Shipping intelligence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue XIV, 13 June 1855, Page 2

Shipping intelligence.

*-*•• ABBIVED.

June 10, (s.) steamer Zingari, 148, Millton, from Wellington, with sundry packages of British goods duty paid. Passengers — Mr. Morphett, Mr. Weld, Mr. Cautley, Mr. H/irkness and son, Mr. P. M. Hervey, Mr. Moffitt, sen., Mr. Moffitt, jun., Mr. Carkeek, Mr. Gray, Captain Kreift, Mrs. Gordon, Mr. Forsham, Mr. Gifford, Mr. Grant, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Good, Mr. Ward.

BAIIED. June 11, schooner Gil Bias, 150, Travis, for Massacre Bay, in ballast. — schooner Atalanta, 12, Lowe, for Massacre Bay. 12, schooner Necromancer, 16, Askew, for Wairau. * nr poet. Barque Aden, 430, Ware. Nicholson & Co., agents. Barque Admiral Napier, 400, Thomas. Nicholson & Co., agents. S. Steamer Nelsonf 215, Martin. Fell & Co., agents. Steamer Zingari, 1,48, Millton. Hidings, agent. Brig Wild Irish Girl, 125, Todd. Nicholson & Co., agents. Brig Louisa, 180, Heslop. Ridings, agent. Brig Vulture, 170, Bremner. Master, agent. Schooner Catherine, 12, Duncan. Askew, agent. Schooner Rapid, 16, Whitwell. Empson, agent,.

The Baeqtte Douglas.— The barque Douglas, Captain William George Hedgecock, put into this harbour, on Thursday last, to refit, having sustained considerable damage during a heavy gale of wind shortly after leaving Port Phillip. The Douglas sailed

fom Geelong on the 12th May, in ballast, bound to !allao, to load guano for England. On the 15th fay, in lat. 43 deg. 24 mm. 0 sec. S., long. 155 deg. mm. E., she experienced a terrific gale of wind, and heavy sea striking her, she was thrown on her beam nde. Unfortunately her ballast shifted at the same ime, and kept her heeled over, and Captain Hedgeock had to order the main-topmast and. main-trysail obe cut away, to get the ship before the sea ; after rhich she righted. We understand that-after a surey has been held, and undergoing the necessary relairs, she will proceed on her voyage to Callao. — Wellington Independent, May 26. The brig Onkaparinga, from Nelson, arrived at Melbourne on the Bth May. — Ibid.

The AiICE Matjd;-— For years there seems to have been a sort of stereoCyjag^economy shown in the management of sailing vessels, the present arrangements being generally carried out by those now employed in this service on the same principles as those adopted by their fathers and their grandfathers before them; and it is quite refreshing at last to have to chronicle an invention of vast importance, which has at length found its way to Geelong. The Alice Maud is the first vessel that has entered this port in which the top-sails are reefed by patent machinery, which renders it unnecessary for the seamen to be sent aloft, and merely requiring that the halyards be let go, when, of themselves, they instantly wind up like a blind. — Geelong Advertiser, May 27. On the 26th January, the Great Britain was surveyed by Commandgp<*lsavis, R.N., to ascertain her capabilities foV'tfansport ; and, on measurement, it | was found that she had ample accommodation for] 1,650 troops at one time. That gentleman was very much pleased at the cleanliness and order which he found in every part of tho ship. The engines, also, were inspected by Messrs. Perm and Son, of London, the makers, who pronounced that they did not want a touch, such perfect order are they in, — in fact, reflecting the greatest credit on themselves and the engineers who, during two years' running backwards and forwards to Australia, have preserved their efficiency. We understand the vessel will be got ready for government without the least delay. Her cargo is all discharged, and she is quite ready for inspection in the graving-dock. No doubt she will soon become a favourite transport vessel, as she has been an emigrant ship, and do good service, either in talcing help to our distressed armies in the East, or in bringing back to their native land those who have gallantly fought and suffered, with noble heroism, in defence of their not ungrateful country. — Liverpool paper. yy * > *» New Mode of Pbopelling- Steam Vesseis. — A patent for a new method of propelling steam vessels has been taken out by Mr. Davies, watchmaker, St. Michael'B-hill, Bristol. It appears to be an application of tho "float boards" of the paddle-wheel to the stern of the vessel, which, instead of a revolving motion, work -alternately in a vertical and horizontal direction, so that while avoiding the oscillation of the vessel which the motion of the paddle-wheels cause, it also possesses a much superior force to the screw. The "float boards" are placed inside a chamber or recess at tho stern of the vessel, which extends about one-third of the length of the keel, and earned along on an endless railway, in two horizontal lines, and, when propelling, they are vertical, and act with great force on the water. When they have completed thenrun, they feather upwards into an horizontal position, so that while the lower "float boards" are acting on the water, there is not the slightest counteraction by those above. Now this remedies a great defect in the paddle-wheel system, for, while oue-half is being submerged, it has also to drag the other half up from the ■water. .As soon as a " float Ixjorcl 1 ' clcsccncl3 7 it "takes," and acts upon all the watdtconfined in the chamber; and, as it cannot escape By'tho sides, or above the "float boards," it must necessarily all be carried through the opening at the stern, and thus carry the vessel rapidly onward. Tho " float boards" can receive no injury from without, being protected by their position in the chamber from the assaults of heavy seas, floating substances, or the shots of an enemy ; neither can they be injured by tho vessel running aground, being guarded by a double iron keel, and their motion can be reversed or stopped altogether by the mere turning of a handle. They are driven forward on the endless railway by means of a revolving cylinder on each side of the chamber, on which there will be screw surfaces acting on friction rollers connected with the axis of the running wheels. Tho screw principle is employed on the moving cylinder, but with a far greater extent of "pitch" than when used as the propeller; then the "pitch" seldom exceeds one foot, but in this arrangement it will be from four to six feat for each revolution, according to the size of the vessel. All the parts will be made sufficiently strong to bear any strain, and the rubbing parts will bo lubricated by the water. Tho plan has also the great advantage of placing the engine much lower in the vessel than it can be by the present mode. Tho importance of this invention cannot be over-rated, combining and extending, as it does, the three great mechanical achievements of the age, and its applicability has been borne testimony to by some of the most eminent engineers of the day, as well as the Admiralty and the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. Like many other patentees, Mr. Davie3 requires assistance in carrying the invention out. — Timet, January 22.