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Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 178, 5 March 1867, Page 2

The s.s. Keera, lately arrived from Westport for repairs, was launched yesterday from Messrs M'Kinnon and Murray's slip, at Port Chalmers, where she has received an extensive overhaul to hull and machinety, aud in the evening she "was towed by the steamer Favorite to Pelichet Bay Jetty, It blew a strong gale from N. W, while the tugboat was thus employed, but the Keera' was towed safely to her destination, aud was made fast alongside the jetty, without any misadventure, notwithstanding the lateness of the evening and the strength of the wind, under the supervision of Captain Leys. While alongside the jetty she will be painted, and otherwise outfitted, preparatory to proceeding to sea. While on the slip, the bottom of the vessel was extensively repaired. Onehalf was re-ri vetted j her keel -was fresh shod over thirty-six feet of her length ; her stern frame was strengthened ; and she 'has had four new plates inserted, and a new rudder complete. Her boiler has been hove up for the purpose of being overhauled, and she is to be .provided with anewlum-leg, and a new set of tubes. Her screw shaft isl>eing re-lined, and fitted with new thrust-brass, and she is to have a new three-bladed projieller. Her driving wheel has been recogged ; her piston and valves refaeed ; and her machinery re-lined; the whole work being effected under the supervision of Mr Hamilton, who also superintended the operations of taking- her off the beach at the Buller. Her cabin is to be re-decorated, aud the whole of the vessel painted outside aiid inside, while material improvements are to hi made in her passenger accommodation, She is -expected to be ready, to resume the West Coast trade in about a fortnight h — ■ Daily Times, Feb. 27. ' " Boat Adrf^—Pjgculiaii Circumstance' — Capt Beiubll, of the s.s. Star of the South, which arrived at A ucklaud en Saturday evening, Februaiy 9, reports having picked up, off Port Charles, a boat 16 feet long, painted yellow outside, with green top-streak, containing two grcpn painted paddles, an American axe, and a fishing line. There was no name on the boat, nor any clue to whom it belonged, but a very "peculiar" document was found in the lining. The boat is now on board for, if possible, identification, We sincerely hope that no loss of life has occurred on this occasion. — ]?. %. Herald. We learn by telegram received from Wellington last night that at a private meeting of the shareholders of the New Zealand Sieaiu Navigation Company, the protest against amalgamation with the Panama Company was adopted. No doubt this decision ha 3 been accelerated by the intelligence received by the .mail, "which announces that the Panama Company washes - to raise another L 70.000 by debentures. —Nelson Colonist. We (Wellington Evening News) regret >to announce the wreck of the brig Venus in Sapreni Straits, on her voyage from Batavia to this port, The intelligence was received this morning by way of Sydney, a telegram from Boweu, ; published in tue Melbourne Argus of the 7th, having announced the entire loss of the vessel and cargo and the safety of the crew. The Yenns was shortly expected to arrive here with a valuable assorted cargo fvom Hony Kong and Batavia, aud was consigned to Mr Edward Pearce. She was owned partially by -Messrs Cruickshank, Smart and Co, of Auckland, and is spoken of as a very fine vessel, It is not known whether she was insured, but we are glad to learn that the precaution had bacn. taken of fully insuring the cargo, and that the loss will not be as great as was anticipated.