SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 478, 16 March 1869, Page 2

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

WESTPOET. HIGH WATEB. This Day ... 11.54 a.m., 12 18 p.m. To-morrow 12.42 a.m., 1.6 p.m. March 14—Murray, s.s., M'Gillivray, from southern ports. J. W. Kirby, agent. Waipara, s.s., Bascand, from southern ports. J. C. Paton, agent. Kennedy, s.s., Whitwell, from Nelson. N. Edwards and Co., agents. March 15—Bruce, p.s., Christian, from Auckland, -via Havelock. DEPABTFBES. March 14—Murray, s.s., for Nelsoa. March 16—Kennedy, s.s., for Greymouth. Bruce, s.s., for Greymouth. PASSENGER LIST. Per Murray, from Hokitika—Mrs Carr and servant. Per Murray, for Nelsoa Messrs Bell, Avery, and Blackburn. Per Waipara, from southern ports—Dr Carr, Mrs Master. Per Kennedy, from Nelson—Dr Thorpe, Messrs Lowe, Dobson, and Barron ; 3 in the steerage. Per Bruce, from Auckland and Harelock— Mrs Callan, Mrs Mould, C. B. Edwards, and Q. Cousins. Per "Waipara, from Hokitika—l parcel •cigars, Horn; 6 cases wine, Jamieson. Per Kennedy, from Nelson—l case iron, Field ; 17 cases apples, 2 kegs butter, 1 bag, •2 boxes eggs, Wagstaff; 36 bags potatoes, order; 34 do Livurence ; 3 pkgs furniture, Pitt; 1 truss leather, Roberts and Co.; 1 case grindery, Collings ; 2 kegs butter, 2 cases epgs, Collins ; 20 sacks bran, 12 do potatoes, Powell and Co.; 1 coop fowls, Magee ; 1 bag bacon, 1 keg butter, Brown ; 1 truss, Anslow; 60 bags potatoes, N. Edwards and Co.; 24 cases fruit, Moller; 11 casks ale, Leslie ; 1 anchor and chain, Besley.

The steamer Bruce unexpectedly made her appearance off this port yesterday morning, and early on the tide crossed the bar. !~he left Auckland on Monday, the Bth instant, with 40 passengers for Havelock and the West Coast. At Havelock she landed only seven passengers, and shipped none, the majority of those who had landed there, and been disappointed with the rush, having proceeded overland to Nelson or the Buller. She left Havelock at 10 a.m. on the 13th instant, and came to this port direct, without calling at Nelson. She brought with her to Westport 83 passengers, booked for Greymoutli, but all btit nine or ten resolved to remain here, and to proceed up the river or to the nearer diggings. The steamer John Penn is now regularly employed in the Auckland and Shortland trade. The Royal Alfred, which was engaged in thai trade, met with an accident to her machinery when on one of her trips. Captain Carey proceeded to her assistance, and took on her passengers, from whom he received a testimonial; and the John Penn has since taken the Royal Alfred's place. It is believed that the repairs required by the Royal Alfred will require several months, so that it may be some time before the John Penn returns to the West Coast. Captain Christian, of the p.s. Bruce, reports having seen the ketch Anne and Jane, from Lyttelton to Hokitika, at anchor off Rocks Point. The s.s. Waipara, which arrived at mid-day on Sunday, encountered very adverse weather en her trip to the south of Hokitika, and was unable to communicate with several places along the coast where diggers are known to be located. Captain Bascand reports heavy surf all round the coast, and that it was at considerable risk that a landing could be effected even at the most favorable places. The Waipara brought up to Hokitika 5400zs of gold for the Bank of New Zealand, and 2350zs for the Uuion Bank. The 5.9. Murray came into port on Sunday morning, from Greymoutli, and sailed on the same tide for Nelson. The Kennedy arrived from Nelson at 10 p.m. on the same day, and sailed for the south at one o'clock yesterday afternoon. A schooner named the Prosperity has been added to the fleet of West Coast traders, belonging to Messrs Spence Brothers and Co. The following are the terms upon which the Provincial Government of Otago offer £2O-'0 a year to a steamer to trade between Dunedin and Hokitika :—The vessel will be required to call, both going and coming, at Ciutha, Catlin's River, Waikava, Toi-Tois, Bluff, Riverton, and such other places on the West coast of Otago as the Government may see tit. Maximum rate of freights to be approved by the Government. For information, it may te stated that cal can be procured at Ciutha Coal Wharf at 14s per ton. The s.s. Ruahine, tlie last of tho Panama boats, will leave Wellington for England, via the Straits of Magellan and Rio De Janiero, on the 22nd inst. Intending passengers will be conveyed to Wellington by any of the Nelson steamers. The Commodore's report on Lieut. Wood's survey of the West Coast is published. It is highly complimentary, and recommends the continuation of the survey to the West and South Coasts of the Middle Island and parts of tho East Coast of the North Island. It also recommends a series of observations to determine tho true meridian of Wellington, from which to deduee the longitude of other places. The Commodore will forward Wood's survey to the Admiralty, with a recommendation that it might be adopted in the next official chart. Lieut. Wood has proceeded to Port Otago, to ascertain if the Galatea or Challenger can enter. Competition has again become excessive on the Launceston line, the steamer Rob Roy having returned, after an absence in New Zealand, to compete with the Derwent and Tasmania for the trade between Launceston and Melbourne. The passage-money has now been reduced by tho Tasmaniau Steam Navigation Company to 10s cabin, and 5s second cabin ; while the rate of freight is only 2s 6d per ton. An exciting race between the steamers John Penn and Royal Alfred from Auckland to Shortland took place yesterday, and was won by the Alfred, which has thus established her reputation as fastest boat on the line. She disposed of the Braoo on Wednesday, and found the Penn to be but little more formidable as an antagonist. Both vessels started simultaneously from Auckland wharf, and ran stem and stem for some distance, but the Alfred would not be denied, and passing the Penn a little beyond the sandspit, arrived off Grahamstown twenty minutes ahead.—Shortland Times, March 5.