SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 119, 17 October 1874, Page 2

SHIPPING.

POET OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. Oct 17,—Maori, s.s., 118 tona, Malcolm, from Dunedin, via Timarn and Akaroa. Passengers —cabin : Messrs Lake, Wkgstaff, McLaren, Self, Montgomery, Ferguson, Duuker, Channmen, Mills, Fitchell, Miss Hargrave, Miss Brown ; and five in the steerage. Oct 17—Otago, s.s., 642 tons, McLean, from Melbourne, via Bluff. Passengers — cabin : Mr and Mrs Pentecost, Misses Boulton (2), Miss Mackay, Master Boulton, Mrs Negg, Mrs Johnson, Mrs Lawrence, and two children; Messrs Latter, Peson, Menzies, Home, Eoyse, Lawrence, Chalmers, Mill, Grannan, Dodd; and thirty-nine for the North. Oct 17 —Nautilus, cutter, 31 tons, Nelson, from Akaroa. SAILED. Oct 17—Nile, schooner, Dempsie, for Akaroa, in ballast. Oct 17—Linnet, ketch, 17 tons, Smith, for Pigeon Bay, in ballast. Oct 17 —Antelope, cutter, 17 tons, Malcolmson, for Akaroa, with general cargo. VESSELS IN HARBOR. Steamers —Maori, Otago. Ships—Dorette, Oathcart, Taunton, inverallan, Merope. Barques—Especulador, Queensland, Hopeful, Natal Queen. Brigantines and schooners —Colleen Bawn, Alert, Bee, Spray, Flying Cloud, Wild Wave. Ketches —Alice Jane. ARRIVAL OF THE BLANCHE AT PORT CHALMERS. We take the following from the “ Otago Daily Times” of Monday last:—H.B.M screw corveite Blanche, Captain Simpson, arrived at the port yesterday morning, and anchored off Carey’s Bay. Many momhs have elapsed since one of her Malesty’s ships graced the waters of this harbor, and the appearance of the Blanche yesterday was the more welcome on that account. This is her third visit to Port Chalmers. The second time she was here she brought his Royal Highness the Duke Of Edinburgh. The Blanche is becoming quite a colonial institution, rather better than seven years having elapsed since she was commissioned for the Australian station. The officers and crew that then manned her, and who were with her when she had the Duke on board, have been replaced by another company, their term of service having expired; and now she is officered as follows:—Captain, C. H. Simpson; lieutenants, Walter W. Bridges, .Fitzpatrick N. B.Praed, William D. Walker; navigating lieutenant, Henry W. Champion; staff-surgeon, W. H. Adam; pavmaster, Alfred D. T. Nettleton; chief engineer, Edward Brown; sub-lieutenants, James W. Burder, A. F. Graves, H. J. Davidson; navigating sub-lieutenant, Hugh B. Hawkshaw- surgeon, William F. Sweetman; assistant ’ paymaster, VVm. H. F. Kay ; engineer, Henry Scott; gunner. B. H. Hill; midshipmen, Kobt. H. Walpole, James O. Fane; Assistant Engineers, Robt. Belcombe, VVm. J. Parsons. It seems but the other day that the Blanche was regarded as a vessel of the modern school, but since then the marvellous progress made in the science of naval architecture has left her very iar behind, and she is now, to all intents and purposes, oldfashioned, natheless her projectingram prow. Her armament and other equipments arc as they were when we last reported her. She carries four 68pound broadside guns, and two 6*-ton guns that work on traverse tables, and although broadside guns can be turned nearly fore and aft, we term the Blanche a corvette, because she is ship-rigged and carries her armament on her upper deck, but it would be equally correct to designate her a steam ram. Our readers may perhaps have forgotten that she is 1755 tons register, and is fitted witli two surface condensing engines of 350 h. p nominal, and 2158 h. p. indicated. They are’.direct acting, and each cylinder has two piston rods, with a return connecting rod. The cylinders are covered with felt and sheet iron casing, and receive steam from four boilers, each having four furnaces. The coal bunkers are of 350 tons capacity. Although just off a cruise, the Blanche was in admirable condition. The engine and boiler rooms were order personified, and apart from the slight bustle incidental to arriving in port and mooring ship, order and neatness were everywhere perceptible. The Blanche comes here from the West Coast Sounds, and brought His Excellency the Governor and suite with her. We are indebted to the courtesy of the gentlemen of the ward room for some particulars concerning her trip from Wellington, which port she left in company witli the Governor’s yacht Blanche, to act we understand as convoy to her during a cruise amongst the southwest Coast sounds and inlets. The two left Wellington on the 4th September last, and made a first call at Picton, and remained there until the 7th, then proceeded ,to Nelson. Their stay at the latter port extended to the 26th Instant, when a start was made for the Coast. But heavy weather came on from the N.W.,and as the yacht was rather in the way than otherwise, it was decided to run for Tonga Island and there effect the transfer of the Vice-regal party to the Blanche, and send the yacht tack to Wellington in charge of Lieutenant Praed. This arrangement was duly carried out, and the Blanche then continued the trip, and arrived at Freshwater Bay, Milford Sound, on the 30th September. So far abominable weather had attended her—wind strong from S.W., and heavy rain. However, while she was in the Sound she was favored with a few smiles from the Clerk of the Weather, and thus a good; opportunity was afforded the tourist of viewing the unrivalled scenery of the place. Mr Gully, photographic artist, of Nelson, who attended the party, made good use of his camera, and succeeded in taking some very tine views. Whilst at the Sound the Blanche exercised her “ big guns," and tlie reverberations of the reports amongst the mountains are described as magnificently grand. Milford Sound was left on the 2nd October, and George Sound was reached next day. The Blanche stayed there until the 4th October, but the visit proved uninteresting, it being marred by heavy rains and mists. The same night she ran to Thomson Sound and anchored. Here an incident startling in a literal sense occurred. The ship was smiglv anchored, and, excepting the watch on deck, all hands on board were buried in slumber, when suddenly, juat before daybreak, the sth October, a loud rumbling -sound disturbed the death-like quiet that had rrigned supreme, and the ship was shaken to her keel. All hands rushed on deck, and it was at first thought that something had gone wrong in the boiler department; but no, everything ‘was found to be in placethert, and their it was understood that an earthquake had passed under her. The shock was described as exceedingly severe. On the morning of the sth, she ran up Bradshaw Somid, the continuation of Thomson, then back again and round Resolution Island, and so on to sea via Dusky Bay. She cleared the Bay on the Bth. Whilst she was in Thomson and Bradshaw Sounds, it ruined incessantly. From Dusky, shaped a course through the .Strait, but had to heave to for a few hours in a heavy N.W. gale that came on. On the evening of the following day the 9th —she passed the Bluff, and arrived at the port at 8 a m on Saturday. Pilot Kelly brought her in. The Blanche will probably remain here a few days, ami Is, we understand, to be thrown open to the public at stated times.