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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1930, 13 October 1874, Page 2

Owing to the tempestuous state of the weather the s.s. Murray was unable to leave The vessels that were in the roadstead had evidently all gone to sea, or to Westport for shelter. The next steamer sailing for Melbourne direct from this port, will be the s.s. Gothenburg, which may be expected here to-day. The " Otago Guardian " of the 6th instant has the following respecting the last trip of the Tararua :— " It had been been supposed that the s.s. Tararua took shelter under the Nuggets, on her way to the Bluff last week, but Captain Cooper, of the Comet, says that such is not the case. Captain Cla-k kept his vessel constantly at it, but, when off Nugget Point, she was totally unable to make headway, and was for six or seven hours abreast of the point, with the engines at full speed, yet the ship did not gain her own length in distance in the hour. There was a tremendous sea running. The Tararua, on arriving at the Bluff, only remained half an hour. She would not wait for cargo, bat immediately on getting the mails on board, set out again, in the teeth of a strong sou'wester." The Government steamer Luna, with the San ifrancisco mails, arrived at Wellington at 2 a.m. on Sunday from the Manukau. Messrs Chesney and Co's fine brigantine Mary Bannatyne arrived at Hokitika on Sunday astern of the Lioness, after a passage from Melbourne of seven days. Captain Cross, of the ITlying Scud, on his arrival at the Bluff on Thursday Jast from Port Wilh'am, reported the supposed, accidental death by di owning of Mr George Preece. It appealed thai deceased left the Bluff on the 20th current, in the cutter Nelly, for Stewart's Island, accompanied by only one man (his mate 'of the oyster fishery). Ths latter states that when about six miles from the islard he came on deck again Preece had disappeared. He observed also that an oar was missing. He immediately shortened sail and put about, in the hope of picking up his companion, but his search was fruitless. Captain Cross states that an inquiry was held by Captain Greig, R.M, at Port William, at which it was stated by the burvivorthat he did not go to sleep when he went below, and that he heard no unusual sound on deck during his absence. This is not the first case of the kind, and should impress upon the seafarers of the island the imprudence of crossing the Straits with only that he would not have lost his life, for it does not appear that the weather was rough, or that there would have been any difficulty in picking him up, supposing him to have fallen overboard by accident. The trade now springing up between the Australian Colonies and the ports of the Eastern Seas woirld seem to be becoming of considerable importance. In it, however, New Zealand has no share, and, so far, does not appear likely to have any. The Torres Straits mail steamers, making the run each ■way once a month, starting from Song Kong and making M elbou* ne their terminus, call at so many ports on their way down for cargoes of sugar, rice, &c, that they usually arrive with full car oes, while they do i»ot return empty. The Dutch Company, which sen 4 their vessels down from Batavia by the east coast, calli tg at north-west and south Australian ports before reaching Melbourne, have also begun their service with good hopes of profit. After two or three experimental trips they have now begun a regular service with new, large, and powerful vessels specially, built for the trade. The first of these, the Atjeh. was to leave Melbourne on her return trip shortly after the sailing of the Tararua, and would leave Hobson's Bay all but a full ship, with Sydney, Brisbane, and other ports at which to call. It is pleasant to see these new enterprises prospering, and it would be still m. re so if JN'ew Zealand had a share in the trade.