SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 671, 18 November 1867, Page 2

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF HOKITIKA.

High Water, This Day. — 2.45 a.m. ; 3.10 p.m. Moox, Last Quabteb to-morbow. — 4.39 a.m. November IG.— 6 a.m. : Wind, S.W., light, barometer, 2987 ; thermometer, 57. — 1 p.m. : Wind, S S.W., fresh; barometer, 29-90; thermometer, 80.— 6 p.m. : Wind, S.W., moderate; barometer, 29-92; thermometer, 62. — Weather during day fine. November 17.— 6 a.m. : Wind, North, light; barometer, 2996 ; thermometer, 50. — 1 p.m. : Wind, North ; modornte ; barometer, 2997 ; thermometer, 68. — 6 p.m.: Wind, North; baromster, 2996 ; thermometer, 60. — Weather during day, cloudy and threatening. AKEIVED. November 16. — Hope, cutter, White, from Pakihi. Master, Agent. Elizabeth, cutter, Mason, from Pakihi. W. S. Loekharfc, agent. November 17. — Harry Bluff, cutter, Brown, from Pakihi. Florence, ketch, Priest, from Greymouth. Ttoyse, Mudie and Co., agents. Keera, s.s., Joyce, from Dunedin. Carey and Gilles, agents. SAILED. November 16. — Pearl, ketch, Russel, for Lyttelton. Percy, schooner, Downes, for Manukau. Emerald, ketch, Whifcby, for Lyttelton. Tasmanian Maid, p.s., Soutei 1 , for Buller. Bruce, p.s., Kerley, for Buller. November 17. — Sarah and Mary, brigantine, Duncan, for Melbourne. Hector, brigautine, Andrews, for Launceston. ENTEBED IN. Brace, 84 tons, Jafi. Kcrley, from Westport. 6S passengers. CLEAEED OUT. Tasmanian Maid, 53 tons, W. Souter, for Greymouth, ITokikinui aud Westport. Emerald, 40 tons, W. Whitby, for Lyttelton. In ballast. Bruce, 84 tons, Jas. Eerley, for Westport and Mokikinui. Sarah and Mary, 175 tons, P. Duncan, for Melbourne. In ballast. 1 passenger. Hector, 115 tons, C. Andrews, for Launce3ton. In ballast. EXPECTED ABBIVALS. Omeo, s.s., from Melbourne, early. Anne Moore, brgtne., from Melbourne, early, 10, schooner, from Melbourne, daily. Alma, barque, from Melbourne, early. Mary, bi-igantiue, from Melbourne, early. Uungitoto, s.s., from Melbourne via Dunedin, 27th inst. ' VEOJECTED DEPAETUKE3. Nile, schr., for Pakihi, early. Huon Belle, for Grey, on Friday. Jessie, schr., for Sydney, to-day. Alliambra, s.s., for Melbourne and Sydney, on the 20lh inst. Kangitoto, s.s., for Melbourne, 27th inst. vr.ssnr.s in tout. Brigantines — Waterman, Northern Light. Sclio'jnors— Bsa Hippie, William and Julia, Matilda, Nile, Jessie, Dart, Bessie. Ketches — Mary Anne, Brothers and Sister. Jane Anne, Huon Belle. fllonmeM — Challenge, QoldonL:ind, Yarra, Favorite, Persevere. IMPOET3. Per Bruce, from Westpovt — 1 case, 1 truss, Whyte and Pirie ; 2 kegi butter, W. Pole ; 1 case zinc, 1 do hardware, 6 kegs nails, 1 chest, 4 bundles mouldings, 1 box tools, Sinclair and Jack. EXPORTS. j Per Tasmanian Maid, for Greymouth, &c. For Greymouth — 5 cases milk, Ecclesfield Brothers; 33 retorts, 33 pipe 3, 1 bottle quicksilver, Forsyth and Masters ; 1 keg, 3 bags malt, 5 libels ale, Pizzey and Co. For Brighton — 3 cases geneva, sdo apples, 2 kegs butter, W. Evans ; 21. -bags coke, W. S. Lockhart ; 5 cases claret, 3 do champagne, 2 do hock, Churches and Co.; IS bags potatoes, 24 ba£3 potatoes, Chesney and Co. ; 1 parcel papers, Harnelt and and Co. ; 35 bags potatoes, Chesney and Co. ; For Wesport — 100 bags flour, 20 boxes raisins, Spence Bros; 24 bags coke, W. S. Lockhart; 1 furnace, 1 bag, 2 sheets iron, Bank of New Zealand ; 1 wheel, Forsy fch and Co ; 10 bars steel, 1 case, J. Lewis ; 1 safe, Postmaster; 1 case cocoa, 1 do peel, 2 do coffee, Ido mustard, Powell and Co ; 2do jam, Carey and Gilles ; 2do ling, Bailie and Humphrey ; 1 case, Henelly and Co. Per Bruce for Wesport, &c. — For Wesport — 32 bales chaff, order; 100 bags, 2 bales chaff, T. Munro and Co ; 1 case tobacco, Hatter; 1 case vestas, 6 half-chests tea, 1 case cheese, 2 boxes tea, J. Solomon and Co ; SO cases apples, Carpenter; 2 hhda beer, Bailie and lliunphroy ; 1 case glass, Foyt ; 5 pkgs, order ; 2 cases, Mulligan and Co ; 1 keg nails, 1 parcel, J. Lewis ; 1 case, Bank -of N. S. Wales; 3 crates bottles, 1 jar, Williams. For Mohikhmi — 6 casks butter, Eussell ; 1 case bacou, 1 keg butter, 1 case cheese, 20 bags flour, 1 case salmon, 1 case sardines, 1 case pickles, 1 case lobsters, 1" caso oysters, 1 case milk, 3 ca3es soap, 6 boxes candles, 1 case coffee, 1 case bitters, 3 pigs, Girr. For Brighton — 3 kegs gunpowder, order ; 2 case drugs, E. Prosser ; 6 cases champagne, Roomy; 12 bags malt, Parker; 1 quarter-cask brandy, 5 ca3es gin, Hall and Coleman. The official inquiry into the stranding and wreck of the brigantine Elizabeth has been held and concluded — we may add — in a similar manner lo the many inquiries of a like nature that preceded it at this port. Again has the Court withheld its decision, aud wherefore is a inj stery to us for setting aside the precedent that- would wan-ant such a procedure, and which has been formed by other Courts in other places, delivering verdicts as to the cause of wreck, &c, the Inquiry into Wrecks Act, 1863, in its definition of the duties of custom-house officials and others who conduct investigations, evidently means that no secrecy in so important a point shall be maintained, as the Act contains no clause forbidding the delivery of a verdict. At the same time it is not so clear upon this point, that a magistrate would consider it part of lus duty to make kuovm the opinion of the Court before transmitting it to the Governor through the Postmaster-General; we, however, opine that he might do so without exceeding his delegated authority. So considered Mr Kynnersly, the Buller magistrate, when he gave a rlci-ision in the case of the brig Mountain Maid. A decision was also given — although some time after the inquiry was held— as to the cause of the South Australian's loss, and again in the case of the schooner Manukau, the Court's opinion was published in the Government " Gazette." But not a solitary decision has ever been given, either through the medium of the "Gazette." or otherwise — concerning the many wrecks which first and last have taken place at Hokifika, and wo can only regard »uch reticence as something incomprehensible, it is also injudicious as tending to defeat the ends aimed at by the Act, which was compiled to prevent fraudulent shipwreck, for which tho peculiar navigation of the West Coast especially offers great inducement, and •we'-th) not hesitate to puy that several of the many vessels wrecked on this coast would now be afloat but for tho policy of insurance that covered them. Excepting tho stern grasp of the law itself, there is no check so wholesome and powerful upon the would-be-evil-doer as that of public opinion, but howcan it be applied if facts that can alone be elicited by the law are hidden by the law. In the name of the shipping and commercial interests of Westland, vo demand that the decision shall be published in tho local journals immediately after it has been submitted to and confirmed by the Governor.

The Grey bar yesterday Avas the scene of a lamentable accident, that resulted in the loss of one man by drowning, and the narrow escape of three others. We have received from our agent at Greymouth, the following account of the occurrence. The schooner Anne, coal laden from Pakihi, arrived in the roadstead on Saturday afternoon, iv a very leaky condition — that compelled constant labor at pumps to keep her afloat. Yesterday the Dispatch took her in tow, but whilst crossing the bar a heavy sea broke on board the schooner, and washed four of the crew overboard. Three of them managed to regain the vessel but the fourth, who only joined the Anne at Pakibi, was never seen again, notwithstanding that the Dispatch stopped her engines, and hung some time in tho break hoping to save the poor fellow, and the p.s. Persevere upon ascertaining what had occurred left the river to render assistance. The Dispatch managed to get the Anne inside, and towed her to the lagoon — where she was beached — with six feet of water in her bold. The crew state that she commenced leaking shortly aftev leaving the Pakihi, on Wednesday last. Messrs Royse Mudie have been advised by telegram that the Albambra left Duuediu, on Saturday last, on her passage round the coast, north about, to Hokitika. She may be expected here about Thursday next. The s.s. Keera arrived in the river at midday yesterday, and we fiud from the report furnished us by Captain Joyce that she experienced very unfavorable weather during the passage from Dunediu, having steamed the entire distance against strong hca*L winds. She cleared Otago heads at 5.15 p.m. on the 4th instant, arrived at Picton (Port Underwood) at 8.30 p.m. on the 6th, aud left again the following day at 5 a.m. Steamed through tho Straits against a fresh breeze, which increasing to a N.W. gale, that sent up a tremendous sea, obliged her to seek shelter in Totaranui at 11 p.m. the same day. She remained there until the 12th, kept prisoner by continuous heavy weather, and then left for Westport, where she arrived at 8.45 p.m. ou the 13th. Landed a largo cargo and many passengers, and sailed for this port yesterday at 1.30 a.m., aud anchored in the roadstead at 10 a.m., crossing tho bar as above. The Keera brings fifty-two passengers and twenty tons of cargo. She sails for Greymouth today, and will proceed from that port direct to Dunedin, via Cook's Straits. Passenger list per Keera— Saloon: Mi-3 M'Pheavson, Miss Tyro, Messrs Mason, Kelly, Scogland, Soloman, Reid, Hosic, Jones, Kempthorne, Williams, and Perkins. Steerage : 40, of whom the majority shipped at Westport. The smart cutter Elizabeth returned to port on Saturday, from Pakihi, where she was subjected to a rather severe ordeal iv the heavy weather that prevailed during tho early part of this month, but, we are happy to say, received no material damage, and is now in good aea-going order and ready to receive cargo. She left Hokitika with a full load, on the 31st ulh, arrived inside the Cove next day and discharged, and was ready for sea by the 2nd inst. Her departure, howcyrr, was prevented by a westerly gale that, as usual, sent a heavy sea into tho Cove. Both gale aud soa increased, and on tho following day every vessel at anchor inside broke adrift, and were washed upon the beach, the Elizabeth with loss of rudder. She remained ashore uutil the Bth, and then hove off, but tho weather continuing stormy and unsettled, was unable to leave until tho 14th, having in tho meantime shipped a full cargo of hides, skins, and sundries. She experienced light northerly weather along the coast, and reached the roadstead on Saturday in time to save tide. As there was a smart westerly breeze blowing an attempt was made to enter the river under canvas ; iv this she wonld have succeeded had not her rudder unshipped in the break ; being thus rendered unmanageable, she sheered across the current and grounded upon tho South Spit. Fortunately the tug Challenge was underweigh and at once ran to her assistance, and as in the case of the cutter Hope succeeded in hauling her off again. The Elizabeth then towed to tho wharf; she is again on the berth for Pakihi. The schooner Anne aud cutters Louisa and Hope were ashore at Pakihi with the Elizabeth, and each received more or less damage. The Anne cleared out a day before the Elizabeth left, and as we have related elsewhere narrowly escaped wreck at Greymouth. The Louisa 'was much knocked about, and when the Elizabeth left was in the hands of carpenters. We arc glad to hear that tho ketch Flying Squirrel which has so long laid ashore at Pakihi is nearly ready for sea again. She has been thoroughly repaired, and is now on blocks ready for the launch that Captain Joyce of the Keera states will take place either to-day or to-morrow. The cutter Harry Bluff arrived from Fox's River yesterday, and so completed a very smart trip between the two ports. She left Hokitika on Wednesday last, entered Fox's River next morning, discharged cargo, ballasted, and put to sea the same night. Her passage up the coast was protracted by light, variable winds. She left the schooner Three Friends" at Fox's. The ketch Florence, coal laden, from Greymouth, was towed inio the river by the Yarra yesterday. She has made the trip in three clays, having left this port no earlier thau Thursday, and brings back the cargo that was engaged for the ill fated schooner Flying Cloud. Wo hear that the entrance to the Mohikinui river has been very much altered, and anything but improved by the late floods and surf. It seems that an immense boulder bank was thrown up right across it and diverted tho channel northwards along tho beach, rendering the port very difficult to navigate. The arrival of the cutter Hope on Saturday was well nigh attended by serious misfortune to tho little vessel, which, according to her usual custom, crossed the bar under canvas, but, being unable to stem tho freshet between the spits was driven ashore upon the South Spit. She, however, remained thero but a short time, as the tug Challenge, returning from tho roadstead, hove a tow-line on board and hauled her oil 1 . Tho Hope is last from Pakihi, having left the Cove on the morning of the 14th. She suffered much hard usage thero through the late gales, and was detained inside for nearly a fortnight. We can report an excellent bar. At half tide, yesterday, when the Yarra crossed it to fetch in the cutter Hope, she found between eight and nine feet of water, which increased to thirteen feet by the timo the tide had reached its height, that being the depth found by the Keera as she entered tho river. The Yarra also brought in the ketch Florence. The Challenge towed out the brigantines Sarah and Mary and Hector. The brigautine Hector sailed for Launceston, yesterday, to load up another cargo of produce for this port. She was very fortunate with the last, having landed it in splendid condition.