PORT OF AUCKLAND.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5491, 30 March 1875, Page 2

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

Hran Wat«r To-day: 0.0a.m., 0.16 p.m. Sunrise and Scsset To-day: 6.10 a.m., 5.5b p.m. Hook's Phasi : Last Quarter, 30th, 4.4 p.m.

ARRIVALS. Blanche, schooner, C5 tona, Young, from Rarotonga.— Owon ami Graham, agents. Fawn, cutter, 23 tons, Dam, from Russell. Vincent, ctitter, from Tauranga. Albatrow, schooner, 6S tons, from Lyttolton.

CLBAEED OUTWARDS. * City of Melbourne, s.s., 615 tons, Brown, for Sydney. Passenger*— Mrs. O. F. Hennc8y, G. Easton, Mr. and Mis» Davenport.Mr. Barringer, Mr. and Mrs. Harris.— H. M. Jervis, agent.

VESSELS EXPECTED. From London— Sailed : Femglen, Jan. 2. Loading: Shooting Star (cleared Dec. 21), Caller Ou, Countess of Kintore, ships; Lochnsvgar, bq. From South Sea. Islands— Papua, ..sch., Belle jirandon, sch., early. From Rotumah— Ryno, bgtne. Fnosi Rarotonga —^Blanche, sch. Fuom Mangata— Pearl, ketcli, early. From Adelaide— Rapido, bq., Endoxio AdolFrench brig, early. Frow Lyttelton— Flirt, bgtns. ; Rio Loge, isyren, brigs. From Melbourne— Falcon, bqtne., sailed 2nd instant. From Launceston— Tien Tsin, bq., 31st inst. From Dunewn— Excelsior, Harriet Ai-mit-ago, bq., early.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. In this lift coasters aro not included. Fob London— W. W. Smith, ship, May ; N.Z.8.C0., agents. Fob San Francisco and Honolulu— R.M.s.' Cyphrenes, April 16 ; H. M. Jervis, agent. _ Fob Sydney and Melbourne— Hero, s.s., March 31 ; Ornickihauk and Co., agents. Fob Newcastlk— Ada, bq., early; Owenunil Graham, agents. Sarah, brig, esirly. Fob Sodthebn Pobts— From the Mamdoiu : Ladybir s.s., 3rd ; W. F. Wheoler, agent.

IMPORTS.— March 29. Per ichooner Blanche, from Rnrotonga : 2,000 cocoanuts, 50,000 oranges, 8001b. dried bananaa, 9001b. bcehe-de-mer, COO gallons cocoanut oil, 126 caiks lime juice, 5 easel oil cake, 5 sacks corn, 1201b. coffee, Owen and Graham. ■? Per ichooner Adrancc, from Poverty Bay, via Tologa Bay : 25 bales wool, 14 cases tallow, 78 hides, 175 bags grass seed, Owen and Graham. Per schooner Albatross, from Lyttelton : 4 cases, Barker ; 2 cases hams, 5 cases cheese, G. W. Binney ; 10 kegs* butter, 160 bags oatmeal, 139 sacks bran, 40 loose cheeses, 16 loose hams, 20 sides bacon, 6 sacks chick wheat, L. 'W.Eaton ; 8 cases cheese, Owen and Graham ; - 20 kegs butter, T. H. Hall and Co.; 113 bags oatmeal, 121 sacks bran, 212 sacks oats, TV". J. Hurst ; 128 sacks oats, J. Belcher ; 336 sacks wheat, Thornton, Smith and Firth.

EXPORTS.— Mahoh 29. Per fl.s. City of Melbourne : For Sydney— 1 c»ie pictures, Hoyte ; 10 bales tow, J. S. Macfarlane; 322 bundles hides, 100 bundles calfskins, A. Dornwell. Entered Inwards.— Advance, schooner, 59 tons, Mustard, from Poverty Bay via Tologa, Bay. — J. S. Macfarlane, agent.

THE BARON ABERDARE. Some time back, owing to the action of Messrs. Shaw, jSavill and Co., of London, a movement was made to establish a local shipping company, and owing to the exertions of Captain Daldy and a few other influential citizens like himself, a local shipping company was established, which in time became merged into th© New Zealand Shipping Company, which has been placed on what, from present appearances, seems to be a firm basis. Since then some remarkably fine vessels hare been despatched to the order of the New Zealand Shipping Company — some built to tlieii own-twdei, ami otliui'S ■ chartered from eminent sliipping firms, the consequence being that the rate of freights has been greatly diminished. A brief description of the Baron Aberdare, a magnificent vessel replete with every modern invention, which arrived here some days ago from London, and is now lying alongside the Queen-street wharf, will no doubt prove interesting, for this splendid vessel has since her arrival in Auckland been an object of attractions, everyone having any interest in shipping at all, and as the lies alongside the wharf her vast proportions and fine lines are clearly apparent. The Baron Aberdare is an iron ship of 1,630 tons register, and was built by the well-known firm of W. Watson and Sons, of Sun'derland, to the order of Mr. James AlacCann, of Greenock, the owner, and for strength and carrying capacity combined can vie with any vessel afloat. The •hip is what may be termed an extreme clipper, and although on her maiden passage to this port she made a rather protracted voyage, owing to the succession of calms and provoking light head winds to the tropics, she proved herself to be a swift sailer by making the run from Start Point, where the pilot was landed, to 7", N. , in 12 days, averaging 11 knots, and from the Cape to Cape Leeuwin in 16 days. The Baron has great length, the overall measurement being 275ft. doptn of hold, 24ft. draught when loaded, 20ft. Gin., beam, 40ft. She earned a very large spread of canvas, her yards being very square; Double topsail and top-gallant yards are carried on the fore and mainmasts, double topsail 'arid patent reefing top-gallant sail on the'ttflSenm'ast. Her lower masts are constructed of iron, the topsail and lower yards of steel, and the bowsprit of iron. She carries courses, topsails, top-gallant sails, and royals only, the top-gallant sails having a great hoist. The standing rigging is of wire, which is of the best kind. She is supplied with four topmast backstays on each, side, port and starboard, and has seven shrouds in her lower rigging. On© noticeable feature about her is a patent windlass, manufactured by Messrs. Harfield and Co., of London, which is of the most unique and simple construction. All the bitts.on board the ship are used as ventilators, so that a free current of air throughout every compartment of the vessel can at all times be. obtained. She has a water-tight compartment forward, and throughout, the design has been evidently to combine speed with strength. The ship is well supplied with boats, a matter which is too often , neglected in large vessels going on Idnglhy passages. She carries in all, six bouts. The vessel is supplied with iron davits for fishing the anchors, &c. One specimen of. the anchors on board — the right bower — shown to our reporter, is of ponderous dimensions, and it could only be* worked by the aid of the machinery, a description of which follows. A large steamwinch and boiler with apparatus for condensing thirty-gallons an hour is placed amidships just •baft the. foremast. The bariels of tho winch can be used for hoisting the yards, discharging cargo or other heavy work. The engine feeds itself from sea water obtained from a pipe leading to the bows. It is from the manufactory of Dunlop, Heslop and Co., the diameter being. 15ft., and height 12ft. .A pipe connects with a fire engine of the latest invention, situated in the after part of the forecastle leadins; aft on each side. A donkey-engine is also fitted with pipes leading fore and aft by which" the anchor can be raised, decks, washed, &c. All deck houses and deck fittings are of teak and greenhearfc. The house on deck comprises engine-room, galley, petty oflScers' quarter^ carpenter's workshop, &c. A steam pipe from the boiler of the main engine leads fo'rward, and works the fora hatch and heaves up the anchor, or does any other work required forward. A pipe enclosed in a case runs from the sea-cock to the main donkeyengine, -which pumps the wsitor out and by which she feecb herself. Through the centre of the dick a shaft ten feet by two supplies free ventilation at- all times even in the heaviest "weather.' The donkey boiler is one of the latest improved patterns make in Jluldlesboro. It ' is 9ft. in height by four 4ft 6in. diameter, and the Condenser is one of Chapiin's. The boiler is provided with two pumps, one to feed it.jthe other to be U3od as a condenser, so that two steam winches can bo used at oroa together with the condenser. It is capable of working up to forty-fiVe pounds pressure. The main winch is under cover in the engine-house, so that it can.be worked, even in the roughest weather. The steam winch at the fore hatch is supplied from the_same Boiler, and the whole can bi connected together. . AH the bit is on board the vessel are ventilators, there being twelve on the main deck, all selfacting. Independent of thesri there are six 10-inch ventilators, and one trunk ventilator, 14ft. by 2 Jf t., which, in a ship loaded with coal or

grim, would olnute all danger of spontaneous combiiiHou. In the 'tween-decks, under btiiiijei plates, which ni'c 3ft Gin. in breadth, tlieioaie " sweat boauls " fitted to collect all condensed vapour, consequently no injury can be caused by latent steam.- The Bai on is supplied with Hartfield's patent windlass, which cm be worked either by hand oi steam. The chain cables are connected with one another, the links being of unusual s>ti ongth and dimensions. When bent they foim an endless chain, so that the ship can lide at a single anchor with t"'o hundred and sixty fathoms payed out. The lower ligging is of the best oharooal wire. The upper spars and jib-boom are of pitch pine; the bowsprit, which is a massive spar, is according to the new requirements of Lloyd's, at London, fitted with a dlaphraghm plate, lGft. in length, an innovation of which this is the first example in Auckland. By this means, in the event of the bobstay parting, the bowsprit will lemain perfectly stiff, and cannot bend. AVhen the tween-decks are clear there is a space of 246ft. Thejvossel, when measured for conveyance of troops in Sunderland, was found capable of carrying 780 men. The 'tween-decks are Sft. 4in. in height, and fitted with, hatches, so that at any time communication can be maintained with the upper deck. The spread of the fore and main rigging is 36 feet abaft the masts. On a deep-load draught the ship draws 21 feet, and is estimated to displace 3,409 tons. A slight idea of the dimensions of the vessel may be gained when we state tliat her poop is 80ft. in length, and her top-gxllant forecastle 42ft. The forecastle is a roomy house situated in the eye of the vessel, and fitted up for the accommodation of 38 seamen. In the deck-house there are berths for 12 petty officers. It measures 40ft. by 80ft., and comprises petty officers' quarters, oil lockers, a galley, and engine room, and is situated between the main hatch and foremast. All the lower deck under the engine-house and galley is iron, cemented and bricked, and the centre of the main deck, from the main to the after hatch, is of teak planking. The following dimensions of her spars will give an approximateidea of the spread of canvas she sets when under full sail :—royal, 42ft. across; upper top-gallant fore and main, G2ft.; lower ditto, COft. Gin.; upper topsail, 67ft.; lower ditto, 78ft.; lower yards, 87Jft.; mizen royal, 30ft.; top-gallant, 4oft.; upper topsail, 53tft.; lower ditto, G3ft.; cross-jack, 73ft.; jibboom and bowsprits, from knight-heads, 81ft. Her extreme length overall, from taffrail to figure-head, 275ft., being 16ft. longer than the flfiltiades, which lately visited this port. The vessel was built under the personal supervision of Captain Edmonds, and was inspected by surveyors from both London and Liverpool Lloyd's, receiving the highest class, as already mentioned. The firm'to which she belongs are engaged building a lino of "Barons," of about equal tonnage, and built on almost the same model as the vessel now under notice. The Baron Aberdare is named after a. Welsh baron, The Baron Blantyre, now lying in Sydney from her maiden trip, and loading for San Francisco, is named after a Scottish baron. The Baron Colonsay, now building at Sunderland, and to be launched next May, is also to be named after a Scottish baron. The firm have also got the Baron Selboume, named after an English baron, and now emplo3red in the Mediterranean trade. They also own the renowned China clipper Sir Launcelot, which has made some of the most wonderful passages from Foochoo to London, winning two of the great ocean races, under the command of Captain'Robinson, and two under the present commander of the Baron Aberdare. The celebrated clipper Guinevere • also belongs to the same firm. „„ \ Thecrestof the owner is a mailed hand holding a lance, with the inscription " Fnimus," "Offerona ofne an gatu" The house flag is a flying hone, black, on a white ground. The Baron Aberdare has splendid saloon accommodatiom although she has not been built for a passenger ship. She has eight staterooms in the main cabin, each of them being 8ft. Gin. by 8ft. by 7ft. There are two after berths which are much larger and together with the other staterooms are supplied with every requisite. The officers quarters are situated forward of the cabin, and are without exception the most comfortable of any vessel that has ever visited Auckland. The cabin is supplied ' with a fire place with funnel, and a bathroom is also attached to the saloon. Everything on board of this fine ship is of the best description and newest invention, the meteorological instruments are all new and include together with the ordinary complement an anemometer, perfected aneroid and improved sympiesometer. j

Outwards Coastwise.—Whan, cutter, 15 tons, Lang, for Waiheke, in ballast. The Blanche sailed from Auckland on January 10, and arrived in Barotonga on 3rd February, after a tedious contention against head winds, j but no seriously heavy weather. Encountered several smart gales, and carried away two of the main channel plates. After iepairing damages -wnd-ttischaTglng~cargo "saileil on a cruise round the group. At Mangia heard that the Belle Brandon had touched, and proceeded,destination unknown. Returned to Rarotonga and took in cargo for Auckland. Left on March 12 and arrived off the const last Wednesday. Had light S.W. winds since. 3 j The schooner Advance entered inwards at the Customs yesterday, from Poverty Bay, with a cargo of sundries. The cutter Vincent, from Tauranga, arrived yesterday with wheat, &c. The schooner Albatross arrived yesterday morning from Lyttelton with a cargo of breadstuffs. The cutter Fawn arrived from Russell yesterday morning with a full cargo of coal. The barque Cyrene, Captain' Clayton, sailed for Timaru, N.Z., on Februaiy 19, from New York. Tho brigantine Flirt has gone up the harbour to Henderson's Creek to take on board a quantity of articles of earthenware mannfac ture for Lyttelton, for which port she will s.iil in the course of one or two days' hence. The brig Rio Loge has been placed on the hard for the purpose of being cleaned. The s.s. Hero is to sail at noon to-morrow for Sydney and Melbourne. Her saloon accommodation is being rapidly taken up. The A.S.P.Co. s s.s. Southern Cros<i is announced to sail at noon to-day. A number of coasiers are announced to leave for thdir reapeethc destinations dining the course of to-day.