PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 360, 17 November 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

High Watek Tins Day. —6.s a.m ; 6.20 p in. To-Moerow.— 7.3 a.m., 7.28 p.m. AKKIVED. November 16. — Taranaki, b.s., I?ranciß> from Melbourne. Carey «fc Gules, »pents. Rangatira, b.s., Granger, from Sydnoy. Morison, Law &, Co, agentß. SAILED. Hil. ' EXPECTED ABRIYAL9 Ocean Wave, schooner, from Dunedin, 20tn inst. Eliza Blanch, schooner, from Auckland, earl y. Francis, schooner, from Heathcote, early. Mary Van Every, schooner, from Dunedin, early. Frederic, barque, frcin Melbourne, early. Mary Grant, brig, from Melbourne, early. Alexandra, schooner, from Melbourne, early. Moyne, schoooner, from Melbourne, early. Susannah Booth, from Sydney, early. Rangitoto, s.s., from Melbourne, to-day. I»>, schooner, from Melbourne, early. Elizabeth Curie, from Duuedin, to-day-Anne Moore, from Melbourne, early. Omeo, s.s., from Melbourne, daily. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Gothenburg, s s., for Melbourne, 20th inst. Jane Lockhart, for Sydney, to-day. Tinonee, s s., for Sydney, to-day. Taranaki, for Wellington, to day. Rangatira, for Nelson and Wellingon, today. Rangitoto, for Nelson, Wellington, Northern Ports, Dunedin and Melbourne, to-morrow Bella Vista, barque, for Hobart Town, today. Bruce, for Grey, Pakihi, and Bidler, to-day. VESSELS IN PORT. Barque — Bella Vista. Brigantines — Jane Lockhart, Northern Light. (Schooners — lona, John Mitchell, Isabella Jackson, Excelsior, Isabella, Jane Anne, Elfm, Tiger. Cutter — Fope. Steamers — Tinonee, Challenge, Yarra, Persevere, Bruce. IN THE ROADSTEAD. Gothenburg, s.s. from Melbourne Taranaki, s.s., from Melbourne. Rangatira, s.s., from Sydney. Glengarry, schooner, from Grey. Frederic, barque, from Melbourne. Jane Elkin, ketch (lighter) Sarah and Mary, brigantine, from Melbourne. A heavy north gale blew furiously yesterday, accompanied by torrents of rain and sharp squalls, and the sea that whitened the beach was one of the worst we ever noticed on the coast The " blow " was somewhat unexpected, as at daybreak there were no indications oi' such a sudden storm, tho weather being calm but rainy. Shortly after the hour at which the sun should have appeared the breeze freshened from the N.E., afterwards hauling to north, °.'id then increased to a hard gale. The sea go up with astonishing rapidity, aud by ten o'clock was breaking two miles from the shore, the distance between being covered with a seething mass of huge waves, which rolled home without regularity but with fearful force, as evidenced by the quantity of foam which was generated by this churning process and the mingling of the salt and fresh water. The surf was indeed tremendous, and several olr* West Coast stagers declared they never eear« r a more ugly sea or one in which a vessel wouM be likely to receive less fair play. The scene was most gloomy, as both land" and water were enveloped in rain and driving mist, whilst the sea, of a mudJy hue, was overhung by a lead colored s';y •which appeared to meet the waters a few hundred yards from the beach. The river — swelled by the rain and melted snow — raged between its banks and discharged an immense volume of water, which, meeting such a heavy sea outside, raised a maalstrom upon the bar that was frightful to look at. Although the tides were at dead neap the break made a clean breach across the higher parts of the spit into the river, and of course sent large quantities of water through the " two gaps," and piled up masses of foam about those buildings that constitute the back slums of Beach and Revell streets. At this period of the day a walk to the signal station was not only uncomfortable, but dangerous to boot, and due caution had to exercised in crossing the " gaps," and low lying points of the spit, as the rush of water was at liineß sufficiently powerful to wash a string man away. Life, we regret to say, was sacrificed, a fine little boy being swept into the river and drowned. Particulars of this catastrophe are to be found in another column. The trade of the port received a further check by the unfavorable weather of yesterday, and we fear there is but little likelihood that the bar will be workable for at least i day or two, for notwithstanding that the river discharged a heavy fresh, which would, under ordinary, circumstances would have made a good channel, the sea proved the more powerful, and most effectually broke up the entrance, as at no period of the day could the position of the channel be ascertained. Of course no keel crossed the bar, but both outside and in several vessels are suffering a detention through this long continuance of bad weather. The A.S.N. Company's s.s. Rangatiri arrived off the port yesterday morning from Sydney, and after making her number stood to sea again and "was not afterwards seen The Gothenburg stood off and on all day under reefed fore and aft canvas and easy steam. When we lastobseru'U her she was heading offshore ■with the evident intention of taking up quarters for the night at a respectful distance in the offing. La^e in the afternoon another large steamer suddenly burst through the mist, and was soon recognised aB the Taranaki from Melbourne. She alto turned tail to the shore and made for the offiug. These were the only vessels in sight, yesterday, but on the previous evening the brigantine Sarah and Mary arrived from Melbourne, and as we see by the Melbourne " Argus " that her clearance was effected on the sth instant, she must have made the run across in about ten days. Including the Jane Elkin and Glengarry there are now six vessels off the port waiting to be tendered, end there they must remain untill the weather changes. We sincerely hope their detention will not extend over tomorrow as the two last named are anything but prepared to uudergo a long stay iv the roadstead— for when the Elkin left the river to lighter the s.s. Egmont she had no provision on board save a cask of biscuit and a little water, and the Glengarry is without either anchor or chain having lost her ground tackle at Pakihi. There was a slight appearance of a change in the weather last night, as the gale had considerably abated and the rain fell less continuously. This we fear will prove a delusion, as barometers stood very low with a downward tendency besides. High range glasses marked 29-50 ; standards, 29-40 ; whilst those of a lower range stood from 29 to 2931.