PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 576, 30 July 1867, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

High Watkb Tins Day. — 8.10 a.m. ; 8.35 p in. Moon — New, Tomobrow, 4.16 p.m. ARRIVED. *, July 20. — Rangitoto, s.s., Darke, from Nelson. John White, agent. SAILED. July 29.— Nil. ENTERED IN. Stormbird, 96 tons, J. Featherstone, from Launceston. Bruce, 84 tons, Jas. Korley, from Buller and Fox's Rivor, in ballast. 39 passengers. EXPECTED ABRIVAIS. Ornco, e.s., from Dunedin, to-day. Alhambra, s.s., from Melbourne, Ist August. Storm Bird, schr., from Dunedin, early. Mary Van Every, schr., from Duuedin, early. Falcon, schr., from Christchurch, early. Wild Wave, schr., from Christchurch, early. PROJKCTED DEPAKTPIiES. Bungaree, schr., for Adelaide, August Ist Airedale, s.s., for Nelson and Northern ports, August 2nd. Kennedy, s.s., for Grey, Buller, Fox's, and Nelson, to-day. Omeo, s.s., for Melbourne, 30th. Rangitoto, for Melbourne, to-day. Flying Squirrel, for Pakilii, early. Alhambra, s.s., for Melbourne, 2nd August. Bruce, p.s. for • Fox's and Buller, today. VESSELS IN TORT. Barques — Bella Vista, Glencoe. Brig — Esperanza. Brigantines — Mary dimming, Ceres, Hannah Newton. Si-hojiiers — Matilda, Falcon, Star of Tasmania, Aurora, Alice, Banshee, Ocean Wave, Bungaree, Johanna. Ketches — Brothers and Sister, Mary Anne, Flying Squirrel, Jane Anne, . Standard, Peioi-us. Cutters— Elizabeth, Harry Bluff. Steamers — Challenge, Golden Land, Yarra, Huntress, -Kennedy, Bruce. IN THB EOADSTEAD. Clara, brigautine, from Dunedin. Valiant, brig, from Melbourne. Mary Anne, schooner, from Melbourne. A schooner, name unkupwn. Caroline, schr., from Melbourne. Enterprise, ketcli, from Pakilii. Isabella (lighter). Maid of Erin, schr., from Melbourne. Rangitoto, b.s., from Nelson, &,c.

IMPOSTS. Per Stortnbird, from Launceston — 300 bags potatoes, 55 cases jam, 69 bags bran, *7 cases egga, 55 bales chaff, 461. bags oats, 201 tubs butter, 33 pigs, 5000 palings, Boyse, Mudio and Co. The bull of the schooner Alice was sold at auction yesterday by Mr GvW. Binuey, and realised LICO. There was a very fair attendance, and} the bids soon ran up to the above figure, which was offered by Captain Melander, of the schooner Star of Tasmania, and the Alice was accordingly declared his property. She is a handy little vessel, well adapted for lightering or the coasting trade. Wo imagine that the purchaser of the Frederic bitterly rues the speculation he was tempted to enter into, as the unlucky old craft was washed off the Spit yesterday morning, and now lies a sunken wreck upon the South si.le of the channel. The hull of the old Gratitude also left its resting place, but more buoyant than the other, washed up high and dry upon the bank on the seaward side of the Frederic. The appearance of the two vessels in such a position created profound astonishment, and we add, dismay, as it was only too apparent that one at least would prove a most dangerous obstruction to the fair way, she having sunk in deep water, above which her lower masts and bulwarks alone were visible. It was evident she was a com* plete and worthless wreck, and unless removed, would prove a source of danger and annoyance to vessels passing in and our. of the r'ver. But how to get rid of her ugly old carcase is a question not easily answ • ed ; for we believe she is by this time full "f sand, «nd being built of tough material, stands b iti. rock-like solidity, submerged to her covering boards at low water, and nearly hidden from sight when the tide is in. The proposition to blow her tip with gunpowder was objected to, and justly ; for it was argued that her bottom must remain, probably with many of the ribs attached to it, and so would constitute a greater danger, being hidden, than the entire wreck, wliichjs certainly an excellent beacon, albeit rather bulky. We fear that very little can be done to remove her,and that there she is fated to remain until covered by the Iforth Spit, which in course of time is certain to extend in that direction, as the river works southward. The Gratitude is also likely to be converted into another artificial breakwater, as the freshet cut the bank from beneath her yesterday afternoon, and she gradually sunk bows fii-st, and from her immobility, we inferred she had filled with wator. The two wrecks last night were nearly in a line stern to stern, the Frederic with a heavy list to port, the Gratitude upright, but inclined to list out as the freshet scoured the channel alongside her. The shifting of the.se wrecks to their present resting place can be regarded as little less than a catastrophe to the port, as we quite expect they will occupy the very centre of the channel in the course of a week or two. Afc present they are not in the way, and we can only hope that in the event of bad weather the surf will be sufficiently powerful to- break them up. The rain and gale of Sunday night both flooded the river and raised a high iurf upon the coast. A great deal of rain fell yesterday, but towards night the wind suddenly shifted round to S.W. and S. and the weather seemed inclined to clear up a little. The bar was quite inpdssable as the river discharged an immense volume of "water that ran with immense velocity between the spits, and meeting the surf outside as usual created an ugly sea on the bar. Several vessels were ready for sea, one being the s.s. Kennedy, which was perforce obliged to keep to Tier moorings, for even hnd she got outside she could scarcely have crossed the Grey bar on the same tide even if it had been passable, a question of some doubt. TheKennedyhas a great deal of cargo in for Grey, Fox's, and Buller, and will, we hope, find a way to sea this morning. The barques Bella Vista and G-lencop, and schooners Ocean Wave and Banshee, were expected to have left the river en route to their respective destinations. We should be very glad to see them away, as it would relieve the wharf of an immense weight, which in its present shattered condition it is ill able to sustain. The work of discharging was brought to a standstill yesterday by the almost incessant rain, to the great hindrance of the several vessels which had secured quay berths. Neither the Ceres, Leonidas, or Bungaree opened hatches during the day. The Stormbird, from Launceston, is yet in the outer tier, but expects to get alongside the wharf to-day. The schooner Maid of Erin, from Melbourne anchored in the roadstead yesterday. As her draught is considerably under eight feet, she will tow in without difficulty when the fresh subsides. In compliance with the provisions of the Wreck Act, a formal enquiry into the wreck of the brigantine Gratitude was held by Mr Piittcn, the Collector of Customs, on Saturday, and concluded at the one sitting. The enquiry into the wreck of the Frederic commenced yesterday, and was adjourned, pending the arrival from Greytnouth of Captain Whitford, of the Lionesß, the tug which had the old barquein tow when ehe stranded. His evidence is of course indis-pensable.'-Save wider very exceptional oir-

cumstauccs, those investigations are a more formula, and productive of but little good. Wo can, however, suggest an enquiry that, if properly conducted, would prove of infinite Bervice. It relates to the same vessels, not as to how they stmuded, but why they now occupy a position so detrimental to the best iutcrosts of the port, and how the recurrence of such catastrophe may be best averted for the fu£ure.

The steamer Wallaby sailed ffom Greymouth on Saturday afternoon last, for the Buller, for which port she had a large cargo. From the Buller she proceeds to Wanganui, to load up another cargo of cattle for Westlajid. We hope this port will be accessible when she next arrives here.

The arrival of the Panama Company's steamer Rangitoto from Wellington, with the Westland part of the English Panama mail on board, took place yesterday forenoon. She was too late on tide for tendering, and had it been otherwise the condition of the bar would have prevented the Yarra from leaving the river. We hope, however, to see the little boat run out this morning and fetch the mails and passengers ashore. If it is possible to tender her the Rangitoto will leave direct for Melbourno upon this mornings tide. As the s.s. Raugatira was on the passage between Wellington and Wanganui, she passed (indistinctly visible in the waning moonlight) the wreck of a vessel, apparently about forty tons, floating bottom upwards. The wind at tke time was blowing half a gale, with a keavy sea running, and any attempt to ascertain particulars of the unfortunate craft was impossible. The steamer also passed two masts attached to each other. The appearance of the wreck, so far as it could be ascertained, corresponds to that of the schooner Ben Nevis, whose unaccountable absence we noticed last week, and it is to bo feared that these are now the remains of that ill-fated vessel. — " Wanganui Chronicle." A New Patent Lipe;BOat. — William H. Wylly, of Savannah, has recently invented and patented a new life-boat, the description of which we take from the Savannah "Herald" as follows :—": — " The sides of this boat are made of gutta perelia, and are of four thicknesses, folding ab tho top, and fastened to the keel with rivets, in the inner covering, which is made with air chambers placed at suitable distance, and protected by the outer covering of gutta percha. Through tho air chambers a tube, made of gutta percha, or other suitable flexible material, passes, with air pumps attached on the inside of the boat, by which means the boat can be inflated, and when inflated the sides arc so cut that it naturally takes a boat-like shape. The keel is made of copper, and in two parts, so that when not inflated or in use it can be folded to one-half its longth; the keel being made with two strong clamps, which can be folded back, in order to allow the keel to fold, and when drawn out straight, to hold it so by means of screw bolts. A copper cap covers tho bottom part of the keel, and passes up high enough to cover the lower edge of the gutta percha sides, and is riveted there securely. This cap makes a smooth joint, and also protects the boat from leaking. The seats arc rested on copper bars, which are fastened to tho keel, and fall outward toward the side of the boat by means of a half-hinge joint, thereby throwning the entire weight on the seat, not on the side of the boat, but on the keel. The row-locks are attached to the lop of two bars, which are fastened to tho keel, and are raised from opposite directions, one bar being made with a tenon which fits into a mortice in the other bar, and, when in proper position, will form an inverted V, thereby forming a brace, and this also falls out towai'ds the boat sides by means of a half-hinged joint. All these bars can be folded down on the keel when the boat is not. in use, for tho bolt which secures them is also a pivot for that purpose. The object of this invention is to provide a lifeboat which shall not only combine lightness, strength, and durability with safety, but be so constructed that it can be easily transported from place to place, overland or on shipboard ; and the invention mainly consists in constructing the sides of the boat of gutta percha cloth, forming air chambers therewith ; also in constructing the keel of the boat in two separate parts, which allows it to be folded up for transportation."