ARRIVAL OF THE BOMBAY FROM LONDON.

New Zealander, Volume XXII, Issue 2382, 20 March 1865, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE BOMBAY FROM LONDON.

Thk ship Bombay, 937 tons. Captain Sellars, arrived yesterday in harbor, having boon dismasted in the late gales on the coast, and being towed first by the Constance and afterwards by H.M.S. Curaeoa, the latter ship having brought her into the harbor in safety on Saturday, at 10 a.m. Extract from the log of the ship Bombay, from Lindon to Auckland, New Zealand, 1861-.">, witn free eaiigrants : November 26, 8 a.m. —Sailed from Gravesend with light westerly winds, and at 6 p.m., came to anchor off the North Foreland; strong westerly breezes with rain. Passengers begining to get sea sick ; laid wind bound uuder the North Foreland until the 30th, then weighed, and proceeded with light westerly winds, and reached the Downs and came to anchor. December Ist. —Strong S.W. gales and strong sea. 2nd, more moderate and hazy weather ; got under weigh, and proceeded down channel against strong breezes and gales. Passengers suffering from sea sickness. December 4th.—Landed the pilot of Sloanage, and again proceeded on our voyage ; still strong gales, with rain ; on the Bth, abreast of the Lizard, and exchanged signals with ship Trevallian to Calcutta ; had a continuance of strong S.W. gales, with rain and hail, until the 13th, in lat. 45-23 N., and long. 9-37 \V.; then got the wind from the North, and weut cheerly on until the 17th, then in lat. 33-10 N., and long. 17-43 W., when we got a return of our old enemv the S.-westers. Strong gales continued until the 21st. On the 18th we sighted the Island of Madeira, being S.E., distance 28 miles. From the 21st to the 26th had westerly winds, moderate, ship slipping along pretty well with them ; then began the N.E. trades, moderate to light, in lat. 18-36 N., long. 2919 W., and continued until the 3lst ; in lat. 4-33 N., and long. 21-12 W. had no calms, but line smart southerly breezes until we got the S.E. trades, on January 3rd, 1865, in lat. 1-7 N., and long. 26-18 \V., out 39 days from Gravesend, and 34 days from the Downs ; had fine steady S.E. trades until we sighted the Island of Trinidad, on the 11th, which was passed at a distance of 10 miles ; same afternoon signalised the British ship Moravian, from Melbourne to London, out 46 days ; at 8 p.m. lost S.E. trades, had calms and squalls throughout the night; from thence until we reached the meridian of Greenwich had light winds and fine weather (mostly), on the 24th January; thence until we reached the inereliau of the Cape, had fine strong breezes, making good averages, which was reached on the 28th", making 52 days from the E Idystone, and 62 from Gravesend ; from thence up to 40 o E. had fine, smart breezes, and squally, with occasional showers of rain ; and from 40 o East up to 100 E. had light westerly winds and calms, making very poor progress, and from thence up the meridian of Hobart Town, had fine strong breezes and fine weather the whole way ; rounded Tasmania ou the 27th without seeing it, wind light to fresh, with rain, and winds variable, from N.W. to N.E., and back to X. until noon of the Bth March, when the wind began to freshen from the N.E., with small rain, and by 6 p.m. the wind had then freshened considerably, when we shortened sail to double reefs, and stowed main course, cross-jack and spanker ; at 8-20 p.m. the ship va» struck with a violent squall from the S.E., which carried away the bowsprit close to the knight heads, with fore topmast, fore-topsail-yards, topgallant and royal ditto, and all sails, main topgallant, and royal-masts, and upper topsail yards sprung, and all sails attached, also mizen royalmast and yard. Foresail and mizen topsail also blew to pieces. After some amount of labor and difficulty, got all the wreck cut away from the ship fearing that some of the heavy spars might with all the mass of ironwork attached to them, chafe a hole in the vessel. By midnight got clear of all the wreck of any consequence. Blowing very hard, and high short cross and confused sea running, making ship roll heavily. 9th—Commences same sort of weather, very anxious, and passengers mueh put out. A 1) the day passed on s<> the gale increased until it was blowing with hurrbane violence, with terrific gusts of wind, and blending drift of salt water spray, the only sail set being the upper topsail, and that lowered down on top of lower one, which had already blown clean away. At the ship gave a sudden lurch in a terrific gust, when the mainmast went by the board, taking away mizen topmast and all attached thereto, and springing the mizenmast, which for some time we despaired of saving, but succeeded at last; cross tack blew from the gaskets, and spanker from mast; cut away all geai as quickly as possible for the safety and benefit of all concerned, and at 4 p.m. the starboard quarter boat, although extra lashed, blew clear away from the after davit, and had to be cut away to prevent doing further damage. Wind still continuing to blow as hard as ever, and ship rolling fearfully, a complete wreck ; still keeping remarkably tight. 8 p.m., still blowing hard from south wind veering quickly round, and by 10 p.m. had reached S.S.W., weather brightening up, and barometer rising, which has never been lower than 29 ° 23'. Still blowing hard, but gusts not so severe. Midnight moderating fast. Barometer at 29 ° 50'. Sky brightening up. Ship laying-to with tarpaulin in mizzen rigging; all hands employed in clearing away the wreck. 10th, at 6 a.m.—Found fore-trees gone. Secured the yards with difficulty; ship rolling heavy, and straining a good deal, but neither shipping nor leaking any water of consequence. Noon, moderate and cloudy. 4 p.m., got foresail bent and set. 10 p.m., bent mizen topsail and set it to steady ship, and head to wind and sea as much as possible, also a portiou of the bowsprit fast, by a warp from forward, to assist in doing same. Midnight, ship rolling heavily, and sea striking heavily under the counter at times ; the wind now falling light at S.W. 11th.—A.M., light winds and showery. At daylight commenced clearing away and sending down stump of foretopmast, Carpenter getting a jurymast ready, and other spars for mainmast, with assistance from several tradesmen among the passengers. At 7.30 ship hove in sight, signalled her, when she immediately bore away for us. She proved to be the barque Constance of Auckland, and also bound to that port. Asked her to report us at Auckland, but he kindly offered to take us in tow until relief was had or the ship put into condition to proceed on our voyage, to which I readily and thankfully accepted, fearing that in the disabled state of the Bombay, and the number of souls on board, that if caught in "another gale on the West Coast of New Zealand, we could do nothing for ourselves. At 10 a.m. she took us in tow, wind continuing light from S.W. Noon, fore course, crossjack, and mizen staysail set; busily employed getting our jury-masts and gear ready ; at 8 p.m. light winds and fine weather; midnight, calm and cloudy. 12th. Calm and cloudy, with occasional light flaws of wind, until 5 a.m., then got a light breeze from about W.N.W.; at 9 a.m. got up jury mainmast. Noon, continued light airs, and by 6 p.m. got up jury foiefopmast and out bowsprit, and had the following canvass set: — Maintopgallant sail and royal on mainmast, crossjack and mizen staysails, forecourse and jib. By midnight a fine westerly breeze, going along at the rate of seven knots, and fine clear weather; Constance doing very well.

13th.—a.m., fine steady breezes and showery; at 2.30 a.m. unfortunately our tow-rope broke: shortened sail and hauled it in ; made sail again and proceeded ; Constance shortened sail and came back again at 7 a.m., but having the ship nearly in a manageable condition did not require any further assistance in the shape of towage, but desired him to be kind enough to proceed on to Auckland and report our condition to the agent, Mr. W. Graham, so that in case of foul winds retarding our promay send us assistance of steam, but with a fair wind hope to be able to reach without any further assistance. Noon, light and fine ;by 6 p.m. had foretopsail, with topmast and lower studdingsail on her, SO that wiili a fair breeze we will now be able to do some good ; at 8 p.m., night fine and clear, wind about W. 14th. —a.m., light airs and fine clear weather, barometer getting very high ; got all jury gear rigged and sails set, so that now with a fine favorable wind we could soon reach Auckland.

15th—Light winds and calms, variable till noon ; at 6 a.ra. made the Three Kings, bearing E. by N., distant fourteen miles. Noon, they bore the centre, K.E. by E., distant live or six miles ; light steady northerly winds and clear weather. Midnight, light winds and clear weather.

16th—a.m., light winds and fine pleasant weather. Noon, fine winds and weather ; North Cape at S. by W., distant eleven miles, and schooner in shore of us; at

p.m. steamer hove in sight. H.M. s.s. Curocoa, Commodore Wiseman, bound to Melbourne, took us in tow between the Cavallos and Cape Brett, and anchored at 11 a.m. in the harbor at Auckland. The Bombay has, in spite of her disasters, come into port in a most creditable manner. The ship is beautifullv clean, and the arrangements tor the comfort of the passengers exceedingly good. She brings 386 passener3, and has lost four by death. Four births occurred.