PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 681, 29 November 1867, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

HrGH Water, Tins Dat.— 12.30 a.m. ; 12.55 p.m. November 28.— G a.m. : Wind, S.W., heavy gale ; barometer, 2926 ; thcnnou'uti'r, 50.— 1 p.m.: Wind, S.W., heavy gale; bnrometer, 29 31; thermometer, 56. — (3 p.m.: Wind, S.W"., lu-avy gale; barometer, 29 - 40; thermometer, 51. Weather during day fine, but bjisterous. ARRIVED. November 23 — Alhambra, s.s., fti'Lean, fro.n Dunoiiin, via Melbourne. Royso, Mudie, and Co., agents. Kaugitoto, 5.8., Tiiverner, from Dunedin, ■via Nelson. John White, agent. SAHED. Niveml er 28. — Claud Hamilton, 5.9., Hall ' for Nelson. EXPKOTED ABIt'VAT.S. Sarah Anne, schr., from Melbourne, early. ; 10, schooner, from Melbourne, daily. Lord Ashley, s.s., from Nelson, to-day. Boautiful Star, s.s., from Dunodin, early. PROJECTED DEPARTCTIIE3. Nile, schr., for Fox's, early. Alhambra, 9.3., for Melbourne and Sydney, tc-diy. B mgitoto, s.s.,"for Melbourne, to-day. Lird Ashley, s.s., for Sydney, today. Brace, p.s.,*for B idler, to-d,iy. Ta?manian Maid, p.s., for Fox's, Buller and Mohikinui, 10-day. From Wellington, for Panama, R.M. s.s. Rakaia, December 8. Airedale, s.s., for Nelson, Northern Ports, Bluff Harbor aud Melbourne, on Sunday. VESSELS IN POST. Si-hoaners — Sea Ripple, Nile, Dart, Bessie, Aurora, Mary Anne Christina. Ketches — Brothers and Sistor, Jane Anne, Enterprise. Cutters — Hope, Harry Bluff, Elizabeth. Sleiiniers — Challenge, Golden Land, Yarra, F&TOrite, Dispatch, Enterprise, Bruce. IS* THB ROADSTEAD. Alhamhra, s.s., from Dunedin. Rangitoto, s.s., from Dunedin. Anne Moore, brgt., from Melbourne. Mary, brigantine, from Melbourne. Ono of the very few down right heavy gales that reach this coast in the course of a twelvemonth blew home yesterday from W.S.W., veering in the squalls to S.S.W. It was a tempest of no ordinary severity, commencing about daylight, and ended shortly after the sun dipped in the western horizon. Although of few hours duration only it raised a terrific sea — we have seldom noticed a heavier in tlii3 roadstead— and double locked the door 3of the port by heaving home the long South Spit upon the North, and so diverted the channel a long way norlli and parallel to the beach. Under any eirenms fauces of weather and sea ir would be an ugly place to work, but swept by the surf of yesterday it presented rather the appearance of a maelstrom than an outlet and inlet for shipping. The surf extended quite two miles from shore, and we fear will scarcely subside within twenty-four hours notwithstanding that the gale moderated last night, for when onco thoroughly ai'oused a West Coast sea i 3 not so easily put down again. We hope that the gale will prove a clearing up blow, and bo followed by a few weeks of line and moderate weuther to compensate for the miseries undergone by all classes during tho late stormy and disagreeable period that, we may say, commenced in August la3t. The Panama Company's steamer Rangitoto with fifty passengers for this port, and tho Westland portion of thePnnama mail on board, steamed into the roadstead at daylight yesterday morning, having mnde the passage from Nelson in about thirty hours, as, according to private advices, she left that port at seven p.m. on Thursday. Considering the heavy weather she must have encountered off.Farewell and along the const the Rangitoto has ir.ade an exceedingly smart run, and le.l the way for tho steamers Alhambra and Lord Ashley, both of -which she left at anchor under the lee of the sand spit. The Rangitoto anchored for a few hours, but as the sea increased her position became too uneasy, so she got her anchor again and stood to sea under fore and aft canvas, and wa3 out of sight at sunset. The gale moderated shortly after that hour, and fell away to a dead calm before midnight, so her return for this morning's tide is certain, and if it is possible to tender her she will be dispatched direct for Melbourne. During the height of the gale yesterday afternoon, a steamer was sighted to the northward, and at first supposed to be the Raugitoto, but a nearer approach revealed her to be tlie Alhambra, battling with tho elements under steam and fore-and-aft canvas. We never saw this fine steamer appear to better advantage, as she slowly forged ahead in tho teeth of the gale, making splendid weather of it, and riding the waves like a sea bird. Arrived abreast the bar, she stood off shore again, and in reply to signals stated that there were fourteen passengers and ten tons of cargo to be landed. As soon as it is possible for a •teamer to cro33 the bar, the Alhambra will be tendered, and then proceed direct to Melbourne. The brigantines Anne Moore an! Mary stood to sea yesterday morning in search of easier quarters than the roadstead afforded to ride out the gale in. They were not in sight last night, and we expect drove a long way north before wind and current, as the gale was almost certain to produce a strong northerly Sfit. A telegram received from Greymouth yesterday describes the sea thero as "terrific." The atearner Omeo had put to sea at an early hour, but was expected to return this morning. In that event, she will be ordered to Hokitika to tranship her Orrey passengei'3 and cargo to the Alhambra, and so bring her stay on the West Coast to a tirmination, as she is to proceed to Melbourne directly afterwards. The Peninsular and Oriental Company has just had the misfortune to lose another ship. The Singapore, a fine paddle-wheel steamer, which, from her roomy accommodations, was a favorite vessel for passengers, was on a voyage from Yokohama to Hakodadi, and had almost reached her destination, when, on the 20th ult., she ran on a sunken rock not laid down in tho charts, and went down in deep water in the course of an hour. She had twenty-five passengeis on board, and a crew of 120 officers and nion, but all wore saved owing to the admiroble disciplino of the ship, the iteadines^ with which tho boats were got ready, and the good order in which they were found. Every boat is said to have been* in the water, and all tho passengers in them, six minutfs after the ship struck. All accounts unite in paying the highest possible testimony to the conduct of Captain Wilkinson and his office. — '• China Traile Report," Sept 27. Admiral Simon, commander of the French fleet in Greek waters, gives tho following account of the destruction of the famous block:ide -ruimer Arcadi, once better known in Western waters as the Confederate war ship Sumter :— •• On Monday morning, August 20, after I had receiver! some women and children at Selino, I sailed for St. Roumeli to take others from that port. During the day the captain of tho Izzedin, a large Turkish steamer, which cast anchor near my ship, ■visited me, and told me that on the previous evening, the Arcadi had been to St. Roumeli and landed a part of her cargo ; but not having sufficient time to discharge the rest, she had sailed for Gkbdon, and that ho expected her back on Mondny evening, when he intended to attack her. On Monday afternoon, after I had embarked the women and children, I started for Athens ; but two hours afterwards I heard guns behind me. Going on deck I saw in tho distanco two steamers, one chasing the other and fighting. In a short time they approached me, and I saw that one •was the Arcadi and the other the Izzedin. The

Izzedin reached the Arcadi and gave her a broadside, to which the Arcaii replied in the same manner. As soon as the two steamers were close together the sailors began firing with their rifles. -While the fight was hottest, two Turkish men-of-war made their appearance round the Cape of Krio-melopo. The position of the Arcadi then became very perilous. At that moment the captain of the Arcadi, with great presence of mind and coolness, turned his little steamer, faced the three enemy's vessels, aud passed through them at full speed, amidst a tremendous fire from the large guvs and a shower of bullets. The Arcadi soon approached the land, and after coasting some distance along tho small bay arrived near the Capo of Krio-metopo, whore the captain ran her aground, in order to save the crew. The fighting lasted till 1 o'clock in the morning. At lhat time the three Turkish vessels cut anchor near the Arcadi. I heard a sharp firing of rifle 3 during the rest of the night, and stayed until morning to ascertain the result. I then saw the Arcadi in flames, but I could not learn whether she had been fired by her captain or by the enemy. The Turkish boa f s were full of wounded, who were transported to the Turkish vessels, and the Izzedin steamed away in a very damaged con"dition. Lieutenant Heath, Portmaster, who arrived here last Monday morning, brought with him the permanent lighting apparatus for the light house on North Head, a dioptric light of the fifth order. It was fixed and lighted on Monday evening, and gave a very brilliant light. As it can be seen from a gret*t distance at sea, it will answer the purpose of a coast light for vessels passing Port Deuison — " Porfc Donison Times."