CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 255, 26 May 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

ARBIYALS. May 24 —Fairy, schooner, from Onehunga. DEPARTURES. May 23—Constant, ketch, for Westport. Amateur, ketch, for Westport. VESSELS Iff POUT. Schooner —Fairy. Cutter —Flora Maedonald. The Fairy had a narrow escape in entering the bay on Sunday forenoon. The sea was not very rough outside, but at times large combers broke savagely across the bar. Knowing the Fairy was short ot provisions, and the weather appearing threatening, the harboiirmastcr ran up the signal for her to come in. She was not long in obeying, but in crossing thebara heavy sea struckher, carrying away the rudder and throwing her apparently against the rocks forming the southern side of the channel. Here she was for a moment obscured by the sea breaking over her, but immediately after a big wave came thundering in, and raising the after part of the vessel high in the air, so that a man on the bowspit was buried under water, ran her in a diagonal direction across the channel. Here she was in comparatively smooth water, and one of the surf boats rendered assistance in running the warps out and making her secure, and shortly after we observed one of our leading storekeepers hurrying down with a supply of provisions which appeared to be eagerly welcomed by the Fairy's crew. Strange to say the vessel escaped without any serious damage; a bit of her false keel has been knocked of, but that is all except the damage to the rudder, and part of that was done outside, the lower band having been carried away, which accident made the master the more anxious to get his vessel into port. She brings a cargo of timber on account of Mr Gibbons. The Flora Maedonald, bound for Onehunga, has been detained a few days for repairs, her stern having been dragged out by the forestay when bumping on the beach. The damage is nearly repaired, and she will probably get away to-day or to-morrow.