IMPORTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 664, 9 November 1867, Page 2

IMPORTS.

Per Seabird, from Launcosfcon — 746 bags oats, 421 do bran, 3 ca. oo s egg*, 6 tubs butter, 100 b.ga potatoes, 3000 bricks, 300 paii'3 fowls, 70 pigs, 77 bale 3 chaff, 7 do hay, IS hortjs, 150 bags flour, 7000 paling 3, 600 ft timber, Carey and G-illes ; 2 bu,le3 leather, 1 case bacon, 1 cask birds, order ; 2 carks beef, «3 sheep, Carey and Grilles. Per Excelsior, from Dunediu — 10 hhds stout W. Pole j 1 safe, Stevenson ; CO bags oats, ordpr ,• 1509 boards, E. Beeves ; 69 bags oats, 14 do potatoes, Bailie and Humphrey ; 37 camp ovens, 1 keg spikes, ITorsyth aud Masters ; 50 boxes candles, A. Clcvo ; 2 bale 3 leather, Flasman Brothers ; 1 cose, 6 nests tubs, 1 cast* handles, 5 kegs nails, 2 orums oil, 1 cask bath-brh-k, 1 dozen buckets, 1 cask ironmongery, W. Johnson. We were very please Jl to hear of the little Bruce's safe but umnfci-ipa ed arrival H Greymoaui yesterdny, as considering the heavy frfcshc'u taac must have beei. running out ' f '•hat river, we imagined that, l'ke our own oar, that of the G-rey would have baen iir passable to even a vessel of the Bruc's cap ibiliti^s. It proved otherwise, however, as the Bruce made a bold push for it, and passed the Rubriun safely. She "may be expected here to-day. The last, package of the fine brigantine Ceres's cargo was landed yesterday, aud the vessel ballasted in readiness for a tow out. The last time the Ceres came to this port she was particularly fortunate respecting " her cargo, and on this occasion her lading turned out in equally good coudii/ton. She will sail •when the wc-ither permits. I We have much pleasure in reporting the successful relaunch of the schooner Banshee. Having been raised high -enough, sho was placed upon vays yesrerday morning, and slipped into the river in the afternoon, when the Yarra tov.ed her to the wharf. The Banshee has not received the slightest damage. We notico that tho smart brigantine Hannah Newton, is advertised to sail for Sydney, and will leave upon the first favorable opportunity, che is a bonny craft and quick traveller, a3 proved by her recent, run of seven days from the above port. That fortunate trader, the Jane Lockhart, is also on the berth for Sydney, and ready for sea.. Her departure w 11 take place when the bar is passable. Once more there is a clear Spit, if we except the presence of the old Elizabeth, which partly stripped of copper, lies upon the extreme point of it, her gaping Beams exposed to the mervr of the curious. The duration of her stay there is not likely to be lengthy, and, indeed, wo should not be surprised if she washed off upon tliis morning's tide, as tho heavy sea which rolled in yesterday, and hove her to within a few yards of tho channel, discovered no sign of subsiding last night, but rather threatened to increase, the appearance of the weather being stormy in the extreme. We sincerely trust that she will neither sink and so block the channel, or wash upon the South Spit and form a breakwater just where it is not wanted. Tho dimensions of the lower end of the North Spit have lalamentably shrunk during the last few days, . so much, indeed, that quite twenty feet of tho old Gratitude now overhangs tho river, and if the present freshet continues for a tide or two, she must inevitably tumble over, and then we should like to know what will become of her. It is a pity, in one sense, that there are not half-a-dozen Gratitude's available for scuttling, as in that case a substantial inner wall for the Spit commencing at the end of the protective work, could be constructed at a comparatively cheap rate. Nature is doing her best to protect the outer beach by depositing large quantities of drift timber upon it. Wo are glad to sco that the authorities have re? olved to, if possible, to prevent its removal, the police having received orders to watch the beach and arrest any ppruon who may be caught pilfering that which is justly regarded as a coating of armour to the most vulnerable part of the town. It has been definitely determined to relaunch the p.s. Charleb Ed war J, and tenders to that effect are called for by advertisement in another column of this pnper. We fear that it will prove a long and expensive undertaking. The tremendous gale and surf of yesterday closed the port, and, in consequence, the 6.5. Alhambra was not tendered. If it is possible for the Yarra to get out sho will sail to-day, according to advertisement. A joyous gratification was experienced yesterday afternoon when the Sea Bird gained the wharf, figuratively speaking under the ■wing of the good tug Chnllengo, which, owning to the loss of the brigantine's rudder, ■was obliged to la3h alongside to steer her up the river by the aid of tho disconnecting engines. Never was vessel more smartly bandied than the Sea Bird, during her Bhorfc

sojourn upon the spit, preparations for an attempt to heave her ou loaded, having been in progress throughout Thursday night, and when it was found that to elfect her removal tho cargo would have to bo discharged, prompt and careful measures were taken to land it, the result being that excepting twenty tons sho was clear of horses, livestock, and inanimate loadingby threeo'clock in the afternoon, and two hours later was afloat alongside the North Spit. Tho weather was most unfavorable for tho prosecution of any kind of work, as- fi westerly gale commenced shortly before noon, and had increase.l to almost a hurricane, attended by biting squalls of sleet long before the Sea Bird loft her restin" place. "There was, however, no flinching oif the part of those employed about, including a body of volunteers who did volunteer service, and amongst them we noticed Mr Hardy, the chief mate of the barque Bella Vista and Captain Brown, of the schooner Ocean Wave. The last-named gentleman, was, we believe, on board the Sea Bird when stranded, and stuck by her to the last. As usual, whether acting for themselves or as agents, Messrs Carey and Gilles wero indefatigable, and right glad were we to see thtir efforts crowned by deserved success. Aa hour after the tide commenced flowing yesterday afternoon the Sea Bird's windlass and a powerful winch that had been placed upon tho South Spit, were manned, and a tremendous strain was got upon the warps. This soon told upon the brigantine, which lifted by tho heavy sea that came in with tho tide began to move ahead, and in a very short tune it was plainly to bo seen that her deliverance was certain, providing the warp 3 held good. Then the Challenge unmoored and dropped down stream ready to make fast when the proper moment arrived, and was not kept long waiting, for driven by the gale and surf the Sea Bird jumped ahead at a prodigious rate, and finally j shot off the Spit into the deep water, unfortunately leaving her rudder behind, j tho jerk having carriod it away iia- | mediately below the case. Her position for a time was very critical as she swung bows out to eea, and to get her round again, and at the same time cheek the unavoidable eheor that threatened to laud her upon the South Spit, was a delicato and difficult operation. It was, however, accomplished by the skilful inauoauvres of the Challenge, and by the aid of a check-line from tho brigautino's bow to tho Elizabeth. Albeit she took an awful sweep, and once must havo boon very close to the ground. The rest was easy, and when sho reached to abreast of the Gratitude the tug dropped alongside and towed her to tho wharf, as above related. Vory heartily do we congratulate Messrs Carey aud Grilles and Captain Walters upon the happy reloaso of their fine vessel, and hope she may never bo again subjected to another such misfortune. Barring this mishap tho Sea Bird has made a very successful trip, as sho is only nine days out from Launceston. She left that port on tho 30th ult., passed Tamur Heads afc 6 p.m., and favored by strong westerly winds cleared tho Straits at 6 a.m. next" day. Steady breezes from North to West, attended her during tho run across, which was made in six day 3 from land to land, as sho was in sight of the New Zealaud coast at noon on tho 6th, and reached tho roads at 8 p.m. Her cargo consists ot produce, live stock, including 100 pig 3, and twelve horses. The latter were in • splendid order when landed.