Maritime Record.

New Zealander, Volume XIV, Issue 1228, 23 January 1858, Page 2

Maritime Record.

[[. M. .ship Iris, 23 puns, Captain T.oring, C. B , with his Excellency the Governor and suite on board, arrived in port on Thursday at 3.3(1 a.in. from her cruise to the Bay ot Islands. She took her departure from Kororareka on the morning of the I7th, shaping her course for Coromandel where she arrived the following morning and came to anchor, Ihe Governor and his party landed in the course of the day, making thc tour of the Wynyard Dig'ings, and the different auriferous localities adjoining. She* again got under weigh on the 20th with a light breeze, fetching the anchorage at Auckland, as we have already said, on the morning of the 21st. It is said thc frigate is likely to remain eight or ten days.

'The barque Zone, 335 tons, Captain T ish. of Fairhavon, 23 months out, with 12t;0 barrels sperm, arrived at Kororareka on the I'Hh hist. Captain Fill is bound home.

'The ship Two Brothers, 233 tons, Captain Childs, of New Bedford, 42 months out, with 350 barrels sperm and tern barrels whale oil, went into Mongonui on the 23th December and sailed for New Bedford on the 13th hist.

The ship Aictic, 431 tons, Captain Becdman, of Now Bedford, clean, arrived at Mongonui on the sth and sailed again on the 7th. Captain Becdman sent home 730 barrels from Honolulu, which he had taken since ho was in Mongonui last year, together with 270 barrels sperm ami Cl of whale oil, which he had taken previously to bis ca’lmg at that port. The Arctic cleared at Honolulu on the ffth November, since which date she has had no luck: Captain Beedman intends cruising fur a few weeks and then looking in at Mongonui.

Theship Washington, 344 tons, Captain Farrington, of Now Bedford, 5 months out, with 7o barrels black oil, lint) lbs. bone went into Mongonui on the 3th instant.

Raising ok the Wiimm Denny Steamer nv llvubahlicm. —A correspondent informs us that this vessel, as she lay stranded on the North Cape, New Zealand was lately sold to some enterprising gentlemen of Sydney. Mr. Janies Scott, the designer and constructor of the I’yrmont I'atent Slip, undertook to float her by this means, and proceeded to the spot some mouths ago, accompanied by several expert and skilful workmen. Intelligence (lie says) has reached Sydney of the complete success attending Mr, Scott s operations; and the Denny is now “ high and dry ’ on the beach, 'i he rock, it seems, had pierced through both timber and iron plates; nevertheless the hall is but little injured. •• Points” were being constiuctcd to rest her upon more securely, and material was cm the spot with which to repair the damage sustained. From the effective means adopted, the launch of the Denny was expected to be safe and easy. In three months hence Mr. Scott confidently hopes to see this steamer again in our harbour. This is not the first time we have to speak of Mr. Scott’s skill and ability, and we hope it will not be the last. — Herald,

[The artificers, passengers to Sydney per Moa, will on their arrival there be able to tell the Herald a very different tale. The Denny, though not “high anti dry,” is assuredly hard and fust]

Sunken Rock in Bass's Stun its. T lie brig Clarendon, from Newcastle, N.S.W., deeply laden with coals, arrived yestertlag after a most lengthy passage, having, in consequence of accidentally running on a sunken rock, been compelled to bear up for the Promontory. Thc following is from the log: “ December 2nd, at d.30 a.tn, the vcs-el then under doublereefed topsails and courses, a very heavy sea running, the wind blowing from the south-west, the port tacks on board, struck a sunken rock with great violence, causing the vessel to heel over very considerably, striking heavily twice. 'There was no load-line on deck to ascertain soundings, but distinctly sighted the rock, and mud thickly stirred up by the collision. It was half-tide ; the depth of water on the rock was, as near as could be judged, 10 feet. The appearance of the rock was round, 4o feet or 50 feet in circumference ; Curtis Island) the highest pan) bearing by compass W. by iff, the Inner Sugarloaf Island bearing S.W. by S, three miles. Immediately after the accident the pump-well was sounded, and found the ship making water. The weather still getting more boisterous, deemed it expedient to boar up for the Promontory, anchoring in Sealers’ Cove, intending to lighten the ship to asceitain the leak ; but finding that one pump could keep the water under, again weighed anchor on the sth December.” — S.A- Register, 15th Deer. 'The “ Friend of China’’ of 3rd October, in describing a terrific typhoon experienced in Macao on the Ist, and which had been more disastrous in its effects than anything of the kind since 1332, says;— Bad weather commenced with Sunday, the 27th ultimo—ram and squalls from the eastward continuing almost incessantly, until the hurricane arose and spent its night. It was this continued rain that lulled old navigators and natives into a fancied security,—such a thing as a typhoon after so much “ China” being inconceivable. With sundown of Wednesday, thc doth ultimo, however, opinions began to change; and cable veering, sail banding and tanka boat shifting and hauling on wharves, went on for several hours after night had set in, At 10 o'clock, the rain still pouring incessantly, the wind shifting contrary to the usual rule, from east towards north, the mercury commenced to descend rapidly ; one barometer, which a week before stood at 21) deg. 35 min., registering at midnight about 21)30, or a fall in the mbs over half an inch. At half-prst two of the morning of the Ist, the typhoon had fairly set in—the force of the wind still coming from a point somewhat to the eastward of north, the rain, in whole sheets, pitilessly forcing its way through shaky roofs and fragile jealousies. From three to five there was no intermission either of wind ot rain, and this was the period when so much damage was done. ’There is no mistaking the characteristic of a typhoon as distinguished from a hard gale, and those who have never been in one may conceive what it is by imagining thc roar of ten thousand nine hundred horse-power steam pipes relieving their boilers—one continued growling bellow. A vessel requires more than good anchors and cables, and careful tending, to withstand the weight of a real typhoon ; —she wants what thc inner harbour of Macao does not possess, good holding ground, and when the wind comes from that fatal quarter, anything to the westward of north, there is but one fate for the majority, viz-, a driving on shore and on to the wharves, lining the western faro of the settlement. At live, the wind veered round to the west a little; and half-an-hour afterwards there was a slight lull, the barometer ascending, and so continuing until half-past six, when the wind had hauled round to the southward of west; —soon after it altogether moderated. But, as day broke, how terrible the scene ! Here, in the centre of the liver, not a couple of hundred yards from the shore, might be seen a group of a dozen, clinging with the grasp of desperation to the sails and spars of some capsized junk, one by one being washed oft’ to eternity before the affrighted eyes of spectators, unable to reach them through the pelting storm. There might be seen small boats near the shore, taking from the arms of an anxious mother, on a swamped junk, her frightened children. In another place, some grey haired crone, couched in a corner, weeping in the bitterness of despair for the 'oss of the home of many years—her tanka boat, — or the little pen on the corner of a wharf; or it may be a granchild, for the number of children drowned during the night was legion. 'The sun, which had set on a licet of Chim vessels, large anil small, numbering several hundreds (the Chinese say six hundred) arose to shed his beams on eighteen only, all that could be seen fairly afloat in the space between Green Island and tlie> Bar Fort. 1 he test were on shore, or seriously damaged by being outside, and riding down their neighbours that were. At one part of the Nova Rua del Rei wo counted a tier of fourteen, literally one on the top of each other; some of those closest in being those handsome old flower boats which in Canton’s palmy days were looked at, above the factories, with so much admiration and curiosity by foreign residents. Oft’ Mr. Manoel Pereira's wharf a snake boat, full of green leas, fresh ft ora Canton, lay cut in two: a little beyond it a valuable Wen Coast boat, with tanks full of nut oil, bilged—her cargo dribbling for the use of those who chose to catch it. Dll', or rather on, Mr. Claudio da Silva’s wharf, next below, lay the unfortunate French ship Johanna, and at Mr. Rcmedios’s and Mr. Carneiro’s wharves, the Portuguese ship Lahuaii and Spanish barque Allarasa ; whilst off Pontra Rede were the American barque Liutin and the Portuguese ship Adamastor. Among the lorchas the wrecks and bilging* must have been very numerous. Off Mr. J. M. lie Fonseca’s Godowns, the Lorcha No. 4 (the vessel of which the owner was the party testifying to th;

■TOM. ■»«■»! . off thc absence of any flag on thc Arrow when cargo Viceroy’s Yamun, in October 18. >).. g ghar k fins, and from Hongkong the day before, of " dCo Jay eracotton for Messrs. Cassumbhoy, Nathabhoyjnd bedded in the mud, with her ster SX)C J w \c. and such water all a-wash. Altogether it was 3 aJ if the an one as Macao has not seen for m y d> Ue ing inhabitants ever before saw . . estimated at from two to three lakhs °f doll of Inow Ships.—The following lee pp en two letters the 11th September " Sir—l have r c y hj had bcen in your paper, commenting on the ten that he made by Sir James Elphinstoue in a letter T wou , d hoped the accident which hud happenet defects open the eyes of the First Lord of V -ir Jarncs does not of iron troop ships. Now, I apprC nf iron s hips for carrying mean to condemn the employment o defective prin.roops, but rather to call attention ciple upon which iron vessels are built. P gbj for em . tod. they surely are not less efficient than , t t o the ployinent as transports or for purposes of “ ' jtruction alone acknowledged defects in the principle of . g now that any objection can he, and as iron 1 g [km wa , largely extending, it is high time more era! attention directed to this subject. Hundreds of iron s Umg dom, at this moment being built m different parts inci pi e of and I cannot learn that any improvement m 1 lrll>umeconstruction has been introduced! vertical fram raids rivet holes in vertical lines causing " ea ’ u ot defects, still prevail, the result being a speedy break S P £q the vessel on taking the ground, and at all times a breakage of sheer (called broken backed), requiring and costly repairs. The language commonly used ..des a dm* the defects of iron vessels is, that they labour ami stra n leaky, and break in two when they are exposed to he or have the misfortune to be stranded. Now, I do■ «P ically assert that these faults do not arise from the ran m terial. but from the false mode of construction, rendering it not only expedient but urgently necessary that the sys em building with vertical frames should be total y altered, and I am suprised that the principle of diagonal framing, w ch would obviate all objection to iron ships, is not adopted. We should then hear no more of broken backs, , _ vessels breaking in two on immediately taking th 8 • for the great strength imparted by the latter mode of ranstruc tion —which must be obvious to all who have any , of shipbuilding—at the same time that it would make I - generally more strong and lasting, would altogcthe p the former defect, and. under the unfortunate circumstance of running on shore, would most assuredly hold her together as long, if not longer, than any timber built ship—l have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, A sole no. —Brighton. September 10.”

AUSTRALIAN POSTAL COMMUNICATION. [From the “ Mining Journal, j The Government of Victoria has given notice to that of South Australia that, in consequence of the latter having eclineil to pay her proportion of the subsidy fur postal communication between the mother country and the Australian colonies, her mails will not be -ent home by the overland route. This refusal on the part of South Australia arises from the fact that the steamer passes harbors on her own coast on its way to Melbourne, and the bags, therefore have to be returned to her port by local steamers. The attention of the Home Government has been called to this unsatisfactory state of things, and we find that the Post Office authorities in London contemplate a slight modification of the existing postal route, so as to adjust the difference* and to remove the dissatisfaction of the South Australians. A direct postal communication with South Australia, without any material diversion of the existing course of the steamers between Sues and Melbourne is the great desideratum of the colony, and can be effected, with facility by the steamer delivering the bags for Adelaide. Arc., at Nepean Bay. Backstairs Passage, which is within a few hours’ sail of her own port. It is accessible in all weathers, and affords every accommodation for vessels of the largest tonnage. We believe that the adoption of this suggestion is the modification under discussion by tlie Home Government. Considerable advantage would accrue to all the Australian colonies by making Nepean Bay the fust and last place of call to and from Suez, and would put an end to all existing causes of complaint; for, by simply laying down a submarine telegraph from this bay to Cape Jervis, and thence across the country to Goolwa, a total distance of only about sixty miles, there to join the wires between Adelaide and Melbourne, direct telegraphic intercourse would be established between Nepean Bay, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and the various principal towns and ports in the three colonics, as the lines are being laid down to connect them. By this simple and inexpensive arrangement the arrival of the mail from Suez would be simultaneously made known in ail the colonies, and the head* of the general news be thus anticipated two clear days at Melbourne, five days at Sydney, and five days at Adelaide, before the delivery of the bags according to present arrangements; while on the return voyage, by calling at Nepean Bay fertile South Australian mail, telegraphic intelligence from e,ii.h of tlie Provinces would be simultaneously received to concurrent dates for transmission to Europe, so I hat the advices in England would always be to the same day from each of these important colonies of Victoria, New .South Wales, and South Australia. The time thus gained by each porvince would be considerable, while this notice at Melbourne of tiro arrival of the mail at Nepean Bay from Suez would give ample time for the local steamers to be made ready for the prompt transmission of the bags , either from Hobson’s Bay or (Juernsdiffe, for Sydney, New Zealand, Tasmania, ami the other province* of Australasia.

NOTICE TO MARINERS. The following report of a re-survey of the shoal* in the vicinity of Trowbridge Lighthouse is published for genera! information. John Mart, Treasurer. Treasury, Adelaide, December 2, 1857. [The bearings given in these (b-rctions are magnetic. The soundings are at low water spring tides.] In consequence of the discovery of a shoal-bank to the eastward of the Troubridge Lighthouse, a re-survey of the shoals in its locality have been rendered necessary, together with the construction of a new and extended chart of that portion of St. Vincent's (lulf. From very careful observations, the position of the Lighthouse has been determined as follows: —Latitude 35 degrees 7 minutes 32 seconds S., longitude 137 degrees 50 minutes 37 seconds E., magnetic variation (5 degrees 33 minutes K. High water, full ami change, at 3h. 30 m, Rise and fall at ordinary springs, (i feetThe flood sets X.N.E., ebb S.S.W., when to the eastward of the island. To the southward and westward of the island the tides are rapid and the flood sets on the shoals. The Lighthouse tower stands eighty (!io) feet above low water mark, on a low sandy island covered with bushes. The light which is bright without colour, is exhibited to the observer from all points of the compass every half ($| minute, and maybe distinguished on a clear night from the deck of a moderate-sized vessel, at a distance of sixteen (10) miles. Mariners however, should not estimate their distance from the time of their first making the light, as, owing to the refraction, it is often seen from distances when the lantern is considerably below the line of the natural horizon. Commanders of vessels bound up St. Vincent's Gulf should bring the light to bear X.E. i N. sixteen (If!) miles and steer N.E.by E. E,until that object bears W. by N. 4N. distant eight or ten miles, when a course of X.E. may be shaped for the Eight-ship off the bar of Fort Adelaide. Shoal water exists fully three (3) miles to the southward, and the same distance to the south-westward, on rocky patches. A bank called Tapley’s Shoal, of great extent, has been recently discovered, and its position ascertained by a very careful and minute survey. The south end of Taplcy's Shoal hears from the Lighthouse X T , 34 degrees E, Three and a half (3j) miles from thence the shoal tends in an E.X.E. direction about one and three-quarter (1J) miles, from which point it extends three and a half (.3.1) miles: the edge of the shoal then lakes a north-westerly direction for about two (2) miles, and returns to the southward for three (,'!) miles, from whence it trends again west for one (It mile, and then south for a similar distance. The shoalest water ascertained was sixteen (1(1) feet at the X'. E. extremity of tho shoal, from which the lighthouse bears S. 52 degrees W., distant six (ti) moles. Within the limit of the shoal very irregular soundings occur, varying from three (3) to seven (7) fathoms, over an uneven bottom of sand and seaweed. The bottom, in fine weather, can be clearly seen—tho sand showing very distinctly in relief among the dark pdtebe* of seaweed. Though great care was taken to ascertain the shoalcst patch on this extensive shoal, it may be possible and not improbable that less water may be found than sixteen (It!) feet; and, owing to the rapidity of the titles, and the effect they may produce by heaping up the sand and seaweed of which the bottom is composed, the soundings given on the chart may be, at some futuie time, either reduced or increased in places.

Taplcy’s Shoal offers no impediment to navigators proceeding up the Gulf; but to vessels bound down, meeting with westerly winds, and trying to keep the weather shore on board, it will be found to lie directly in their track, and in deeply-load-ed ships should he most carefully avoided.

Commanders of vessels, to avoid Tapley’s Shoal, should keep the tops of the houses on the island dipping, as observed from thc poop of a moderate-sized vessel when the lighthouse bear* from S.W. to W.

Excellent anchorage will be found under the lee of Troubridge Island and S.W, shoals, with the adjacent land, by bringing the light to bear from S.S.W, to S.S.E., distant from two (2) to four (4) miles, in soundings varying from seven (7) to nine (ft) fathoms. 1 most strongly recommend commanders of vessels to make use of the valuable anchorage in MacDonncll Sound during south amt westerly gales when proceeding to the southward or westward, as in a deep ship it is almost impossible to contend against the strong tides which, from the direction of the winds, act more adversely than favourably for tho vessel working to windward.

H. DOUGLAS, Naval Officer and Harbour Master. S.A, Chief Harbour Office, Port Adelaide, November, lit:./.

NOTICE TO MARINERS. Notice is hereby given, that a steam dredge is now moored at the outer bar of I’ort Adelaide, carrying on deepening operations. 1-or the guidance of vessels crossing the bar inwards and outwards, she will, while so employed, hoist during the day a while 11 in, when vessels are to pass to the northward, and a red th*g when they are to pass to the southward of the dredge. Iho mg the night site 'vtil show a green light, when vessels are to pass to the southward, and a green light, with a bright light under, when they are* to pass to the northward. Uy order of the Hoard, (i W. TINKLER. Secretary. Tnnitv House, December 1, U157.