SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1401, 14 May 1868, Page 2

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

MAY 13. WEATnER—Fine; Wind S.W. ARRIVALS. O.G. Sturt, p. 8., Captain Fairchild, from the Eawau, with passengers. Midge, 5.8., Stuart, from the Thames, with passengers. Joanna, schooner, 54 tons, Norton, from Bay of Islands, with coals. Tay, cutter, 16 tons, Hopkinß, from Port Charles, with 8,600 feet timber. DEPARTUaES. Enterprise, p.s., Seon, for the Thames, with passengers. Tauranga, s.s., Sellars, for the Thames, with passengers. Lion, barque, 180 tons, Howard, for Hokianga. Herald, schooner, 53 tons, Matheson, for Russell via Omaha, with 3377 feet timber. Zephyr, schooner, 57 tons, Clendon, for Bay of Islands, in ballaat. Meteor, schooner, 43 tons, Btuckey, for East Coast via Kennedy's Bay, with sundries. Tay, cutter, 16 tons, Hopkins, for Port Charles, with sundries. Severn, cutter, 18 tons, Lombard, for the Thames, with sundries. PROJECTED DEPABTUBES. For Nbw Bedford, U.S.—Empress, early. Bay of Islands.—Joanna, early. Thames. — Midge, to-day. Riveßhead —Gemini, daily, at noon. Sn>NET. —Ethan Allen, 16th. WAuaAiusi add MasGapai.—Elf, to-day. Tatjranqa.—Jane, to-day. Kbnnedt's Bay.—Tauranga, to-day.

VESSELS EXPECTED. H.M.s.b. Blanche, from Englan d - . H.M.s.s. Rosario, from England Vla Sydney. Kacehorae, ship, from London. Constance, barque, from London (loading)* Novelty, barque, from Sydney. Charlotte Ann, barque, from Nelson. Ellesmere, barque, from Sydney. Alice Cameron, barque, from San Francisco. Moa, brig, from Tahiti. Bita, brig, from Sydney. Pakeha, brig, from Melbourne. Kenilworth, brigantine, from New Caledonia. Neva, schooner, from Tahiti. Kate Grant, schooner, from South Sea Islands. Clyde, schooner, from South Sea Islands. Blue Bell, schooner, from Fijis. Swallow, schooner, from Lyttleton. Aspaaia, schooner, from Lyttelton. William and Julia, Bchooner, from Weßt Coast. Sea Breeze, schooner, from Bay of Islands. Excelsior, schooner, from Kaipara. Bittern, cutter, from Norfolk Island. VESSELS IN HARBOUR. [Not including coasting cutters.] H.M. s.s. Brisk, from Sydney. (J.Q. Sturt, p.a., from Wikawau. Tauranga, s.s., from the Thames. Midge, s.s., from the Thames. Enterprise No. 1, p.s., on ferry service. Gemini, s.s., on ferry service. Duke of Edinburgh, b.s. (new). Ethan Allen, barque, from San Francisco. Thane of Fife, schooner, from Dunedin. Jane, schooner, from Tauranga. Helen, schooner, from Wangaroa Joanna, schooner, from Russell.

The B.s. Midge returned from the Thames but evening with 100 paaaengers, and will leave again at 280 p.m. to-day. The Constance. —The Circular Saw liner Constance, Captain Elliott, was to leave London for this port on the 10th Match. She may, therefore, be expected here early next month. The outter Aquila, Captain Seek, will sail for Mercury Bay this morning, at 12 a.m. The hrigantine Sea Gull, Captain .Rogers, is loading timber at Kaipara for Melbourne, and will take her departure in about seven daysThe sohooner Onward, with a cargo of coals from the Bay of Islands, arrived at the Thames ye3terday morning. The Aht/riri.—The N.Z.S.N". Company's s.s. Ahuriri, Captain Fiowerday, is expected here from "Wellington, Napier, and Tuurauga, on Monday next, the 18tli instant, and the b.s. "Wellington is due in the "Manukau from "Wellington, Taranaki, and other poits on Tuesday next, the 19th instant. The Ethan Allbn-.—This fine vessel has turned out the whole of her cargo in splendid condition, and will he laid on this morning for Sydney and Ban Francisco. To persons wishing to proceed to Sydney or San Francisco this vessel offers accomodation yery seldom met with in sailing vessels. She can easily accommodate twenty passengers in her saloon, which is fitted up with every possible comfort and convenience. The Ethan Allen also hears the reputation of being a very fast sailing vessel, and will, no doubt, make a good run from this to Sydney. On her recent voyage from San Francisco, she came over under the able command of Captain Friend, in 46 days, which, considering the unfavorable winds she experienced, was a splendid run. Mes irs. Thornton, Smith, and Firth, are agents for the vessel, of whom any particulars as to freight or passige may be obtained. T'lß Sturt.—The Colonial Government p.s. Sturt, Captain Fairchild, left the "Wynyard Pier with despatches for Sir George Grey, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and arrived at the Kawau during the night, leaving again for Auckland on the following morning at 11 am. The yacht Albatrosß, with His Lordship the Earl of Pembroke, had sailed for the Great Barrier, and may be expected in Auckland during next week, prior to sailing for Sydney. The barque Prince Alfred, bound out, was sighted off the Barrier yesterday morning. The Sturt, after taking in Bay of Islands coal, will ;load with ammunition, rifles, stores, &c, for the übb of the Volunteers in the Southern provinces. She will probably take her departure Ito-morrow. Several passengers are proceeding by her. Freights at Newcastle are now ruling as follows: Shanghai, 455; Hongkong, 355; Foochow, 30s ; Nir.gpo, 355; Cheefco, 255; Calcutta, 253; Bombay, 32s 6d; Gahe, 23s ; Ban Francisco, 34b; Singapore, •255; Manilla, 255; Java, 235; Mauritius, 27s 6d ; Optra, 25s ; Panama, 30? ; Yokohama, 435; Auckland, 18s; Wellington.. 20j ; Nelson, 19s; Pojt Cooper, 20s; Wanganui, 255; Port Napier, 255; Hokitika, 35s ; «Uago, 21s : Adelaide, 16s 6d; "Wallaroo, 19s ; Brisbane, 14s; New Caledonia, 20j ; Melbourne, 15s; and Hobson'a Bay, 14s 6d. The shipping business during the past four weeks has been exceeding brisk, and, consequently, a large quantity of coal has been shipped, notwithstanding the numerous holidays that have interfered with it. The total quantity shipped since our last summary exceeds that of last month by 3000 tons, being 62,528 tons, of which 17.246 tons were for Sydney, 18,990 for Melbourne, 5619 for New Zealand, 3117 for South Australia, 1139 for Tasmjmia, 2800 for Panama, 1222 for Foochow, 3555 for Shanghai, 892 for Hongkong, 1085 for Manila, 637 for Opara, 204 for Clarence River, and 3135 tons used for steamers and home consumption.- Newcastle Chronicle, April 22.

Thb Joakha. —The schooner Joanna, Captain Norton, arrived in harbour last evening with a cargo [ of coals from the Bay of Islands for Messrs. Thornton, ' - Smith, and Firth's mills. The s.s. "Wallaby has been sold to Mr. J. Freeth . for the sum of £4,500.— Wellington Independent. The well-known wool ship Mermaid was towed out . of haibour on her homeward voyage on Saturday evening by the Gazelle. Captain Bose, before leaving, fired his customary Balnte. On arriving at the ' Heads a westerly wind was qnickly taken advantage of, and the vessel was well under weigh when the pilot left her, The total value of her cargo is estimated at £61,233.— Hid. The s.b. MiTiT/BA. — This magnificent vessel, which leaves for Panama via Wellington on the Ist May, has, as ÜBnal with all the P. and N. Z. Co.'a ships, received a most complete overhaul, although from the excellent manner in which the hull and machinery was originally constructed, little or no labour has been required beyond the necessary painting, &c. The usual trial trip was made on Saturday morning the result being most favorable. She steamed ! down to the Heads, then returned by the Eastern Ohannel, and when off the Bottle and Glasß the helm ! was ported, and a second time she headed to the eastward, the engines being kept at full speed, passing close to Middle Head. On opening the Hsads, the helm was again ported, and the Mataura kept heading up the harbour, and finally reached her moorings about 11 a.m. Her commander, Captain Bird, was on hoard, together with Captain "Woods, the Company's marine superintendent; Mr. Bailey, the superintendent engineer ; Mr. M'Arthur, of the Waterview Bay Dry Dock; and Mr. Dalgleish, the government steam inspector, all of whom expressed themselves highly satisfied with the results attained. The Mataura has on board 1200 tons coal, and is some 20 inches by the head, but still she ran the measured mile in 4 minutes 35 seconds' —the engines making 69 revolutions, the pressure of steam being 20 lbß., and the vacuum 24, or about at the rate of 13J knots per hour.— Sydney Berald, April 27.

H. M. S. Blanch.—This fine war steamer, commissioned for the Australian station, to relieve the Brisk, is now on her way out. The limes of February 24, furnishes the following particulars of her trial tiip, which will doubtless prove interesting: — After a rough trial ofi the Maplin Sands, and a couple of runs over the Admiralty standard measured in Stokes Bay, off Portsmouth, on Thursday, the screw corvette (unarmoured wooien) Blanche, 6 guns, 1268 tons, 350 horse power, Captain J. B. Montgomoria, was put through her crucial trial of .' peed at her deepest load draught over the t-tokes Bay course on Friday, under the superintendence of Captain W. 0. Chamberlain, commanding her Majesty's ship Asia and the steam reserve at Portsmouth. The office: b on Captain Chamberlain's staff -who conducted the trial were Chief Engineers W. G-. Wratten, and J. Deal, of the .Reserves, and Assistant-Inspector of Machinery, W. H. Steil. Mr. James Steil, inspecting officer of machinery to the Engineer-in-Ghief of the Navy, and Mr. J. B. Crosßland, assistant constructor, were present from "Whitehall. The rough trial of the Bhip on the Maplin Sands mile gave her a mean speed of 13.05 knots, hut Mr. Bavenhill, of the firm of Uavenhill and Hodgson, the manufacturers of the engines, being convinced that the engines had more power in them than had been even then developed, and as increased power of the machinery simply meant increased speed to the ship, the latter was ordered to make her final trial over the Standar d mile in Stokes Hay, on her way down Channel. Mr. Ravenhill's anticipations have been fully confirmed by the results of Friday's trial, foreshadowed as the latter was by the two runß made over the mile on the previous day, which then gave the ship an increase of a quarter of a knot per hour over the rate attained on the Maplin Sands mile. On Friday morning on weighing her anchor from Spit head to enter upon her trial, the Blanche drew 13 feet 4 inches of water forward, and 16 feet 8 inches aft. All the yarda were aloft on the three masts of the ship to royals, and all sails were bent. Two hundred and seventv tons of coal were on board, all other stores were complete to six months, and the ship was in all respects ready to proceed to Bea from the trial ground. In accordance with 'Admiralty regulations, the machinery of the ship was, during the trial, in charge of Mesers. Bavenhill and Hodgson, who were both present, under the conditions imposed by the Admiralty circular. The ship's engines are of the present accepted type for her Majesty's navy, fitted with surface condensers and super-heating apparatus, of 350 horse power (nominal), and precisely similar in their general arrangements to those supplied by the same makers to the Nymphe, Daphne, and other vessels of the same class. The cylinders have a diameter of 63 J inches, with a length of stroke 33 inches. They drive a "Mangin" screw of 14ft. 7in. diameter, having a pitch, leading, of 15 feet 1 inches, and following of 17 feet j a mean length of 12 inches, And an immersion of the upper edges of 7 inches. The weather was very favorable for the trial, the wind being from about N.W., and the water quite smooth over the mile. The Blanche entered upon her first mile by running to the westward over I the first of the east-going tide. The general results, as will be demonstrated by the subjoined figures, proved to be most satisfactory. Measured mile, full boiler-power, six runs.—Speed of ship each run, in knots, 13-383, 13-954,, 13235, 14-062,13-187, and 14-118. h evolutions of the engines per mile, 394, 382, 402, 377, and 379. Revolutions of the engines per minute, 87 88, 88'83, 88-68, 88-37, 8857, and 8917- Mean steam pressure in boilers, 33 lb.; in engine-room, 33 ft. Mean vacuum, 27 inches. Mean speed of the ship under full boiler power, 13-631 knots per hour. Half-boiler power, four runs. —Speed of ship each run, in knots, 11-111, 12-996, 10-435, and 12-903. Mean speed ef the ship under half-boiler power, 11-778 knots per hour. The foregoing rates of speed place the Blanche considerably above the Danae, the only other vessel of precisely similar tonnage and nominal engine power that has passed the tesn of the measured mile under both full and half-boiler power ; and as both the Danae and the Blanch have been built from the same set of drawings, this excess in speed by the Blanch over the Danae is undoubtedly a great credit to the Messrs. Bavenhill and Hodgson, whose engines ran throughout yesterday's trials without a check or trouble of }he slightest kind. In testing the turning power of the ship by putting her through circles under full and half-boiler power, the main results were :—With ful-boiler power, completed a circle to starboard in 3 minutes 57 seconds, and to port in 3 minuteß 48 seconds, four men being at the wheel, and the vessel steering with unusual ease and quickness. Under half-boiler power, a circle was made to port in 4min. 33 seconds, and to starboard in 4 minutes 8 seconds. The action of the " Mangin " screw, driven with full power, was accompanied by the heavy thumping action upon the stern of the ship immediately over the Bcrew at each revolution, that was so marked « feature in the vibratory action attending the working of this sirew in tha experimental trials made with it in competition with other screws in the trials m:ide some five or six years since with the Shannon frigate. The Blanche has been fitted with great care, except in one very important particular connected with her armament, and will go to sea with her officers and crew possessing much more than the average amount of messing and sleeping accommodation for a vessel of her tonnage, and with every part of her between decks admirably ventilated. The exception relates to her two 6J ton rifle guns, which, by oome incomprehensible arrangement, are mounted on old-fashioned wooden carriages and slides, and this when it is understood to be the now established regulation for all such guns to be only mounted on board any of her Majesty's ships on the adopted iron carriage and slide*. After, all, however, the Blanche iB but a wooden built vessel without armour-platins, and is, therefore, now out of date as a fighting machine.

PORT OP ONEHUNGA.

ENTERED XNWAEDS. Mai 13. Ann, schooner, 19 tons, W. McKay, from Charleston, West Coast, in halla&t.—J. Fleming, agent. The schooner Ann, from Charleston, experienced bad weather along the coast. On the 10th hove-to in a heavy gale from the 5.8., for twenty-four hours