ARRIVAL OF THE PANAMA MAIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 653, 28 October 1867, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE PANAMA MAIL.

The Panama Company's Royal Mail steamer the Rakaia, having the English mail, via Panama, on board, arrived at Wellington at 7 a.m. yesterday.

The P.N.Z. Company's s.s. Rangitoto left Nelson for tho West Coast at S a.m. yesterday. She may be certainly expected here today, and will take her departure, direct for Melbourne, to-morrow morning. In convection with the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Melbourne, we understand that a great many return tickets have bc-en issued by the Company's agent at this port.

Tho steamer Tasruanian Maid effected a safe entrance yesterday, crossing the bar through that, narrow, shallow opening, by courtesy called the South channel, ana in which she found six feet of water, a greater depth by-the-way than we expected it contained. A sharp surf was running at tho time, and excited apprehensions for the little steamer'a safety, for had she touched ground the chances were ten to one in favor of another "pile-up." She, however, behaved beautifully, steered like a whaloboat, and gained the river with dry decks. The Maid's sudden and unceremonious esit from the river on Friday morning, allowed no time* for a Custom-house officer to board her, tho rule of this povt being that no steamer shall work the roadstead unattended by one of these humble representatives of her Majesty. Hence the Maid's sojourn outside would have been altogether unprofitable had not permission to tranship free goods been obtained through her agents from the Collector, and this concession being duly notified to her by signal, she took up a position on Saturday morning between the barques Harriet Nathan and Glencoe, und received on bosrd a quantity of fruit from tho former, and live stock from the Gleneoe. The Sydney brigantine, June Lockharf, had also a deck load of oranges to dispose of but was yrcvented sending ihem by the increasing sea, which rendered boat-work both diillcult and dangerous. We obsone that the Maid is advertised to leave for JJuiler and other ports at seven o'clock this evening. The barque Bella Vista, from Hobart Town, loaded with Tasmanian produce, and having on board a mob of che'ee horses, arrived in the roadstead at an early liojp on Ssituirday morning.

Nothing is now required to permit the resumption of shipping business ut this port, but a favorable change in the weather, as we can at last report a veally good bar, and what is better — one that is likely to continue so during the summer months. The South Spit lhat has been lately thrown up, is no cphcmer.il formation, as proved bythe manner in which it has maintained its position against the onslaught of last Friday's freshet, wl.ich only effected one small breach in tho ridgo that is almost certain to be made good again in a tide or two. This is the channel that wa3 used by tbe Tasmanian Maid yesterday, and which then contained six feet of water, a depth that we venture to ossert will be scarcely found there this morning, as yesterday's heavy sea must have deposited a great deal of silt in the gap. The main body of fresh water is discharged northwards through a beautifully formed channel— that has a magnificent lead in and out of the river —

and in which twelve feet was the least depth found by tho Bruce on Saturday. This outlet had an excellent appearance at low tide yesterday afternoon, and was pronounced by competent judges to be the very best channel that has formed since the river burst . its bounds on the 18th of April last. Certainly the re-formation of the port and North beach is proceeding in a most satisfactory manner, and will soon bo completed ; and if only ordinary precautions are taken to preserve tho spit and beach from the inroads of floous and surf, both can be maintained in their integrity at a comparatively small cost. As a cheap and effective experiment, the use of fusoino work can not, in our opinion, be surpassed, and v/e are glad to see that another row is being laid down between tho Empire and Mofft's right-of-ways. One or two lines of fascines, however, will scai'cely produce the desired effect, the beach from low water-mark upwards should be filled with parallel rows, and as these cover with sand others should be placed between them, and the process continued until the beach regains its original height. Measures are also required to preserve tho inner side of the North Spit from the wasting action of the river, which haa washed away many yard 3of sand of late, and so sadly reduced the width of tho port's only breakwater.

No towing was performed on yesterdays tide, the strong S.W. gale that blew home on Saturday night having raised a sea that neither of the tug 3 cared to face. We hope to see them at work this morning. Wo are informed by the " Brighton Times" that the cutter Harry Bluff stranded in Woodpecker Bay on Tuesday last. She was outward bound afc the time with a heavy cargo on board, aud the Fox's River bar being very shallow she struck heavily whilst crossing became unmanageable and was drifted ashore about 200 yards from the river's mouth. She was afterwards hauled off again, her cargo being first discharged. We are uninformed as to tho destination of the Harry Bluff. We have received a file of the Otago " Times" from 14th to 19th instant. Under the head of shipping we notice tho arrival of several vessels from England. The ship Echunga from London reached Port Chalmers on the 13th instant, her dates being London, May 29 ; the Downs, June Ist. Owing to a succession of calms and ndvei'se winds the equator wa3 not crossed until July 29th. Shortly after leaving small pox broke out on board, but prompt measures being adopted, was confined to thi'ee cases only, neither of them proving fatal. Three deaths from other diseases occurred during the passage. Ninctysix passengers arrived by the Echunga. The ship Star of Tasmania, from London, with a full cargo and twenty-three passengers, arrived at Port Chalmer3 on tho 14th instant. The Viesburg from Glasgow with 210 passengers bad also arrived at tho port. When our last issue closed tho schooner Dart was hard and fast upon tho South Spit, but in such a positiou that but for the heavy fresh running ha.wsei'3 could have been easily run out from her to the North Spit, and her release effected by steady heaving. The sea that came in upon tho next flood-tide washed her higher up, and a re-launch is now unavoidable, and has been undertaken on contract by Messrs Maddison and Spraggs, who at the beginning of the month so successfully removed the steamer Huntress from almost precisely tho same plae.

Tho steamer Bruce departed for the Buller and other ports on Saturday morning, with about thirty-five tons of cargo on board and a well-filled passenger list. She cleared the river by the north channel, and signalled twelve feet as the least depth of water found upon the bar.

The Neva has arrived at Auckland from Tahiti, with a shipment of 160 bales of cotton and 52 bales of cotton seed, the product of tho Tuhitian Cotton Company. She reports tho schooner Herald arriving at Itorotongn, after a passage of 23 days from Auckland, and going on lo Tahiti, about tho lOfch ultimo. Tho cutter Hercules had also arrived at Rorotonga from Auckland, aud proceeded to the islands. The brigautiuo Sea Gull had taken in a cargo of guano at Maiden Island, and left for Sydney. The brig Sona, Captain Hayes, had left Rorotonga for San Francisco.

The shipping events of the last two days have been very mcagrp, comprising only the arrivals on Thursday of the p.s. Dispatch, from the North, and the schooner Ann, which she brought in tow, from Riverton. The heavy flood in tho river yesterday, and the continued downpour of rain, prevented the unloading of the vessels in port, they having quite enough to do to hold on to their moornige. We are happy to say that no casual! ies occurred, although the quantity of timber brought down the ,river was something enormous. — " Grcylliver Argus," Oct. 26.

From a private letter wo ("Southern Cross") learn that the outward passage of tho Auckland barque Is ovelty, from Auckland to London, was attended wilh some severe weather, causing damage and slight loss of cargo, although it fully proved the excellence of her sailing capacity. It is with some satisfaction we record the safe arrival of the clipper Bhip Electric, which dropped anchor six days after the. Novelty's arrival, although leaving this port in company with her. She also passed the ship Maori, which left this port twelve days before her, greatly to the astonishment, no doubt, of Captain Roberts, of that vessel. Tho letter states : — Just before wo came to Cape Horn wo had a tremendous gule, and the same night the pasjengers were called up to throw cargo overboard for the safety of the ship. We threw overboard 139 bags of wheat, worth about L 2 a bag (for wheat is very dear in England), and that night we shipped a heavy sea, which canied away one of our boats. We had two or three heavy gales this side the Horn. Off the Western Islands wo carried away one of our royul yards, and passed the spar of some vessel, sticking straight up above the water. Wepassedthe ship Maori near the line just as if she was lying at auchor. We passed a number of vessels during the trip, but not one passed the Novelty. The Electric was six days, and the Maori twelvo days, behind our passage, although we had a Colonial-built craft."

Mr Macgregor sends to the " Times "an account of a voyago of 1000 miles ho made entirely alone, lie says : — "Seven weeks ago the Rob Roy yawl, of three tons, was launched at Lhnehouae, and on the sams day I started for Paris, sailing along tho French coast, aud being towed up tho Seine. I stopped a fortnight in Paris, living on board my yacht, which was moored at. the Point do Jena, and then at St. Cloud, where wo had an English regatta, with the very bc3t English oarsmen, and very valuable prizes, but only a few hundred spectators to witness so novel a. scene. I tbeu sailed with tho current, and was towed part of tho way down the beautiful. Seine. This was a tedious business, and fur more dangerous and troublesome than coasting or open sea work. From Havre I started in a south-west gnlo to sail ucross to England, and yr&3 becalmed after about 60 miles, but finally reached within 10 miles of tho English coast, when the night was so dark and thick, and the sea so high, that I bad to lie to all night and sleep on deck wrapped isi tho mainsail,' with my slup's light lashed alongside Thus I drifted 20 miles, but next day reached Littlohampton, and w.is ready for a good English bed, having had little more than an four hours' sleep on any night for a week. Numerous adventures, a few hardship?, and much excitement occur on voyages of this sort j and when every single thing has to be done by your own hands you learn to appreciate the neoJless duties often imposed on those who serve us. Entering tho narrow French ports was daugerous, especially at night ; and frequent collisions with French vessels in them added to tho risk. In leaving Havre my bowsprit was broken, but I managed to set tho gib agaiu when out at sen. The healthful life in the open air and constant occupation of body and mind make a voyage alone by no means unpleasant, and certainly not at all

lonely ; and I cannot help thinking that, two months spent in this active manner might go far to cure the common malady ofauivi which grows upon idleness pampered with luxury."