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Grey River Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4785, 23 January 1884, Page 2

The s.s. Oreti left for northern ports at an early hour yesterday morning. The s.s. St Kikla left for Wellington at about four o'clock yesterday morning. Captain Nolan reports that the shallowest water to be found yesterday morning was 15ft. The channel seemed to bo straight out, the deepest water apparently being alongside of the training ■wall; but there was deep water all over. The Charles Edward left last evening for northern ports with her usual quantity of coal. The s.s. Wairarapa arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday with the English mail. Captain Fox has been appointed pilot of Auckland vice- W. Burgess resigned. The U.S.S. Company's s.s. Omapere, which left yesterday afternoon for Dunedin ritt Wellington, excelled herself by taking away the largest cargo that hae ever left this port. On a previous occasion this steamer took away G5O tons of coal, but this trip she exceeded that quantity by 10 tons. All the conditions were eminently favorable for testin.' the utmost carrying capacity of the vessel, were it desired to do so. There was abundance of water on the bar, Captain Nolan being unable to find anything shallowei than loft, when sounding yesterday morning at high tide, which must be consi dered remarkably good for dead neaj tides. Tlie bar was also as smooth as the surface of the river. Mr Chambers, the Avharf foreman, did his utmost to put all the coal he could on board this magnificent collier, but after 0(50 tons he had to confess himself unable to find room foi any more. Yet, strangely enough, the steamer was not then properly trimmed, and some water ballast had to be pumped in aft to trim the vessel properly. It appears that bulk for bulk the Greymouth coal is much lighter than the Newcastle oi Home coal, and consequently the same dead weight cannot be put into a vessel here that can be done at Cardiff or Newcastle, at either of which ports it is considered the Omapere could be loaded witli 700 tons. Her draught of water alongside the wharf was 12ft Sin, but once in blue water she would rise to 12ft Gin. The Omapere has a number of passengers foi the North Island These will be laneled at Wellington, after which she will proceed tv Dimedin.