SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 654, 29 October 1867, Page 2

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF HOKITIKA.

High Water, Tins Dat.— lo.so a.m. ; 11.15 p.m. Oct. 28, G a.m.— Wind. North, light ; barometer, 20.85 ; thermometer, 51. — 1 p.m. : Wind, S.W., strong ; bnrometer, 2987 ; thermometer, stir, 86 ; shade, 61. — 6 p m. : Wind, S.W., hard gnle ; barometer, 29.P5 ; thermometer, SS. Weather during dny, fine. AHTUVKD. October 28. — Rangitoto, s.s., Taverner, from Nelson. John White, agent. SAILED. October 28.— Nil. EXPECTED ABB.YALS. dneo, s.s., from Melbourne via Duuedin, to- Jay. Egmont, s.s., from Sydney, daily. Beautiful Star, s.s., from Dunedin, early. Alhambra, s.s. from Melbourne, early. 10, schooner, from Melbourne, daily. Alma, barque, from Melbourne, early. Valiant, brig, from Melbourne, early. Favourite, p.s., from Dunedin, early. Excelsior, suhr., from Dunedin, early. PROJECTED DKPAUTUBKS. Eangitoto, s.s., for Melbourne, to-day. Omeo, s.s., for Melbourne, to-d:iy. Alice, schr., for Fox's to-day. lona, schr., for Pakihi, to-day. Alhambra, s.s., fot" Melbourne, early. Bungaree, schr., for Jervis Bay, to day. Lizzie Coleson, brigtue, for Sydney, today. Tasmanian Maid, p.s., for Builcr, and Mohikinui, to-day. Airedale, e.s., for Wellington, on Friday next. j From Wellington for Panama, the R.M.S.S. Ruahine, November 8. Tasmanian Maid, p.s., for Okarita and Jackson's Bay, to-day. Flying Cloud, schr., for Grey Eivev, today. Persevere, p.s., for Greymouth, to-day. Bessie, schr., for Pakilii, to-morrow. j VK3SETS IN TOR I. Brigantincs — Lizzie Coleaon and Isabella. Sehirjiiers — lona, John Bullock, Sea Ripple, William and Julia, Matilda, Flying Cloud, Nile, Alice, Christina Thompson, Bessie, and Birngaroe. Cutler — Elizabeth . Ketches — Mary Anne, Brothers and Sister, Standard, Jane Anne, Cymracs, and Huon Belle. Slcinnors — Challenge, Golden Laud, "Saiva, and Persevere. IS THE ROADSTEAD AXD OFFIX&. Florence lighter. Ocean Wave, schr., from Melbourne. Sarah, brig, from Launeeston. Mary dimming, schooner, from Melbourne . Esperanza, brig, from Melbourne. Elizabeth, brig.intine, from Sydney. Pilot, brgtu., from 3%lbourne. Harriet- N.iihan, b.u-que, fro.n Hobart Town. Jane Loekhart, brgtn., from Sydney. Gloncoe, barque, from Hobart Town. Annie, schooner, from Riverton. LeoniJas, brgt-n., from Melbourne. Lloyd's Herald, ketch, from Dune Jin. Percy, schooner, from Sydney. Bella Vista, barque, from Hobart Town. Ceres, sehr., from Melbourne. Strange rumors were current yesterday concerning tbe condition of the miners upon tho Southern gold fields, where it is said that absolute destitution prevails owing to a scarcity of provisions. The commonest necessaries of life were unobtainable at either Bruce Bay, the Haast, and Jackson's Bay, the diggers at the hitler pkee being represented as in the possession of plenty of gold, but lacked food, clothing and money. Application for a little help had been sent to Okarita from these neglected out diggings, but so greatly reduced were the 6touks in hand in that- town that it was with tho utmost difficulty seven tons of goods could ba scraped togelhc, and these wero shipped in the .schooner Matilda for immediate transmission South. As we informed our readers in a former issue the- Matilda v, as unfortunately cast away whilst attempting to leave Okarita on her mission of mercy, nnd thus the sail plight of more (ban two hundred (if not more) of our fellow ci-eaturcs was still further reduced, as no hope of relief could be extended to them until communication hnd been effected with Hokitika. This wns done at the expense of a weary and dangerous journey — considering the ■weather and swollen state of tlie rivers to be crossed — by a storekeeper who arrived in town on Sunday, bringing with him oOOozs of gold dust, the produce of the Okarita diggings. He leaves ag.iin to-day in the steamer Tusrnanian Maid which he has chartered for a lump sum and heavily freighted with a mixed cargo to be disposed of at Okarita, the llaasf, Bruce an-1 Jackson's Bays, at winch places the Maid has undertaken to call, and should inducement offer, she will extend her trip to Martin's Bay, where a great many diggers have assembled, and are known to be sadiy in want of provisions and clothing. The 'i'asmanian Maid leaves tho river this morning-at ten o'clock. Despite the onslaught made by the surf yesterday we entertain a most favorable opinion of the condition of ihe beach, and do not by any means endorse the opinions of (hose croaker 3 who regard the position of tlie town as unstable, and likely to bo assailed and immediately carried by father Neptune's forces. It is true that [the encroachments of ihe surf have of late been very serious, and may well cause alarm in timid breasts/but those people ■who closely watch the changes that arc daily taking place in tlie formation of the beach, cannot but have observed how much it lms extended seawards, aud increased in height during the past few days. The beach is making up from South to' North, this being one of the effects of a northerly set whioh carries in that direction, and so deposits in its course the vast quantity of silt and gravel brought clown from- tho interior and hourly discharged by the river. It was but the other day that the Empire right-of-way was the centre of assault, and yet now it is placed out of danger, the flank of the attacking force having been turned by the earth works thrown up by the kindly set which is steadily advancing to the rescue of those weak and beleagured positions about Molfatt's right-of-way. Convincing proof that they will be preserved " is already afforded by the marked increase of the beach immediately in front of them, it having made up quite two feet since Saturday, and still-continues rising, we feel assured until it readies its original height and extent seawards. The danger is past, but at the same time we still advocate the adoption of preventativc measures, and are very glad indeed that <he Municipal and authorities are so actively bestirring thempelves in the matter. The thanks of this community are due Mr Rochforb, the district engineer, for the untiring zeal he displays in the prosecution of so difficult an undertaking as that of preserving an unstable sandy beach, and in which we can say that he is at last succeeding, as the fascine protection mny certainly be considered a very great success. Yesterday the government men under the supervision of Mr Johnson, were hard at work placing fresh rows in position, and not before they were needed, as the surf was fearfully heavy last night and would havo committed great havoc with the beach, had not its force been expended upon the yielding and yet resisting fascine medium. Heaps of facine3 were lyii-g about ready for the recommencement of the works when the tide sufficiently receeded last night, and wo hope it will be persevered with until the beach bristles with hedge-rows, which in our opinion are the surest and cheapest remedy that can be applied to the desetse.

The short westerly blow of Sunday night rolled home a heavy surf that rendered the bar unworkable yesterday morning, and wns further increased by the hard dry S.W, gnlo that sprang up in the forenoon, aud continued without intermission until sunset. The strip of broken water wus very wide last nighl, as ifc extended nearly a mile from shore, the ou'er j edge consisting' of immense rollers that even in the intense darkness could bo seen lifting their monstrous heads as liny " envied" and hnrried towards tlie beach to be lost in tlie lesser inner bre.ik that devoid of outline presented nothing but a mass of seething foam to the view, whilst far out in tlie roadstead a long lino of lights marked the position of the weather bound fleet riding uneasily to its anchors. Tho sight was inexpressively gran;l and interesting.] A steamer which we believe is the Rangiloto last from Nelson, arrived in the roadstead last uight at a'Jbut eight o'clock. The number of the roadstend fleet wns increnFcd on Sunday by the avrival of the brigantine Ceres from Melbourne. She took . up an outside position. We pee by a telegram in the Melbourne papers that on the slh instant, the steamer Lady Young struck on a rock near Bustard Head on the co.ist of Queensland, but floated off again, and was beached at Pancake Creek for temporary repairs preparatory to proceeding to Sydney to be docked. As there was a heavy surf on the Tnranaki beach when the Phoebe arrived on Thursday last, it was found necessary to t.ike osit tho lifeboat. Tho boat got out very well, but her return was by no means so successful ; she ran with tho first breaker, and got broadside on. Three men, Mr Laing of the Customs being one, were wnshed overboard, and though we are happy to say they were all got into the boat again with some little trouble, an-1 are none of them hurt, we cannot but think they had a very narrow escape. The mishap appears to have been duo to tho f.ict that the drags which cheek tl c boat in tho surf were not got out in time, and consequently she came in on the first heavy breaker. — " Tavanaki Herald." The following report ns to the Hobart Town whalers is given in the " Mercury's" last monthly sinrniJiry: — Vietotin, brig, 18 i tons, Captain W. Scott, sailed Ist May, 1860, spoke 6th inst. in Recherche Bay with 19 tuns sperm, and 2 ton 3 black oil; Runnymede, barque, 284- tons, Hill, sailed 31st August, spoke in Recherche Bay, February loth, witn 23 tuns black, and 7 tuns sperm oil; Offley, barque, 375 tons, It. Abbott, sailed 12lh November, spoke in Recherche Bay, 2Sth July, with 17 tuns sperm airl 3 tuus black oil ; Emily Downing, barque, 28'J tons, E. Copping, sailed 22nd December, reported 20th u!f., off Kangaroo Island, with 3G tuns sperm ; Derwent Hunter, barque, Kennedy, 363 lons, sailed 22nd December, spoke in Eccherche Bay, 20fch June, with 11 tuns sperm ; Maid of Erin, brig, 152 tons, Graffiti, sailed 12th January, spoken 20!h ult., "if Kangai'oo IslanJ, with 11 tuns sperra ; Marie Laurie, barque, 329 tons, W. Chamberlain, jun., sailed 22ud January,, spoke in Recherche Bay, 20th April, clean ; Sapphire, bnrqne, 254 tons, M. Reynolds, sailed 28th November, spoke in Port Davr-y, 19th April, with '15 tuns sperm ; Water Wttdi, barque, 2-36 tons, W. Harrison, sailed 30th April, no report ; Flying Chililors, barque, 230 toii3. J. M'&regor, sailed Ist June, r.o report ; Aladdin, barque, 288 tons, J. M'Arthur, sailed sth June, no report; Planter, barque, 231 tons, J. Andei-son, sailed 14-th June, no report ; Louisa, brig, 144 toii3, J. Smith, sailed 28th ult., no report. Total of oil afloat, 116 tuns sperm, 21 tuns black. GRTCY RIVER. limit Watbk T»rs Day. — 10.47 a.m. 11.12 p.m.