SHIPPING.

Evening Star, Issue 6760, 27 November 1884, Page 3

SHIPPING.

High Water. TO-MOUOW.—Taiaroo Heads: 10.6 a m„ 10.40 p.m. Port Chalmers I 10 40 a.m., 11.20 p.m. Dunedlo: 11.31 u.T»., 0.5 p.m. < « Fort Chalmers. AERIVKD.- Novfmbrr 26 Lizzie, cutter, 22 tons, from Milford Sound. beautiful Star, s.a., 146 tons, White, from Oamaru. Three passengers. BAILEP.—NOVEMBSB 27. Rotomahana, 8.8., 981 tons, Carey, for Sydney via Auckland and East Coast ports. Eliza Firth, bigantine, 145 tons, Black, for Grey"waihora, 8.5., 1,268 tons, Edie, for Melbourne via the Muff. Passengers for Melbourne: Mr and Mrs ITallenstein, Mesdames Recs, Baird and two children, Misflcs Farrcll and M'Donald, Mr Thompson. Rgtoinahana, s.a., OSI tons, Carey, for Sydney via Northern ports. Passengers: For Lyttclton—Captain and Mrs Gibson, Mrs and Mies Janus, Messrs Billey and Edwards. Vm Wcllirgton—Messrs Thomas and Bolton. For Napier—Mrs Strode, Mr and Mrs Morton and child. For Auckland—Miss M'Farlanc, Messrs Glendiniug, Edgar, Matheson, and Caw. For Sydney Mr and Mrs Mondy, Messrs Richardson, Aimes, and Smith. A large barque, eight miles south, was reported from Cape Saunders at 7.50 p.m. yesterday. The Ringarooma was towed up to Duncdin this morning bv the Wanaka and Plucky. At the annual meeting of the Engineering and Shipbuilding Company, of which Sir William Armstrong is chairman, held at Newcastlc-on-Tync, Sir William referred to the war ship Esmeralda, recently built by the firm. lie said there was at present a wcllfounded scare about the insufficiency of our navy, but the cry was for more ironclads, which were of littlo or no uso for tho protection of cemmerce. On the other hand, we heard but little of the need of fast cruisers to save us from depredations at sea. Nothing could be more certain than that in the event of war our merchant shipping would bo attacked, and an enemy with a fleet of swift and powerful cruisers would givo the co-by to our ironclads. As to adapting our mercantile steam fleet to act as cruisers in case of emergency, nothin could be more delusive, as they would simply furnish victims for such war ships .is tbe Esmeralda. What wo required was a numerous and übiquitous fleet, and that wc could never have with armour-clads. THE DIRECT STEAMERS. The Now Zealand Shipping Company have received a cable message that the Doric arrived all well at U:o on Saturday, and sailed on Monday. Her meat is in splendid condition. WRECK OF A FRENCH TROOPSHIP. On August 20 the troopship Avcyron sighted tho coast of Abyssinia. At 3 a.m. on the following day, when the fourth officer and the commandant were on the bridge, the latter saw a long white line on the horizon which he thought was clouds. Shortly alterwards the quarter-master reported land and breakers ahead, and rocks on the starboard side. Immediately the vessel was stopped, the engines were reversed, ana the holm put hard a-port. But it was too late, lhe Aveyron was going eleven knots, and, aided by the wind, she ran on the coral reefs of Gardafui. When the coast was seen, about 200 Mtlrcs off, and tho shore was devoid of rocks, all on board felt reassured, and awaited tho arrival of daylight with impatience. With daylight tho Samalis, Natives of this coast, arrived in crowds to pillage the vessel, but they were surprised when they faw so many meu on board. A cannon was fired to frighten the 1 Natives, and then everyone set to work, excepting

fifty men of the infantry, who had Wen armed. The boats were lowered, and efforts were made to get tho vessel oil by meana of an anchor ami e.iblo (the c.ib'.: being worked on the capstan) Mid her screw. •"*"**• althoiiifh the capstan was turned awl the cngiw s suz full speed astern, the Avcyron would not move ■« inch She had taken a iisc to starboard when s!ie struck, but now she went over to port. The ceas ohM); the vessel more and more, her masts elmcrc<\ i.nd every moment it was cxpecred she would ho eiißUiphed !-.y the Bea. Soon the hold had become full of water, the engines \ai ceased to act, and it was necessary to make preparations for the saving of life Next day the Masalia, of Hamburg, hove in siyht, and took of! 250 men. On the 22nd the Lord of the Isles, of London, came up and took off the rest of the ollicer3 and crew numbering over 300 men. When the work of transhipment commenced the savages grew holder and approached nearer, but the armed marines and soldiers made them respect those on board. But when the last boats filled with men wcro lcavin"the Avcyron the Natives crowded onboard her. They did'not remain there long. The commandant bad onlcred the master gunner to collect all the combustible material on which ho could lay lumla, to cover them with oil and to set them on firo. The (lames rapidly spread, and in less than two minutes the Avcyron was a mass cf flames. The last boat lit d scarcely reached the Lord of the Isles, when a heavy explosion on board the Avcyon occurred. The guns had been lor.de 1 with email shot, and as ttmv were pointed toward the shore they probably sowed death among the savages aollected there Only one life was lost through the wreck.—'China Mail.' Shipping Telegram. Svdnby, Novcmbor 26.—Afternoon, Wakatipu, from Wellington.