SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF GREY.

Grey River Argus, Volume 21, Issue 3133, 27 August 1878, Page 2

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF GREY.

HIOH WATKR. This Day—B 56 a.m. ; 9.15 p.m. - ARRIVED . August_26—Nil SAILED. ■ August 26 —ISil EXPBCTKD ARRIVALS. Gleaner, from Melbourne Wallace, from Nelson Kennedy, from Nelson Charl b Edward, from Nelson Wallabi, from W^nganui Mary Campbell, from Melbourne Cleopatra, from Lyttelton Alhambra, from Melbourne Amaranth, from Auckland St Kilda, from Wanganui VBSSKLS IN PORT Dispatch, tug steamer Adieu, from Melbourne Maori, from Dunedin Luna, from Wellington Contrary to expectation, there was a considerable se* on the bar, yesterday mornin .', at tide time, which prevented anything crossing outwards or inwards. At low water the bar was examined by the harbormaster and several of the masters in port, and it was then found that the sea had brought the points of the north and south south apits, which overlap each other, too close together to allow of the bar being worked safely jf there was no sea on. It is hoped that an improvement will take place to-day, but until it does so the bar is practicably unworkable with any heavy sea. We regret to learn than that the s.s. Waipara got ashore sfc Hokitika, yesterday morning, while attempting to enter the river, but we are informed that this handy little vessel will probably be afloat again in a tide or two. The s.s. Kennedy passed here yesterday morning for Hokitika, but finding no chance of entering there returned to the roadstead, where she arrived about 11 a.m. She will probably reach the wharf this morning. The 8.8. St. Kilda arrived in the roadstead yesterday morning, but was signalled to proceed to Westport, at which port she arrived last night. The a s. V» allabi, from Wanganui, is due here this morning, and should the sea go down will reach the wharf about 9 a.m. The old "P. and O." has had to bear its share in the recent depression in steam ship • ping business, Ita report, vhich was discussed a few days ago, admits a large comparative falling-off in revenues, despite the most diligent efforts. Freights were low and scarce —how low was illustrated by an instance given, in which one of these magnificent vessels waited three weeks at Calcutta unable to get a full cargo for England, even at the paltry rate of twenty shillings per ton. The company's earnings being less, naturally the dividend was less. The shareholders deserve all sympathy, but really the best: comfort to be offered them is that things cannot long remain at such a miserably low ebb as "twenty shillings a ton," since the unprofitableness of such trading must drive away less powerful, experienced, and popular rivals. The company will next year have to face the ordeal of a competilion for the mail service, which has to be renewed under ' different conditions, and there is no reason why the occasion should not mark the opening of a new and prosperous era. A very fine vessel, the barque Arabella, has anived at Port Chalmers. She is 665 1 tons register, built of iron at Sunderland in 1876, by Birtlett and Haswell, to the order of Messrs T. Hicks and Co., of Scarborough. Her lines are fine, indicating speed, white her midship Eection is sufficiently full of give a good weight for carrying capacity. Neatly sparred and riaged. and in capital order, ahe looked very well indeed. The dimensions are—Over all, 200 f t; between perpendiculars. 178ffc; beam, 31ft; depth of hold, l?ft 4in Her first voyage was made to Singapore, thence to Java, and on to Sydney, whence she went to Newcastle and loaded coal for Hong Kong, delivered it, went to Swatow, and returned to London. Filled up with cargo, and sailed for Auckland, dischargee], and then went over to Newcastle. Took in 962 tons coal for the Union Steamship Comp ny, and left on the 3rd inst., with light and variable winds. Experienced bad weather during the run across, and made ths Solander at 2 p.m. on tie 13th inst. Had fresh W. and S.W. winds, and passed Dog Island at 10 pm. same day, and passing the Nuggets at. 8 a.m on the 14th inst. Thence had light and variable winds.