ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP OPAWA.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7356, 8 July 1889, Page 4

ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP OPAWA.

Yesterday morning at ten o'clock the New Zealand Shipping Company's clipper ship Opawa, after a good passage of •ighty-nine days, arrived in Port from London. This is an improvement on her last voyage here, which was 105 days in duration. The good old vessel comes to theee shores in very good order, notwithstanding the heavy weather she has experienced, and more especially a severe f~tt#» on June 6th and 7th, when at 10 p.m. of the 6th she lost her port lifeboat, which was carried overboard, and the following day at S a-m. the after deck-house was completely washed away. Heavy weather was experienced in running down the easting, out the vessel did some excellent work, for after rounding Cape Leu win she registered for seven days 1960 miles, the best day's work being 801 miles. Shortly after one o'clock yesterday she was brought to an anchorage off Ripa Island, when ahe was boarded by the Health Officer (Dr. T. O. Guthrie), Customs officials, and Press representatives, Captain JHacum and bis crew have enjoyed good health on the voyage. The chtef, Mr Walah fate of the Cingalese, tauo_ue),; second, Mr Simms; thuj, Mr TronpvMr M-Gitehxtat Uchief engineer, the Opawa being fitted with $£?****%* ™»»Uwr__eThat ££c 2000 tons of cargo, measurement and dead weight, and to-day ahe will be berthed at Qje Gladstone Pier, where thebnerationa in connection with the of the tame will be carried on. Of the voyage oat Captain Hamon reporo \ *"_,£*£ &« South West India Dock oix April 9th, towed as far as Beachv Head, and cast oflf from tho tug the following day. Experienced light south-west wliida down tho Engdiah C-annel, which was cleared on the IslhApriL then northf_ at winds were met with. the north-east trade- being pj__ed lip

In 29deg north and 22deg 15min west on April B_rd, being then fourteen days out. The trades were fresh but gave out in 7deg north 25 west. Some time was lost in the "calm belt" and the line was crossed on May Bth4twenty-nine days out, in 27 west. The south-east trades were met with in ldeg north of the Equator and were lost in 18 south; they were very light and little progress was made, 12 vessels were becalmed with the Opawa in 19deg. South. North-east winds were experienced to passing Tristan D'Acunba, on May 2tJth, when a southwest gale was met with, which moderated on rounding the Cape of Good Hope, on June 3rd. In 4Sdeg. south and 35deg. east a heavy north-west to south-west gale was encountered, during which the vessel shipped large quantities of water ; on June dtn, at 10 p.m., the port life-boat was washed overboard and lost, and at 3 s-m. on the 7th ult. a heavy sea came on board and washed away the after deck-house, in which the apprentices were quartered, the boys had previously been removed to the saloon; the ship was kept before tbe gale and no further damage was done. Strong winds from the west continued until June 13th, when another gale with a high sea was encountered from theS.W. The ship behaved splendidly, taking very little water on board. Cape Leuwin was passed on Jane 23rd, the wind being chiefly from the north, and the sea smooth. When about 150 miles from the Snares, eighty-two days out, the wind was lost, after which a north-east breexe was met with, accompanied with thick weather. The Snares were passed on July 2nd; they were not sighted. A southerly breeze sprung up, and the Nuggets were sighted at S a.m. on the sth, aud the Akaroa light on Saturday night at 6 o'clock. A hard S.S.W. gale was then blowing, and the vessel was eased of canvas, arriving inside Godley Heads at noon yesterday, and anchoring at 1 p.m.