PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 646, 19 October 1867, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

Hioh Watjb, Thii Dat.—l.sß a.m.; 2.23 p.m. To-iroTtßOW. —2.ss a.m.; 3.20 p.m. Moon Last Quabteb to-mobbow. —B.so a.m. October 18, 6 a.m.—Wind, S.W., light; barometer, 29.94; therometer, 50. —1 p.m.: Wind W.S.W., light; barometer, 29.97; therometer (sun), Si, shade, 70.—6' p.m.: Wind, W.S.W.; barometer, 30.00; thorametor, 56; weather during day, fine. ABBIVHD. Oct. 18—Nil. SAILBD. Oct. 18—Nil. CLEABBD OT7T. Dancing Wave, 67 tons, T. S. Brown, for Christchurch via Picton. BXPHCTBD AUBITALS. Phoebe, s.s. from Nelson, to-day. Beautiful Star, s.b., from Dunedin, early. Lloyd's Herald, ketch, from Dunedin, early.. Alhambra, s.s. from Melbourne, early. 10, schooner, from Melbourne, daily. Leonidas, brigtne., from Melbourne, early. Alma, barque, from Melbourne, oarly. Valiant, brig, from Melbourne, early. Ceres, sehr., from Melbourne, early. Favourite, p.s., from Duuedin, early. Excelsior, schr., from Dunadiu, early. Omeo, s.s., from Melbourne, 25th inst. Keera, s s., from Bailor, to-day. PBOJECTBD DSPABTtTBKS. Omeo, s.s., for Melbourne, 26th inst. Alice, schr., for Foi'i oarly. lona, schr., for Pakihi, oarly. Alhambra, s.s., for Melbourne, early. Tasmauian Maid, p.s., for Buller, to-day. Phoebe, s.s., for Wellington, and Southern Ports (transhipping at Wellington for Auckland), to-day. Bruce, p.s., for Buller and Mohikinui, today. Bungaree, schr., for Sydney.'to-morrow. Lizzio Coleson, brigtne, for Sydney, tomorrow. Keer, s.s., for Dunedin, to-morrow. VESSELS IJf POST. Brigantines —Lizzie Coleson and Isabella. Schooners — lona, John Bullock, Sea Ripple, William and Julia, Matilda, Flying Cloud, Nile, Alice, Christina Thompson, Bessie, and Bungaree. Cutter—Elizabeth. Ketcliee —Mary Ann*, Brothers and Sister, Standard, Jane Anno, and Cymraes. fllfanuri —Challenge, GokUn Land, Yarra, Tasmanian Maid, and Perievers. II CUB XOAD3IBAD AXD 09VIY*. Florence lighter. Ocean Ware, ichr., from Melbourne. Sarah, brig, from Launceiton. Mary Cumming,schooner, from Melbourne. Esperanza, brig, from Melbourne. Elizabeth, brigantine, from Sydney. Pilot, brgtu., from Melbourne. Harriet Nathan, barque, from Hobarfc Town. Jane Lockhart, brgtn., from Sydney. We notice that the p.s. Persevere is laid up for caulking and repairs. A gang of carpenters were at work about her yesterday. The brigantine Jane Lockhart, from Sydney, arrived in <the roadstead yesterday afternoon. It was ascertained by signal that she made the postage in nine days, and has a considerable number of passengers on board. A great deal of cargo was landed yesterday from the several late arrivals, of which the J Lizzio Coleson was all but discharged by knick of time, and will possibly get her ballast on board this morning, and leave thi river for Sydney at high water, should the bar be j workable. Capital progress was made by the crew of the John Bullock in clearing their vessel of her lading, and if nob hindered by bad weatfcer, they -will have her ready for sea again by-Monday night at the furthest. The schooner Bungaree was rid of the greatest part of her cargo of breadstuff's before iunsefc, whilst the schooner Mary Cuming was in an equally forward state. The Bungaree is on the berth for Sydney, and subject to tho conditions of weather, will leave the river this afternoon. The last of the Isabella's cargo -vras landed at the transit-shed in the forenoon, and although she was exposed to much bad weather during her long stay in the roadstead, she turned out her goods in capital order. As much may bo said of the other vessels, including the schooner Christina Thompson, which was very nearly out last night. Of the coasting fleet, we observe that the ketch Jane Anne is loaded, and ready to start for Pakihi, her departure being alone stayed by the impassable bar. The departure of the steamer Taimanian Maid was again postponed yesterday, the surf being excessively heavy, and the '/position of the channel quite uncertain in consequence. She will leave to-day if the surf inodoratoi. Referring to the wrecks of the steamers Queen, South Australian, and Star of the Evening, Mr Balfour, the Chief Marine Engineer of the Colony, says: —The wrecks'of the three steamers referred to have been attributed more or less directly, to compass errors, by the Courts of Enquiry, and I see no reason to dispute the accuracy of the findings; but it would seem ino3t important to impress upon mariners that owing to the very variable nsture of tho currents on some parts of the New Zealand coasts, compass courses should not be too implictly relied on, under any circumstances, even when a vesael has been successfully sailed on the same course on previous occasions, and that every possible means Bhould be employed to check the accuracy of a ships position from time to time; and that the fact of a vessel having been swuug for compass correction in harbor, dot* not exonerate a master of a vessel from being bound to take every opportunity of ascertaining the errors of his compass by actual observation when at sea. With a view to test the accuracy of the not unfrequent assertions of extraordinary variations in compasses, in certain states of the •weather, it has been suggested by the Harbor Master of the Bluff that the various lighthouses in the Colony should be supplied with compasses of moderate delicacy, and that the lightkeepers should be instructed to record their readings at certaiu hours daily, and more frequently should any abnovmal variation bo elicited, and the idea seems worthy of consideration, as, though lightkeepers might not be competent to make delicate magnetic observations, they could easily detect any abnormal observation which could endanger a vessel.