ARRIVAL OF THE EXCELSIOR.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 457, 28 June 1871, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE EXCELSIOR.

HEAVY G-AL^S ENCOUNTERED. The schooner Excelsior, Captain Kean, arrived in harbor early this morning. She leiC Tongataboo on tho 15th inst., with moderate, weather from E.S.E., which continued till the 22nd instant. At 9 p.m. on that day the wind shifted to N.E. On the following; morning experienced a severe gele, with very high during; which the vessel was hove-to. At noon tho weather moderated ; but; on the. 21th the gale increased, and continued with gireat violence, during which several sails wcro blown ijway, including tho mainsail. Orders were afterwards given to get tho sparo mainsail up and bent ; and during this time the heavy seas wore filling the decks with water, and causing the vessel to labour heavily. Nearly everything moveablo on dock was washed adrift, including boats, water-casks, and spars. In order to prevent further damage being done, two water-casks wero thvown overboard that were adrift. The galo continued till midnight, heavy seas breaking over the Bhip. At 2 a.m. on tho 25th tho galo abated, but a very high sea continued. From thence experienced moderate weather sand E. N.E. to N.E. winds till the cven'ig df the 26th, when the Covilla Islands wero sighted. Rounded Capo Brett at 4 p.m. on the 27th* weather threatening. At 5 p.m. the wind increased, with heavy rain; took in small sails, and'• single-reefed topsail and lnainsa-',.' _A.fr 6.30 p.m. stowed tops&il end close-i-eefed mainsail, the wind blowing hard from the N.E., with rain. At=B p.m. brought tho vessel to the-wind for the night. The Poor Knights bearing N. by W., two miles. On the morning of'the 29j;h tho weather clcnrcd, all sail was set, and with a light breeze came along the coast, anchoring in harbour at midnight. Captain JKJean reports hav'ng sighted tho cutter Blanche at Vauvau and Samoa. She was on her way to the Fijis.