VASSELS IN PORT.

Shepherdess, schooner, from Lyttelton. Esthor, brigantine, from Napier. William Carey, ship, from London Alert, cutter, from Bangitikei. ■ ■ Supply, cutter, from Wairau Pearl, cutter, from Manawatu. Mary and Elizabeth, schooner, from Lyttelton ■ Aaterope, ship, from Londou Mosquito, cutter, from Nelson. Sandfly, schooner ' ■ The Louis and MmrAir. — This vessel was advertised in the latest Sydney paper to leavo for Wellington with dispatch. The Tyea.— The Tyra, from Otago, arrived at Sydney on the 20th September. She put into Sydney for water, and was bound to Tworold Bay, for a cargo of cattle. The I.C.R.M Co's as. Pikebe. — This fine steamer arrived here on Monday evening last from Sydney, (via Nelson andPicton), where her cabins have been fitted up specially for the coastal service of New Zealand. Her saloon is most elegantly furnished for the convenience of passengers ; the cabins are built of polished cedar, capable of berthing 56 passengers in the saloon ; the seats by being turned back can be,made into beds. Looking glasses are placed in each berth and between each cabin. The poop is raised, and the entrance to the saloon is by a circular staircase. The fore cabiu is fitted up very comfortably for second class passengers, all the bertha being placed fore and aft; and will accommodate 40 passengers, including a ladies cabin which contains six berths. Her dimensions are— l 73 feet long, 26 feet beam 15 feet depth of hold; she is built -with a rounded side which makes her remarkably easy in a sea way, she is barque rigged. The Nelson Examiner has the following description of thia vesiel • "The Inter-colonial Royal. Mail Company have added to their already numerous fleet 6t boats in these waters, the Ph»be, and, from what we observed, while inspecting her, we think she is remarkably well adapted for the in-ter-provincial trade, in which she is, henceforth, to be employed. She arrived here under the command of Captain Woods, and will on her return from Canterbury, about the 12th instant, be handed over to Captain Kennedy. The Airedale will then be taken to Sydney by Captain \Voodß, whither she is going for the purpose of being refitted with new boilers, &c. The Phcobe is of 613 tons register, 120 horse-power -her engines, of low pressure, and made by Tulloch and Denny, of Dunbarton, can be worked easily at an average pressure of twelve pounds of steam. The saloon is not only very elegantly fitted, but the sleeping berths are most airy and commodious, whilo possessing every modem improvement. Fifty four passengers can be accommodated in the aaloon, but on emergencies, this can be extended to sixty. Her second cabin will accommodate forty, and has also a ladies' cabin for six passengers. ,The.sal«on has been fitted' with cedar (after the design of Captain Vine Hall), by the Company's joiners in Sydney, under the immediate superintendence of ' CaptainWoods. There are bunkers between the -engine room and stoke hole, which keep the dust from the engine, ande'ommunicatio'n is secured between them by a, tunneL There i» also a donkey engine, erected for the purpose of working a steam crane, which can be used at either of the holds ; and there is a mail and baggage room, on either side of tho after hold. We may bay, without exaggeration, tho Phcebo is tho most cloguutiy and conveniently fitted boat, in the Intercolonial Company's service, and will be I found an immense improvement on the Airedale. The Pb.csbeV when purchased by the Intercolonial Co, was lying at Bermuda, -waiting for a lltting opportunity to run the American blockade, and had then on board 15,000 stand of rifles, 1,600 lbs of gunpowder, and eight large JJlakeley guns. She was under the command of Captain Johns, who, it will be remembered, 'waß Captain of the Airedale, at the time of tho extensive robbery of gold coin on board that vessel, when in.Nelson harbor." Tho Sydney Morning Ilerald, of the 23rd ult, contains the following additional particulars:— "On Monday afternoon the Phcebe, having completed her very extensive alterations made a trial trip for the purpose of testing her speed, &c which was found to be highly satisfactoiy. Since the arrival of this sliip from Bermuda, Captain J. V. Hall,' the Company's manager, has had the poop carried for a considerable distance further forward, thus increasing the size of the main saloon, which now affords accommodation for 50 passongers, tho apartment being replete with every convenience, and furnished in a costly style by Mr I Lenehan, while the «econd cabin haß ample room for 44 paasc»«;or«,». a steam winch from the egtablishment of 5 ♦ ♦, ss ,. t °* ri »»aailso been placed on deck, to facilitate the discharge or *£*x*.*^jTh c seines have hnnn thoroughly overhauled under tffif&fp^^^^X M 'Arthur, and worked beautifully. The Phc«lja"*sfi^,£_ ' ceed to New Zealand under the command of Captain Wood, and will remain on the coast for six months. Tho Xiora Auiaoy bas also received a thorough overhaul and made her trial tup yeotorday morning. The vessel's compasses have been carefully adjusted. • i The Racoon.— H.M.S.S. Racoon ia expected to make her appearance in the Australian waters during the summer months. Wo leara from the Evening Mail (London) that this splendid vessel, on ■ tho 16th July, conveyed Prince : Alfred to the Hebrides. The following ia the account of hia visit: — Her Majesty's ship Racoon, having Prince I Alfred on board, arrived at Stornoway, on a'most beautiful evening," on the' l6th July, soon after 8 o'clock, and the : entrance of the majestic frigate to the bay was the signal for a, most enthusiastic display of loyalty. The volunteers manned the battery, and flred a royal salute, the shipping dressed in tho gayest of bunting, while throughout the town, and at Lews Castle, the seat of Sir James and Lady Matheson, and the picturesque eminences in the neighbourhood surrounding it, flags floated in the breezo in honor of the royal visitor. At night tho castle was brilliantly illuminated, and to tho west of it on a conspicuous hill overlooking the harbor, a bonfire blazed till tho break of day. On the Racoon coining to an anchor, Mr Pithio, the Collector of Customs, and the Postmaster, wont on board with the mails; and afterwards Sir James wont to pay his respects to the Prince, who was graciously pleased to accept an invitation to pass the following dayat tho castle. With royal punctuality ho went on shore, at the South Beach, on Friday morning, at half-past 9 o'clock, accompanied by Major Cowell; and was received by Sir James Matheson, Sheriff Macdonald and other respectable inhabitants, amid loud cheers, and drove off to the castle to breakfast. Tho Stornoway volunteers, commanded by Captain Munro, formed a, guard of honor. The forenoon was spent in driving over the pleasure grounds around the castle, and a fishing excursion to the neighbourhood. In the afternoon his .Royal Highness visited the town, and as ho walked the streets wa3 repeated "cheered. In the evoniug there wag a general illumination, and a dance was given at the castlo, to which tho commander (Captain Count Gloichen), the officers of the Racoon, and a numerous party from Stornoway were invited. Shortly after midnight his Royal Highness announced his intention of retiring. The band then playod' the National Anthem, and, takiug, leave of the host and hostess, his Royal Highness loft the castlo amid great cheering. While the Racoon was in the harbor she was inspected by a number of the inhabitants, who wero treated by all on board with the greatest courtesy and consideration. Having taken in a supply of coals, sho got up steam and bore away for Skye on Saturday morning about 7 o'clock.