EXPORTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1835, 23 June 1874, Page 2

EXPORTS.

Per Waipara : 15 mats sugar, quantity of skins, 2 casks ale, 50 tons coal.

The s.s. Waipara, Captain Bascand, left ] the wharf yesterday at 1.30 p.m, in order to get into Hokitika the same tide. She was early on the tide, but from the good condition of the channel and the calm sea, it was thought that she could cross the bar easily. However, for some reason or other, as yet unexplained, she was seen to take the ground and drift on to the South Spit. Throughout the whole afternoon every effort was made by Captain Bascand, both by sail and steam, to get her off, but the rising tide lifted her further up on the spit. Whether, in going out, she hugged the South Spit too close, or, as is generally supposed, some of her steering gear gave way, we have no positive information, as up to a late hour last nijlit the Hir' or- master was still on the spit. r«' deruu assistance; but, when last seen at sundown, the Waipara was in a very bad position. In the meantime every possible exertion is being made to get her off. [6ince writing the above, tenders have been called for launching the Waipara into the lagoon, South Beach. The tenders are to close at 4 p.m. to-day, and are to be sent to the office of the agents, Nancarrow and Co.] The fine schooner Spray arrived at Hokitika on Saturday, from Lyttelton, with a cargo of produce and water pipe?. She left Port Cooper last Monday, with a fresh S.W. breeze, and had stiff S.E. weather through the Straits and to as far as Rock's Point ; thence variable weather and calms on the same day. The schooner Bencleugh, with water pipes, from Wellington, arrived at Hokitika, and was towed inside by the Titan. She left Weliington on Sunday last, and experienced strong S.E. gales to Rock's Point, and afterwards light fine weather until arrival. The s.s. Otago, which arrived at Bluff harbor on Saturday, will, ere this, have reached Dunedin, and. should she visit none other than the usual ports of call, should be in these waters on or about Friday next. She will be despatched to Melbourne as soon after her arrival as circumstances will permit. The Auckland Steam Packet Company have made an agreement with the authorities at Wellington to run the Star of the South, carrying a cargo and passengers to and from Fiji, calling at all the principal ports between Port Chalmers and Auckland. The barque Polly, of Greenock, 671 tons register, was abandoned at sea on 30th De- j cember, between Bermuda and the coast of Florida. There was a crew of sixteen, including officers, nine of whom were lost, the remaining seven being lashed to the masts for four days without food or water. The smallest engine in the world is now in possession of Mr John Perm, of Greenwich. It will stand on a threepenny-piece ; it really covers less space, for its base plate measures only three-eighths of an inch by three-tenths. So small are some of the parts that they require a powerful magnifying glass to see their form. The whole weight of the model is less than a threepenny-piece. It works admirably, and wher working, its crank-shaft performs from 20,000 to 30,000 revolutions per minute. The Southern Cross, which arrived in port on Saturday from the Tyne, is a screw steamer, intended for carrying stock between Auckland and Napier, and her presence here is owing to her having to put in to replenish her stock of fuel to enable her to complete her voyage to New Zealand. She was built expressly for the trad<* in which she is to be engaged, to the order of Messrs Watt Bros., Napier, by J. Eltringham, of South Shields, and there is no doubt but that she will prove a useful vessel. The Southern Cross is 135 ft in length, with 23ft 7in beam, and a depth of hold of 9ft, jiving her a register of about 140 tons. She is constructed entirely of iron, and is propelled by small compound engines of 50-horse power. She is rigged as a threemasted schooner, and will be able to make some use of her canvas as well as steam when j occasion offers. In the construction of the steamer, provision has been made for the conveyance of horned cattle and horses in the 'tween decks, the main-deck having been reserved for sheep. Although meant more particularly for the carriage of live stock, the steamer will also accommodate a number of cabin and steerage passengers. The cabin — a plain, but very comfortable apartment — is on deck amidships, and is fitted up for the berthing of 25 passengers. Captain Holmes, who went home to superintend the! construction'of the vessel, gives her a good character as a sea boat, and the delay which has taken place 'ii the voyage <>ut ■ c attributes to i-he r<pid f uling »f t-e bottom although he had it special y edited with preventive composition before making a start for the antipodes The steamer left shields on January 21. In view of the heavy weather met with off this coast, and the limited amount of fuel on board, Captain Holmes deemed it his best course to call iv at Port Phillip on his way to New Zealand. The Southern Cross will remain here for. a short while, and may possibly be slipped or docked, and have the bottom of the hull cleaned and painted previous to resuming her voyage.— Argus, May 24.