kennedy, on the berth again at an early datej and in the meantime, the {rade will be taken up by the p.s. Nelson, -which may be expected to arrive here about Thursday next. It is said that misfortunes seldom / acme singly, and that when once the tide of fortune sets- apainst either individuals or nations, a succession of mishaps may be looked for before The flood tide of prosperity again makes. Whether the above may be accepted as a truism vr not, certain it is that the proverb has, within the past three weeks received direct illustration in the singular mishaps which have attended the two Hug-boat steamers Yarra an.l Persovere, both of which have tyvice stranded in that period. We have already in former issues recorded three of these occurrences, and it' is again our disagreeable duty to chronicle another which happened no later than yesterday, and in cbnsvqucuce of which that useful little steamer Ihe Persevere is now lying helplessly on the South Spit. She left Greymouth in ,the morning, aiul arrived off this port at dead low water ; but notwithstanding this unfavorable time of tide itn attempt was nmde to enter tho rjver, which resulted in her taking (lie ground on tiro North Spit from which position she was washed across the channel on lo the South Spit, some fifty j yards soutft of the point of tho break. Fortuuately the surf was lijjht, or Persevere must have received very serious damage, as she was exposed to'the full set of the sea, and hopes were entertained that by running out a warp to the North Spit her deliverance might bo effected. The Harbor Master's # boat being in immediate attendance, no time was lost in trying the experiment which however, proved unsuccessful, and he stranded vessel was, as tbe tide made, washed higher up upou the beach in such a position that wo four renders an overland passage to the lagoon inevitable. That smart little schooner the Spray has egain made one of her periodical appearances at this port, having fastened to the wharf on yesterday's tide.. She brings a full cargo, but ] has fiiade an unusually long passage, during which she was twice driven to seek shelter by heavy weather. The Spray left Lyttelton on "the 21th ult., with light westerly winds and fine weather, but in ,the offing 'was mot by a huavy^ N.E. blow, from which she took refuge in Port Levy the same evening., The weather moderating she put Jo sea next day, and reached the latitude of Queen Charlotte's Sound, when the wind veered totneN.W. and blew furiously, compelling her, on the 28th ult., to bear up for the safe anchorage under her lea. She remained in the Sound until the ~2nd inst., and then the gale having blown itself out, proceeded on her Toyago with light south and S.E.^winds. "Was .abreast of Wanganui Inlet on the 4th, and hence to the roadstead light variable winds and enhns provailed. The Spray arrived dff the bar on the 7th inst., but kept under fcnnvas during the night, and at tide lime next morning was (owed to. ( he x wharf by the Challenge. She brings a full general cargo, and reports that whilst, at anchor in Queen Charlotte's tsound the cutter Charlotte,, hence to Pictou, also ran in there for shelter. ' '

The Panama steamer Ruahine arrived at Wellington about noon, on Tuesday last, from Panama, being eleven days -beyond her time. From this, however, six' days must be deducted for the delay in leaving Panama, as the Ruahine only sailed ffoiu that port on the 30th of August, instead of on the 21th, her contract day. But for an accident which befel one of hfi; engines on the 21sfc ultimo, in a, heavy gale, the Ruahino would have readied Wellington within the stipulated timo j but as she was only able, for the last .eleven days of her voyage, to make use of but one of her screws, the passage was naturally prolonged. The Ruahiue, like tho. Kaikoitra on the previous trip, steamefl from Sydney to Panama, and back, with only a few days afforded her at Panama to coal. Such incessant steaming for upwards of two months, is too much for any machinery. This, however, will no longer bo neeessai'y, as the stearaeis on their arrival at Panama will, for the future, have nineteen days to get ready for tho return passage. The next mail from Panama" will be brought by theJßakaia. due at Wellington on the 21st of November, there being no steamer from Panama this mouth. — " Nelson Examiner," ■ith inst.