PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 378, 8 December 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

Ficta Watee This Day. -* 10.32 a.m. ; 10.57 p.m. To-MOBBOW. — 11.9 a.m. ; 11.31 p.m. AKHIVED. Nil. SAILED. Kil. ENTERED IK. Little Fred, 130 tons, W. Champion, from Onehunga. EXPECTED ABBIVAXS Excelsior, schooner, from Dunedin, early. Queen of the Isles, from Dunedin, early. J. B. Russell, from Lyttelton, daily. Gothenburg, s.s., from Melbourne, 15th instant. Kangitoto, from Melbourne, 18th inst. Jason, from Sydney, early. Tararua, 6.8., from Melbourne, early. Egmont, s.s., from Nelson, 9th iust. Ocean Ware, schooner, from Dunedin, early. Eliza Blanch, brig from Auckland, early. Francis, schooner, from Heathcote, early. Alexandra, schooner, from Melbourne, early. Alma, from Melbourne, early. Elizabeth, cutter, from Sydney, early. Jane Lockhart, from Sydney, early, Leonidas, from Melbourne, early. John Bullock, from Melbourne, early. Flying Cloud, schooner, from Lyttelton, daily. PBOJECTED DEPABTPBE3. Julia, schooner, for Fox's River, to-day. Bruce, p s., for Grey, Buller, and Pakilri, to-day. Claud Hamilton, s.s., for Sydney, today. lona, schooner, for Fox's River, to-day. G-othenburg, s.s., for Melbourne, 16th inst. Kennedy, s.s., for Grey, Buller, and Nelson, to-day. Wellington, s.s., for Nelson, Wellington, and Northern ports, 10th inst. Egmont, s.s., for Bluff, Dunedin, Lyttelton and Melbourne, 10th inst. Mary Jane, for Fox's River, early. Mary Van Every, for Bruce and Jackson's Bay, to-morrow. VESSELS IK POST. Brigantine — Hector. Schooners — Jane Anne, EIGn, lona, Moyne, Julia, Little Fred, Isabella, Mary Van Evsry, Mary Jane. Cutter — Volunteer. Steamers — Challenge, Yarra, Kennedy, Dispatch. IK TILE BOADSTEAD. Ocean Wave, from Duuedin. Jane Elkin, ketcli, from Greyniuutli. Cymraes, ketch from Greymouth.

It is with much pleasure that we chronicle the delivory of the steamer Dispatch from her perilous position on tho North Spit. The high tide of yeaterdav morning floated her, and the steam-tug Challenge beiug in attendance, she was taken in tow and conveyed to the wharf. The salvation of the Dispatch may be attributed in a great degree to the favorable weather which has prevailed siuce she stranded on Sunday last. She is now out of danger, and we very, heartily hope that the career she has commenced so inauspieiously may be attended by nothing but success for tho fa' ure. The Dispatch is a Greymouth boat, and we are sorry that the people of that township Bhould imagine she is regarded by those of Hokitika in the light of a rival. We look upon her as a vessel that is to do good service, not only to Greymouth, but the West Coast generally, and only regret that that port was not long ago provided with a vessel of her description, as Hokitika would then have been spared much loss and inconvenience, wliich arose through tho necessity of sending her own tugs to work the Grey bar. We can adduce an instance in point in the case of the barque Frederick, which suffered a detention of nearly three weeks off ilus port, through missing an opportunity that presented itself — during, a stormy period — of crossing the bar, the Challenge then being absent fit Greymouth to attend upon the Maid of Erin. This is only one of many similar instances that could be mentioned, and we hope tliat the causes which gave riße to them may be henceforth averted. We understand that the Dispatch will be repaired at Hokitika. It is hoped that she will be ready for sea in the course of a fortnight or three weeks.

The heavy sea and freshet which prevailed throughout yesterday prevented either of the harbor boats working the bar, for although the Challenge perforce crossed it after rescuing the three boatmen, she made no attempt to either tow out or in. The Yarra remained fast at her moorings, notwithstanding that the ketch Cymraes was at anchor just outside the break, waiting to be conveyed inside. Nothing could bo seen of the Jane Elkin, but the Ocean Wave was observed under sail far away in the offing. We are informed by Mr Wlute, who received a telegram from Nelson, that the s.s. Claud Hamilton left that port for Hokitika yesterday morning at an early hour. She will therefore doubtless arrive some time during the forenoon.