PORT OF HOLITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 367, 26 November 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOLITIKA.

Bigii Watch This Day. — 12.11 a.m.; 12.36 p.m. ARRIVED. November 21. — Wm. Misicin, s.s., Hepburn, from Dunedin. Itoyse, M\ulie and Co., agents. Kennedy, s.s., Carey, from Nelson via Buller. N. Edwards and Co., agents. November 25. — Bruce, p.s., Kcrley, from Buller via Pakihi nnd ttvey. F. Greer, agent. SAIT.n>. November 21. — Bella Vistn, barque, Johnston, for Ilobarfc Town. Isabella, schooner, Cody, for Greymouth. Elizabeth, ketch, Stephonson, for "Wellington. John Mitchell, ketch, Thomas, for Pakihi. November 25. — Sarah and Mary, brigantine, Duncan, for Melbourne. Gothenburg, s.s., Mackie, for Melbourne. ENTERED IN". | Win. Miskin, 115 tons, F. Hepburn, from Dunedin. CLEARED OtT. Sarah and Mai-y, 175 tons, P, Duncan, for Melbourne. In ballast. Passengei-s — Mrs j Brown, Miss M'Loughlin. Wm, Miskin, 115 tons, F. Hepburn, for Greymouth. ! EXPECTED ARRIVALS ] Jason, from Sydney, early. j Rangatira, from Sydney, Dec. 15. i Tararua, s.s , from Melbourne, Dec. 1. ! Claud Hamilton, s.s.} from Sydney, to-day, j Mary, brigantinc, from Melbourne, early. Ocean Wave, schooner, from Dunedin, early. | Eliza Blanch, schooner, from Auckland, I early. Francis, schooner, from Heathcote, early. Mary Yau Every, schooner, from Dunedin, early. Lady Don, schooner, from Christchurch, 1 early. .Alexandra, schooner, from Melbourne, eaily. Moyne, schooner, from Melbourne, early. Phoebe, s.s., from Nelson, Nov. 28. Hector, schooner, from Melbourne, early . Elizabeth Curie, from Dunedin, to-day. .Aune Moore, from Melbourne, early. Alhaiubra, s.s., from Melbourne, 10-tlay. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Airedale, for Bluff Harbor, Dunedin, and Melbourne, this day. Claud Hamilton, s.s., for Nelson and Northern Ports, to-morrow. Bruce, p.s., for Okarita, to-morrow. Kennedy, s.e., for Nelson via Pakihi, today. Albion, s.s., for Melbourne, 27th inst. YEriSELS I>" PORT. Barque — Frederick. Brig — Mary Grant. Schooners — Jane Anne, Elfin, Tiger, Jano Elkiu, Glengarry, lona. 10. Steamers — Kennedy, Challenge, Yarra, and Brace. rapoim. Per Wm.Miskiu, from Dunediii— 4lo bags sugar, 15 cases bams, 15 cases bacon, Morisou, Law & Co ; 5 cases hams, 10 do bacon, 2 do confectionery, Hall & Fin.ay; 1 case blacking, 1 do Bath bricks, 5 do currants, 1 do cheese, 2 do marmalade, 1 do candied peel, 2 do starch, 1 do cheese, Bailie & Humphreys ; 1 cask Bath bricks, 1 case capers, 1 do marmalade, 5 do bacon, 9 do hams, Ecclesfield Brothers ; 6 cases currants, T. Pringle ; 30 coils rope, 90 cases cheese, 11 do ling, 4 do herrings, 29 kegs nails, 24 bags potatos, Morison, Law & Co; 2L bags potatos, 20 cases hams, 10 do cheese, Anderson & Mowat ; 24 bags potatos, Bailie & Humphreys ; 6. trunks drapery, Williams & Co ; 1 trunk drapery, J. Bailie ; 1 case drapery, A. G. Prichard ; 1 case, 1 truss drapery, Cairncross ; 2 cases drapery, S.W. Alcornj 40 bags potatos, nail & Fmlay ; 1 case, 1 truss drapery, C. Brown ; 1 truss drapery, White & Pyrie ; 2 trunks boots, J. Colfar ; 1 bath, Royse, Mudie & Co ; 1 case drapery, White & Pyrie ; 2 cases currants, order ;2 do drugs, E. Prosser ; 5 cases, F. Greer ; 6 cases eggs, 4 do cheese, 101 bags potato 3, A. Boyle & Co; 1 case drapery, M'Beath & Co ; 1 case drapery, T. Addie ; 2 trunks, 1 case, 1 parcel, order ; 1 parcel gold scales, 1 parcel stationery, Bank New South Wales.

Per s.s. Kennedy — A casks eggs, Morison, Law & Co ; 50 cases Hennessy's hraudy, 13 do pickles, 1 do arrowroot, 1 do sauces, 2 drums soft soap, 40 bags salt, 20 bngs potatos, 1 cask -nhite zinc paint, 1 parcel, N. Edwards & Co ; 1 ease tobacco, Meudelsson ; 2 bags, Fane ; 1 bale, G. Harper ; 4 hhds ale, Godfry ; 2 kegs butter, 1 case eggs, Boss ; 3 packages leather, M'lS'eil ; 3 do, M'Kay & Nebacco ; .8 do, Mailer & Co ; 72 bags potatos, Boyle & Co ; 1 case plants, Banfield ; 1 case vegetables, 1 bag potatos, 1 package Beeds, Eoss ; 5 cases fruit, Dixon. EXPOBTS. Per Wm. Miskin, for Greymouth — 6 eases, 3 qr-eases brandy, P. B. Martin & Co ; 1 case picks, 2 do glass, 3 bundles camp ovens, 5 tins, 1 bundle twine, 1 couch, Forsyth & Masters ; 1 case, 1 keg, E. Prosser ; 1 parcel, F. Luhning ; 10 tubs butter, 3 hhds eggs, W. J. Patterson ; 2 hhds eggs, J. Duff; 1 bag hams, Jas. M'Caughen ; 2 cases pickles, 1 do salad oil, 1 cask currants, 1 qr-cask port, 2 chests tea, 3 do jams, 1 do matches, 2 do cheese, 20 do vinegar, 2 do sardines, Anderson & Mowat; 15 kegs butter, 1 keg sugar, 1 ease, W Graham ; 1 case fruit, 1 bag vegetables, Koss; 6 kegs butter, Churches & Ching ; 20 kegs butter, 4 bottles quicksilver, 1 case chocolate, 1 box, Cassius & Comiskey

The 8.6. Win. Miskiu cleared Olttgo Heads on the 12th inst., bound direct to Ilokitika, but meeting with very heavy weather on her way round the coast, she was driven to seek shelter in Pieton and Nelson. Her arrival was, therefore, delayed until, the 21th, when she crossed the bar on morning's tide. The Miskin brought 110 tons of cargo and about 25 passengers, which she landed the same day, and sailed again for Dunedin via Gfrcy and Buller on the next. She turned out her cargo in capital order,' and received bucli prompt despatch that in ten hours after her arrival she was ready for sea again. The Gothenburg has once more taken a departure from tho West Coast, having this time sustaiued a most protracted delay, owing to a combination of adverse circumstances. On Friday hiit she completed tho transhipment of her cargo, aud then ran up to Greymouth, where bhe landed cargo and passengers, aud received on board i) 373 oz of gold dust and some passengers. Yesterday morning she returned to Hokitika, and shipped passengers and 9802 oz of gold, and -immediately afterwords left for Melbourne, her total freight consisting of 19,375 oz of gold aud 130 passengers.

The s.s. Ivennedy left Nelson at 8.30 p.m. on the 22nd inst., with fine and light easterly •weather; which changed to S.W., when she breasted Rock's Point, and continued so to the Buller, whore she arrived at 7 p.m. on the 23rd, and, having discharged 30 tons of cargo and 15 passengers, left tho following day at 10.30 a.m. for Pakihi with tho schooner Necromancer and a large boat in tow. Arrived off the cove at 1 p.m., aud dropped her charges, aud boats being iv readiness to tender her, she discharged cargo and left again within the hoin 1 , reaching Hokitika roadstead at 10.30 p.m., and entered tho river at 11 p.m. Moderate S.W. weather was experienced from the Buller. The Kennedy brings about 20 tons of general merchandise and a few passengers, and leaves again for the Grey, Foxe's, Pakihi, Buller and Nelson, at 11 a.m. this day. Passenger list per Kennedy — Saloon : Mesrrt 1 Moray, Mackay, Koborfion, and Wise, and 8 in the steerage.

The ne\v tug steamer Dispatch, which in a former issue we stated had boon purchased expressly to work the Grey River and roadstead, arrived oil" this port from Melbourne some lime during Friday night, as on Saturday morning she was seen quietly riding at her anchor off the bar. Her nppenrance created 6omo slight excitement, as from tho flowing description given of tho vessel by the Melbourne " Arguu," it was naturally expected she would qnito cast into tho Bhado those homely craft, which, however, have hitherto succeeded in very cro.litably doing tho work required of them in Westland waters. A? seen from tho shore, she looked a nice littlo two-funneled craft, schooner rigged, but sitting very much by the stern. As she did not enter the river, we were unable to inspect this latest addition to the West Coast tug fleet ; but several gentlemen of nautical expei'ieuee, and on whose veracity wo cau place implicit reliance, boarded \ier 'from the Challenge, and they state she is a very well looking craft, on deck, but possesses neither the power, nor — as it afterwards turned out — the speed ascribed to her by her Melbourne admirers ; for whilst we arc very well assured that the Challenge is not t\ 10-knot boat, wo are equally certain that she proved herself a faster vessel than tho Dispatch on Saturday. Tbero is not much to choose between tho relative power of the two boats, but if thero i 3 any difference it is in the favor of the Challenge, as her cylinders exceed in size by one inch in diameter those on board the Dispatch, their respective dimensions being twenty -six and twenty-five inches, which would give a power equal to about that of forty-five horses. On Saturday morning the Challenge run alongside the new comer, urged, doutless, by a natural curiosity to closely inspect a vessel whoso fume had been so loudly proclaimed. The usual civilities were interchanged, and, on hearing that the Dispatch was absolutely bare of coal, Captain Wilson promised to bring out a couple of tons on his next trip. He did so and then dare 1 her to a trial of speed, offering to stake a couple of " blue-backs "on tho result. Tho money part of the arrangement was, howover, declined, but a fair trial of speed agreed to, and steam being up on board tho Dispatch, she lifted her anchor and a very fair start was effected. But the anticipation of a race caused a little excitement amongst the crew of the Challenge, which led to a slight mistake, as she had hardly gained good head way when the engines were found to be disconnected, to remedy which compelled a stoppage. This gave the Dispatch a lead of nearly two lengths, but nothing daunted thereat, the Challenge clashed after her and a close and most oxciting contest took place. As the former was bound to Greymouth the latter agreed lo run a few miles up the coast with her, and the race was kept up for six miles, when both boats were stem and stem, the Challenge having thus beaten her opponent by two good lengths in that distance. Her victory ivas complete, and she would doubtless have soon obtained a fair lead, but to save the tide, was unwillingly obliged lo part company aud run back lo the river. We were quii c astonished at this res-ult, as the Challenge is in a Avretchcd condition for racing, her bottom being foul, ond the copper in mai*y places ragged and stripped off, whilst tho Dispatch is just out of dock, and consequently bright and > clean both inside and out. We are far from wishing lo detract, from tho merits of the Dispatch, and congratulate Greymouth on acquiring so useful a vessel. At the 6amc time we emphatically contradict tho assertion made by our Grey contompoiury that the Dispatch is the finest tug in New Zealand, and don't hesitate to a'Hrm that when the Lioness returns, Hokitika will possess two superior to her in every respect. Respecting their relative powers of speed, a race will decide that question, and we are authorised to state that the Challenge will run her under any circumstances for such a sum as may hereafter bo decided upon. We believe that the Bruce " bites her thumb" on this quarrel, and would have no objection to enter the lists, and we are sure that the Lioness will do her best for the honor of Hokitika. A race between these four fine steamers would bo a most delightful addition to the programme of sports already drawn up for the ensuing Christmas holidays. We may added that the Challenge has hoisted the Union Jack at her fore, and intends to keep it there until compelled to haul it down.

The p.s. Bruce returned to port from her northern trip ab 1 p.m. yesterday, after an unusually long absence, she having been detained by the heavy weather which prevailed during the first part of last week. Her departure from this port took place on the 19th instant, at 5 p.m, and the Grey bar was safely crossed the same night. She shoidd have left again the next day, but a heavy surf and freshet kept her a prisoner inside until the 23rd, when she cleared the river and steamed for the Buller, intending to call at Pakihi on her way. A heavy westerly sea, however, rendered communication with the cove impossible, so she proceeded onwards, and reached the Buller thnfc night at G. 30 p.m. Discharged cargo and passengers, and lei'c again on at 9 a.m. next day, and the sea having considerably gone down she was enabled to land twelve tons of cargo and some passengers afc Pakihi, and then pushed on for Fox's river. Captain Kerley describes the entrance to that stream as unnavigablc, it being rock-bound, with a breadth not exceeding thirty feet. Good anchorage in three fathoms, and shelter was, however, found in Woodpecker Bay, a little to the south, where four tons of cargo were landed ; and that effected, the Bruce steamed for Gre\ mouth, arriving thereat 10 p.m., crossing the bar by noon light. Left next day at 11 a.rn . and arrived at this port as above. She reports that on her passage from Buller to Pakihi, a whale boat with a crew of five men (amongst whom was Mr Aleorn, of this town) was fallen in with boine miles from land. Tho men stated they had left Okarita in the cutter Volunteer for the Pukihi, but having experienced a long pa<sige, provisions and water ran 6hort, which induced them to leave that vessel some thirty miles from shore, and pull in. Tho Bruce ■« as met very opportunely, as she lowed them down lo tho Cove, aud they returned the compliment by landing a part of her cargo. Ou that day the schooners Necromancer and Constance, both from tho .Buller, ran in to the Pakihi. Tho Fanny, schoonor, is reported to be still ashore al the Buller, with not much chauco of getting off.

Wo are informed by Mr Gorn, lato chief officer of the Eeera, who arrived from the Buller by the s.s. Kennedy, that tho lato spring tides had considerably affected the position of the Kcera, as she had been slued broadside on, aud canted with her decks seaward. Through being thus exposed to tho heavy surf, her starboard bulwarks and deck-houses were washed away, and other damage effected, as, when our informant left, the water afc high tide was two feet above the cabin floor.

Amongst the departures of yesterday, we notice tho name of thut line brigautine the Sarah aud Mary, one of the numerous fleet of vessels belonging to Messrs Spenee Bros She came down from Melbourne with 270 tons mixed merchandise, which she commenced discharging on Thursday last, and such expedition was u&od that by midday on tho succeeding Saturdnj the whole of it was landed, the vessel ballasted, and cleared at the Custom Houso for sea. The Sarah and Mary makes oxcellent voyages, and is one of the regular Hokitika traders. She invariably turns out her cargo iv good condition.

The stale of tho bar and entrance continues most satisfactory, as both channels are in good working order, each containing a depth of at least two fathoms at high tide. The harbor steamers worked the bar to advantage on Saturday and yesterday, tho Yarra towing out the schooners Isabella and Elizabeth, returning with the ketch Jane Elkiu, and conveyed pas> sengers, gold, and mails on board the Gothenburg ; the Challenge conveyed to sea the barque Bella Vi6ta, (he Stu'ah aud Mary, and John Mitchell,