SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 819, 1 June 1871, Page 2

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

WESTPOItT. ' V| jr UrOU WATER. This, Day ... 8.15 a.m.. 8.39 p.m. To-morrow 'J. I a.m., 9.27 p.m. The schooner Waul at Erin lias ballasted, nnd will sail or tow out this morning for MeL--1) UlrtlO. The schooner Ceres returned to the roadstead yesterday, from which she had been driven by the recent gales. The p.s. Dispatch was to leave Greymouth yesterday evening, \uHj$Jjer permitting, for Wostport, in order to t6V in the schooner C'eies this morning. ,', The s.s. Murray left Nelson yesterday iiiorningvfor Westpo'rt, calling at MotueUa. The p.s. Charles Kdward was expected to leave yesterday evening. To shipmasters visiting tho African coast the following remarks will be interesting:— In conjunction with the construct ion of commodious docks in Table Bay, it was arranged to build a graving dock large enough to accommodate large class iron-dads, towards the expense of which it was understood tho Admiralty would give £90,000. Mr Lowe has, however, sent out an offer of £2OOO per annum, for t n years, on condition that when the <l ck iff completed tlio ships of the Royal N 'vy shall use it free from charge. This tho Table Bay Harbor Board declines, and the colonial press i*very indignant at the offer, stating that they will make the dock themselves, and not allow the Admiralty to have swty voice whatever in the management or direction of the docks. The Russian steam corvette Wihnz has left Europe in charge of the explorer Nicol.us von Niklucho Muchly, for a Beven or eight v ars' cruise among the islands of the Pacifie, the first two of which are to be devoted entirely to the survey of the rich island of Now Guinea or Papua, which, although throe times the extent of Great Britain, is one of the anost completely unknown parts of tho earth •coasts were discovered nearly 350 years ago. A bill has been introduced into Parliament for the compulsory survey and registration of ships by the Board of Trade. The object of ii is to apply to all merchant ships (with the •o-ceptir>n of ships registered at Lloyds', or •the Liverpool underwriters registry of iron vessels), the provisions of the .Acts for the survey ■■■{ passenger steamers. Various regulations are likewise laid down for Using the maximum load line of vessels, and on ■other technical points. The lives of seamen in merchant ships are very insufficiently protected by-the present law, and .the Bill is intended to improve matters, by Parliament and the Board of Trade doing for seamen what th"y cannot do fur themselves. — , L-i'