MONTHLY SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3315, 2 March 1868, Page 5

MONTHLY SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Business has been moderately brisk during the month notwithstanding the severity of the weather duriDg the early part, which caused a temporary suspension of shipping traffic, and was attended with various disasters in other parts of the colony. The storm set in on the evening of the Ist ult., when the barometer indicated a storm of some magnitude, standing, as it did, at 29*86. On the following morning the gale had fairly set in and at sunset the reading of the barometer showed 29-10. Vessels dragged their moorings and small boats broke adrift, but there was no casualty of moment in harbour. On the morning of the 3rd the barometer was at its lowest, showing 28*22, an indication that the wind was passing with hurricane violence over the island. The casualties were again of no moment owing to the excellence of the harbour. The barometer continued low afterwards, but a slight change on the 6th, when the wind hauled round to the N.W. and the weather was fine, enabled a large number of vessels to put to sea. The ship Maori, Captain Roberts, arrived on the sth from London, after a tedious passage of 112 days, with 113 passengers. She reported having encountered a cyclone on the Ist inst. , off this coast. The Auckland brig Princess Alice ran in for shelter and repairs the same day, having encountered the full force of the gale whilst leaving the Bay of Islands coal-laden Tor Wellington. She will discharge for repairs. On the 6th th« Circular Saw brig Pakeha arrived from >ydney with a general cargo, and reported the severity of the gale off the coast. On the 2nd the s.s. Claud Hamilton, with the Suez mail, a general cargo. 1,5870z. of gold, and 25 passengers, left for Sydney; on the 4th the brigantine Hercules, with timber, for Newcastle ; on the 6th the ship Ida Ziegler sailed from the heads for London, with a cargo of wool, gum, &c, valued at £37,000, and 40 passengers : the schooner Kate Grant sailed the same day for Tahiti, with a full cargo of bonded and general merchandise. On the morning of the Bth, the Circular Saw barque Novelty arrived from England, after a very successful run of 92 days. A report of her passage] will be found elsewhere. The Novelty has discharged, reloaded, and ■ailed for Sydney, and it ii some gratification to find that her cargo was tirn»d out in better condition than any shipments received during the past twelve months. Out of the 600 tons of cargo, landed on merchants' account, not a single charge for damage or loss has btan preferred, a fact which is creditable alike to her builder and commander. Daring the sixteen days she has occupied a berth at the wharf, the Novalty has discharged and re-loaded with a despatch seldom excelled in any port, and in a manner which speaks volumes for the resources at our command. Not only may vessels proceed with their discharge in all weather, but no danger need be apprehended to the safety of the vessel, even during the continuance of the severest gale. An illustration of this occurred in the early part of the past month, when the colony wai visited by the severest gales which hare swept over this latitude for yean past, and the barometer exhibited a decline unparalleled in the experience of "old salts." Whilst in other ports these gales were attended with serious disaster to shipping, counting among the casualty-list no less than four large English ships, a powerful screwsteamer, and a host of smaller vessels totally destroyed, in this port we had no accident to record, and the state of the aneroid alone indicated the presence of so disastrous a gale. We hear that it is probable that, on discharge of her cargo in Sydney, the Novelty will return to Napier in order to load the Echunga's wool for England ; and, whilst we regret the absence of this favourite vessel from Auckland for so long a period as that occupied by another voyage to London and back, we are pleased to think she will not fail to be regarded as a specimen of naval architecture creditable to Auckland, eyen when surrounded by the finest ships in the greatest maritime port. The departures foreign during the month number fifteen, showing a total tonnage register of 4,032. Amongst the number are one for England, seven for Australian colonies, two for New Caledonia, four for Tahiti and South S«a lalands, and one for San Francisco. Of these eight have sailed with general cargoes, four with, timber, one with horses, and two in ballast. A further analysis of th« arrivals and departures will be found below. In the coasting trade we have had some briskness to report, although the arrivals of timber-laden vessels have shown a considerable decline in consequence of the mills loading vessels direot. Several oargoei few* been despatched from the mill* for intor-pro-fin-

oial ports during the month. On the 22nd the brig Corsair sailed from Waiheke on her passage to Melbourne, with a full cargo loaded at Whangapoua mills, after several months' detention. The Circular Saw brig Pakeha is loading for Melbourne, and the ■chooner Kauri for Lyttelton at Whangaroa. The schooners Success and Saucy Labs have sailed from Mercury Bay mills during the week, and two schooners are loading at Tairua for the South. The schooner Cleopatra also sailed on the 28th. for the Kaipara, ,to load for Melbourne. The barquentine Prirce Alfred, and the brigantine Sea Gull are also loading at the Kaipara for the Australian market. The arrirali of coal from the mines in the northern part of the province have shown a steady increase, and improved demand, furnishing employment for a number of vessels of moderate tonnage. The Thames trade also continues to be of service to the numerous fleet of small craft. Another instance hat oocurred -which serves to exhibit the usefulness of the patent slip erected at the North Shore by Mr. Niccol, sen., and the benefit conferred on the port through the enterprise of this gentleman. The Auckland brig Princess Alice, whilst making the port under great disadvantage, the result of the late gales, added to her misfortune that of striking the Bough Rook outside the North Head, and a'uove several planks in her bilge. Tte exact injury was not ascertained, however, until her large cargo of coals had been fully discharged, and the vessel taken on the patent slip for inspection. That sho had sustained some such injury was apparent from the amount of water which increased in her hold, and the extra labour required at the pumps to keep her free. The injuries will necessitate a new keel and new bilge, and cause her detention on the slip for another fortnight. The Princeas Alice is the property of Messrs. Thornton, Smith, and Firth, of this city, and on the completion of her repairs proceeds to Laimceßton to load grain on owners' account. LAUNCH. A smart-looking coaster, called the Sumter, was launched from the building-yards of Messrs. Dutbie and Robs with Wednesday evening's <He. The Sumter is to the order of Mr. Lawrenco A cv'.han, of this town, and of a similar build to the fast-sailing cutters Severn and Harriet, owned by the same gentleman. Her dimensions are 36 feet 10 inches keel, 42 feet over-all, 14 feet beam, and 5 feet depth of hold, registering 17£ tons. The Sumter is intended for the Thames trade, and will take in cargo for that place to-day, haying been perfectly equipped for sea before launching. She has been fitted with every requisite for the coaiting service, and reflects credit on the building-yards from which she was launched. The Severn, Harriet, and [ Sumter are modelled by Mr. George Beddoes, of the North Shore. CASUALTIES, ETC. During the gales in the early part of the month the brig Fortune, o? Sydney, was totally lost off Bokianga, and nine lives lost. She was bound in to load timber for Sydney. The only survivor from the wreckwas brought to town in the schooner Tauranga. He is an able seaman, named George Orchard, and gives the following account of the disaster : — On the Ist instant, we were hove-to, owing to the violence of the gale, and the thick weather, Captain Petley having been unable to take an observation since passing Cape Farewell, which was the last land sighted. On Sunday morning the gale continued strong from the eastward, and the weather main-topsail sheet carried away. Sail was shortened, and at night the wind was easterly and southerly. Shortly after midnight the vessel struck on a reef running off the land. One of the seamen had been stationed on the main-top-mast rigging to look out for the land, but the darkness of the night prevented his seeing it. The seamen a?ked the officer on watch what was to be done after the vessel struck, but the mate was unable to answer them. Immediately afterwards the vessel struck a second tim« and the masts went over the side. When she struck again the vessel broke up, and the crew were immersed with the debris, George Orchard, the survivor, in company with another seaman, jumped off the lee bow, which was about half a mile from the land. The sea at the time was very high, and although several of the men were good swimmers their skill would be unavailing in such weather. The vessel was broken into splinters with each succeeding collision, and it is presumed the men were injured by the falling spars and timbers of the vessel, and con* sequently could not survive in the heavy seas which washed over the vessel after she struck. Orchard was washed ashore unconsciously at about 3 a.m. without any clothing on, and at daybreak was sufficiently recovered to clothe himself with articles of apparel washed ashore, and go in search of some one to whom he could report the occurrence. Towards evening he fell in with a native encampment, and was hospitably treated. On the following (Tuesday) morning the natives took him to Hokianga, where he reported the disaster to Mr. Pilot Wei's, and afterwards to Mr. Webster, at whose place the vessel was to have taken timber on board f«r Sydney. The vessel was found to have struck on a reef off the mainland, situate about six miles to the northward of Bluff Head and ten miles southward of Hokianga. The following are the names of those who perished in the wreck :— Captain Petley, of Sydney ; James Smith, chief officer, formerly master of the brig Drover, of Sydney; John McGregor, James Pye, Reynolds Lurrberg, David Mack, John Jones ; the cook and steward, and another seaman, names unkuown. The gales also proved very destructive to shipping in Southern ports. At Napier, the London ship Echunga was totally lost in consequence of breaking from her moorings. She had 1,900 bales of wool on board, only SO of which were a recovered. No lives were lost. The cargo was insured, and we hear a local office— the New Zealand Insurance Company — are losers on her cargo to the extent of some hundreds. At Port Lyttelton the schoonera lona and Three Sisters were totally wrecked, and a number of others damaged. The mail steamer Claud Hamilton, which left this port during the gale on Sunday, the 2nd, put into the Bay of Islands on the following afternoon for shelter, and remained 24 hours. The ketch Speedwell, of this port, which was driven ashore at Omaha during the gale, having run in for shelter, lay on the beach damaged, but has since been launched safely. The cutter Sea Belle, which recently went ashore at Whangapoua, was totally broken up by tb e*gale,and, the spars, gear, and rigging having been secured, the hull was burnt. She was uninsured. At Oamaru the fine ships Water Nymph and Star of Tasmania were totally destroyed, and at Timaru the steamer William Miskin. It was known that several fine vessels were lying exposed to the fury of the gale whioh swept over the coast on the 2nd and 3rd ultimo, and amongst them was the ship Water Nymph, which discharged a general cargo here from London, and was under charter to load wool at Oamaru for tha return trip. We could scarcely hope they could escape, owing to the peculiarly unsafe nature of the roadstead, and the result has verified the worst apprehensions. With the loss of the Sbar of Tasmania, two sailors and two children perished. No lives were lost in the Water Nymph, which went to pieces about a quarter of a mile to tha northward of the Star, about two hours afterwards, at nine o'clock on the night of the third instant. A schooner was also driven ashore in two pieces. The wreck of the ship Star of Tasmania lold for £40, and the wool for £1,860 j the wreck of the Water Nymph for £172, and her wool, at Oamaru, for £810. The schooner Otago, which left the roadstead at the begining of the storm, was driven ashore and broken up. Her captain and crew escaptd with their livas. The jetty and most of the surf-boats at Oamaru were also destroyed.

ANALYSIS. The following ia an analysis of the arrirals *nd departures foreign ■ince our last monthly «u»m&rv :—: —

4,032 183 +This veuel sailed ri» Wh*ng«ro», to lo»d 10t,000 feet of timber, t Thii r«iiel wdled t!» tht K«Ip»r», to load 76.000 fe«t of timber.

ARRIVALS. Feb. Name. Tons. From Cargo. Pas. 6— Maori, ship .. 703.. L0nd0n .. .. general 118 6-Princeis Alice, brig 267. .Bay of Islands . . coal — 6— Pakfha, brig .. 173 Sydney .. .. general 0 B— Noyelty, barque .. 375.. L0nd0n .. .. general 11 11— Doming*, barque .. 176.. 5 an Francisco . general 44 20— HarriotArmitage,bq 333.. Adelaide .. .. breadstuffsO 20— Pacific, schooner . . 60 .. Sydney. Tia Norf . I. coals 3 22-P.C.E., barque .. 291.. Newcastle, N.S.W. coal« 3 22— Onward schooner.. 69. .Norfolk Island .. cattle 0 25— Claud Hamilton, s. 530.. Sydney general 16 25-Alice O»meron,bque 647. .Newcastle, N.S. W. coals 11 28— Waverley, brig .. 216. .China and Batavia teas, Ac. 0 3,440 206

DEPABTUEES. Feb. Name. Tom. For Cargo. Pas. 2— Claud Hamilton,!.* 530.. Sydney .. .. general 26 4— Hercules, brigantine 189. .Newcastle .. timber 7 6— lda Ziegler, ship .. BCs.. London .. .. general 40 6— Kate Grant, sen. .. 40.. Tahiti .. .. general 0 B— Neva, schooner .. 90.. Faumntos Group general 0 ll_Camille, barque . . 373. .Newcastle.N.S.W. ballast 5 12— Kenilworth, sch. . . 113 . . New Caledonis . . hprses,&c. 10 16— Kate, cutter ' .. 9.2.. New Caledonia .. timber 0 17— A. H. Badger, barq. 4O7..Newcastle.N.S.W. ballast 9 18— Pakeba, brig* .. 173.. Melbourne .. .. timber 2 19— CheTort, barque .. 40i).. Tahiti .. •• generml 5 19— Moa.brlg .. 286. .Tahiti .. .. general 9 28-Cleopatra, ich.t .. 92. . Melbourne .. .. timber 0 28— Novelty, barque .. 376.. Sydney .. .. general 40 29— Dominga, barque.. 176.. San Franciico .. general 30