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Grey River Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3989, 11 June 1881, Page 2

The Lioness towed out the Herald this morning, and again took up her position on the Cobdea beach, to finish the painting of her bottom. __ Captain Edwin telegraphs from Wellington to the Harbor Master :— Expect bad weather from any quarter between south and east and north-east ; glass to further fall ; sea heavy from South-west within 12 hours. The p.s Charlea Edward arrived alongside the -wharf at 830 a.m yesterday. She reports leaving Nelson on Tuesday at 5 p.m. arrived off Westport at 11 a.m on Wednesday, and alongside the wharf at 2 p,m j proceeded on again at 8 p.m ; arrived »t Hokitika 6am on Thursday ; lef fc at 630 a.m on Friday, and arrived here aB above. Experienced fine weather with smooth sea throughout the trip. Passed the schooner Ellerton, bound to Wellington, off West Wanganui, and s.s Star. of the South off Cape Farewell, and s.s. Wallabi, off Kumara. Passengers— (inwards)- s Mrs- Ally, Mrß Hill; Messrs Petrie, Jones, and Captam Joneß ; (outwards) : Comedy Company (14), Mr and Mrs Redgrave aud child, Messrs Smith, Gilmer. and 4 steerage. The Charles Edward leaves this morning at 8 o'clock for Westport and north. A Napier correspondent, referring to the loss of the Tararna, says:— lt is a fact very slightly "known/ even among sailors or meteorologists, that the needle does not point true iv a fog. The amount.of aberration has never been reduced to rule, but I am satisfied of the fact by i observation* made in London fogs. With the instruments for taking bearings so perfect as they are, an error: ot a; few; urinuteX in the .reckoning is a proof of bad seamanship. As a rule sailors know nothing of the fog variation, which has to be added to the constant variation of the latitude. And in the absence of any rule, the safest thing -a hen near. shore 18 to rely more upon the lead than the needle. For my part, I have little doubt that Captain Garrard was steering considerably tj the north of. west when he thought he was going due west. '.',.'... Mr t, E. Marsall, Harbormaster of Madras, is advocating a scheme for a canal across the Malayan Peninsula, /Whioh he believes would enable the English mails for Hong Kong .to be delivered in 29 days and a -half, or a saving of six days and a-half oJJ the preseot rente. Mitchell's Maritime Register thus describes a novel invetion for sbipwreoked Bailors which was taken on board the Jerusalem, ship, now on her way to Melbourne from London :—•' The invention, /which is cailed a ' despatch box,' and is the design of Mrs Dean, of Hastings, is a little boat 3 or 4 feet in length,- being built upon the principle of a lifeboat. It carries a sail on which is a Scripture text executed in phosphor up. The idea is that, when a vessel is wrecked, the fate of the ship might be written down, and the record deposited in a despatch box on the deck of the little boat, and the craft committed to the mercy' of the waves. With a moderate wind the boat will travel four or five miles an hoar. Captain Beach intends launching the boa**, which has been named the Little Jerusalem, about 200 miles off the Soilly Isles. Certain despatches and instructions will be placed in the box, and a lighted lantern wilt ■ blbo be placed on board."