Maritime Record.

New Zealander, Volume XIX, Issue 1995, 17 October 1863, Page 4

Maritime Record.

The Caroline schooner gunboat, recently sohl by the Government, has been purchased to trade between Wellington and Kaikoura. Captain Davidson has made some alterations on board to render her suitable for the wool trade, clearing out all the internal fittings. She sails early this morning, with a cargo of sawn timber for Canterbury, whence she will sail for Kaikoura and Wellington. It will be remembered that this smart schooner was purchased by the Government shortly after being built by Mr. Meiklejohn, being then called as now, the “ Ruby.” The barque Alwynton has been laid on for London direct, and commenced loading. The barque Novelty will sail this day for Sydney. The barques Golden Age and Sea Breeze have both cleared 'at the Customs, and will sail this day, the former for Newcastle and the latter for Melbourne.

The St. Kilda, Captain Edwards, sailed again for Norfolk Island last evening. The Owen Glendower will haul alongside H. M. S.S. Curagoa on Monday to discharge her cargo of coals. The Zillah will sail for Napier this day. The schooner Yarra, which arrived from Circular Head on Thursday, had a good fine weather passage across of 14 days, having sailed thence on the Ist inst., made the North Cape on Wednesday morning, and had a fine run down the coast, with wind from the westward. Two brigs standing to the westward were the only vessels sighted during the voyage. She brings a cargo of potatoes to a good market. Ship “Tyburnia,” Sept, 3rd., 1863.

We the undersigned passengers by the ship Tybnrnia, do hereby acknowledge the uniform kindness and professional skill exhibited by Dr. Nicholson throughout the voyage from London to Auckland, during which small-pox and other diseases were prevalent.

Robert Peat William West C. Howard, Ensign, 70th Henry Haycock Regt. Albert H. Keeble W, W. W; ro William Guthridge G. H. Graham Joseph Allsebrook W. Peat William Frearson G. F. Rees Joseph Tingey T. C. Graham J. B. Johnson R. M. Clarke Edwin B. Soar and wife A. W. Haines William Hewell T. S. Stevens and wife George Condine Flora Carr Edwin Lander and wife A. Rainbird W. Tingey and wife George Keen and family John Soar and family Eliza Maude James Cooper and family W. H. Lecat An-honv Harvey Jonathan Morris and wife F. Biekncll Elizabeth Elliott M. Elliott George Davis and family S. A. Shorthose John Massey and wife Jonathan Morris, junr. E. G. Farrand Wm. Stevens W. Allcock and family W. A. Smith Henry Smith and family T. T. Clarke and family Sampson Place and wife S. Robinson. William Callaghan Tiif. Goodwin Sands. —A public company is being formed for the embankment and reclamation of the Goodwin Sands, and to convert those dangerous sands into a va-

Inable island, whereon to build a new township, fortifications, docks, life-boat station, and wharves; also to reclaim the land for agricultural purposes. &c. By the accumulation of sand from the north, the Gulf Stream has been shifted to the southward, the great increase of the sand coming from the north having formed a shoal, ca’led the Fork, opposite Trinity Bay. By the proposed embankment. the whole of the Channel, between the Goodwins and the Break, will become entirely clear. The company contemplate taking a grant of the Goodwin Sands for the obieets they have in view, to recover the sunken ships and treasures, which it is thought will pay all the expenses. The land to be reclaimed will cons : st of about 20,000 acres Th

le first work to be accomplished is the entrance of the intended lock, which will be made by Caisson Gates. This

lock will be of sufficient capacity to admit the Great Eastern steamship and the largest class of vessels, begin

SGO feet long, 100 feet wide, and 40 feet water at the. lowest ebb from the lowest sill; adjoining which is the tidal dock, containing 287 acres, with 40 feet water. When that is completed the embankment will be commenced, as well as the docks, which are to cover about G2G acres. In case of stress of weather, ships in the Downs are to take refuge, on payment of a small tonnage. Capacious docks will adjoin, for repairing or examining ships of any class without unloading. Buildiilg lots are proposed to be laid down for warehouses, which are to be let or sold by the company. A new township is also proposed, to consist of a church, public buildings, houses, &c. &c. The remaining portion of the land to be let or sold in plots for building and agricultural purposes. Messrs. Bash ami Son are the engineers.—Mitchell's Steeim Register. July 17. Our Shipping. —At the close of the year ISG2 there belonged to the ports of the United Kingdom 28,440 vessels, .if 4.934,400 tons, usually navigated by 228.139 men and buys—an increase in the course of the year of 402 vessels 127,574 tons, and 3.315 men and boys. The vessels belonging to the British possessions were 10.9C7, of 41.107,696 tons, and manned by 75,93 persons. —Evening Mail.

The lli'le of the Road. —ln reviewing the regulations for preventing collisions at sea. which came into operation on the Ist of the present month, we referred to the new rule for steamers approaching each other, where there is danger of collision, but where the vessels arc nut directly end on, which seems to imply that in such cases steamers are to pass to starboard of each other. We are reminded bv a correspondent that such a regulation, if followed, would involve considerable risk. On looking again at this portion of the regulations, we find that the rule is that, where steamers are approaching as described, the steamer having the other on her “ own starboard side is to keep out of the way of the other.” This would not involve, it is true, the passing to starboard by each vessel, but it gives a discretion to the steamer having the other on her starboard hand to keep out of that other steamer’s way, by adopting any course which may appear advisable under the circumstances. Our correspondent appears to think that the safest course would be that each vessel should pass to port, instead of to starboard of each other. We have considered

the cases he puts very attentively, and we come to the conclusion that no general rule can be laid down which will meet the variety of cases which may arise. The new regu-

lation simply states that the’steamer approached by another on tlic starboard hand* shall keep clear, and allow that other to keep her course. The manner in which this rule must be complied with will, it is obvious, differ with the positions of the vessels, their proximity to each other, and the extent of sea-room and other circumstances, and must he left to the discretion of those in charge of the vessel whose duty it is to keep out of the way.— Mitchell's Maritime Register. Tiif Iron-clad Fleet.—A return has been issued, giving the names, tonnage, horse-power, number of guns, dimensions, and other particulars of our iron-dads, with the dates when they were or are expected to be launched. Exclusive of the floating batteries, there are twenty-one iron-clad vessels, twelve of which are building, and will he launched as follows; —The Enterprise in May, 1863; Valiant, June, 1803; Minotaur, July, 1863; Royal Alfred and Research, August, 1863 ; Prince Albert, Zealous, Royal Sovereign, and Achilles, September, 1863; Favourite, January, 1861; Agincourt, March, 1864; and Northumberland, May, 1864. The nine launched are the Black Prince, Warrior, Hector. Defence, Resistance, Caledonia, Ocean, Prince Consort,and Royal Oak. The total tonnage of these vessels is 88,697, the number of guns carried, 534, and horse-power 18,060. Two of those building, the Prince Albert (2,529 tons, 5 guns, and 500 horse-power), and the Royal Sovereign (3,963 tons, 5 guns, and 800 horse-power), are, lilted with turrets on Captain Coles’s principle; and three —the Favourite (2,186 tons, 8 guns, and 400 horse-power), the Research (1.253 tons, 4 guns, and 200 horse-power), and the Enterprise (994 tons, 4 guns, and 160 horse-power), are fitted with the turret on Mr. Reed’s principle. There arc seven floating batteries carrying 106 guns; four of them were never commissioned. Iron Smrs. —The vast increase of iron ships, both in the Royal Navies and merchantile Marine of the world, indicates that the circumstances hitherto militating against their increased adoption has been in a great measure overcome, namely, the prevention of fouling. It appears that the iron clipper Chili, which was coated with Messrs. Peacock and Buchan’s composition, has just returned from New Zealand, having been twelve months out of dock, and upon her being examined in Mr. Lungley’s Dock, a few days since, she was found to bo perfectly clean. We understand that there is not a particle of copper in this preparation. — Mitchell's Register, July 4. A steamer", named the Alexandra, was launched on Saturday afternoon, at Deptford-green Dock-yard. She was built for the Australian colonies, by Mr. Charles Lungley. The dimensions are as follows: —Length between perpendiculars, 200 feet; breadth over all, 218 feet; and depth of hold, 11-6 feet. The builder’s tonnage, 568 60-94 tons. She will on being fitted with engines, proceed to Melbourne, to take the station between that town and Sydney. — Mitchell’s Steam Register, July 25.