SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VI, Issue 1628, 9 February 1869, Page 2

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

Weather.—February B.—Dmettled. Wiifd, E.S.E. ARRIVALS. Tanranga, schooner, GO tons, Bolger, from Bay of Islands, with produce. A rgo, schooner, 35 tons, D&vies, from Wangarei, with produce. Margaret, schooner. 87 tonß, Harrold, from Danedin, with general cargo. Speedwell, ketch, 25 tone, from Great Barrier, with firewood. Margaret, cutter, 21 tons, from Kawau, with firewood. Bingdove, cutter, 21 tons, from Kawau, with firewood. Tay, cutter, 16 tonß, from Hot Springs, with timber. From the Thames. Steamers : Lalla Kookb, Dnke of Edinburgh. Cutters: Cassia, Avon, Glance. DEPARTURES. Tell, barq-'e, Stephenson, for Newcastle, in ballast. Aurora, schooner, 52 tons, Brain, for Kaipara, in ballast. Tay, cutter, 16 ton?, Sullivan, for Hot Springs, with sundries. Whitby, cutter, 21 tons, Doughty, for Opotiki, with timber, &c. Speedwell, keteh, 35 tons, Bewicke, for Russell, with timber and bricks. Margaret, cutter, 21 tons, Inness, for the Kawau, with sundries. For the Thames. Steamers: Dake of Edinburgh, Enterprise. PROJECTED DKPARTUREB. Fob London.—Countess of Kintore, February 27; Queen Bee, early. RivfeKiiKAD—Gemini, daily, at 17. ft.m. Bat op Islands. —Leonidas and Tauranga, today. WanganUT—Sturt, p e., early. Tahiti. — Kite Grant, 10th inst. Newcastle. —Duke of Edinburgh, 13th inst. Napibu ask the South.—Lord Ashley b.b., 15th inst. VESSELS EXPECTED. H.M.S S. Blanche, from Ka&t Coast. Wellington, s.s., from Southern Poits. Phoebe, f.b , frotn the Southern Poats. Mary !*bepherd, ship, from London. Portland, ship, from London (loading). Percy, ship, from England. (Siiled Nov. 14.) Maori, ship, from Kngland. (bailed October 18.) Bella Mary, barque, from tiobarton. Hapido, barque, from Liverpool.

Pafeeha, brig, from Melbourne. Princess Alice, brig, from Mauritius. Margaret, schooner, from Duncdin. Hannah Newton, schooner, from Melbourne. Hercules, schooner, from Newcastle. Eagle, feetcb, from Napier. Herald, schooner, from Timaru. Miss Kilwinning, schooner, from Adelaide. VESSELS IN HABBOOB. [This does not include coasting cutter*] Lord Ashley, 8.5., from Sydney.—Henderson & Mmfarlane, agents. Lalla Hookh, p.s.—J. Casey, agent. Enterprise No. I, p.s., (on ferry service). Gemini, s.b., (on ferry service). —J. Casey, agent. Jane, s.s. (repairing). ftoyal Alfred, p.s., from the Thames.—S. H. Smitk,

agent. Halcyon, f from the Thames. —Spinks and Co., agents. Duke of Edinburgh, p.s., from the Thames.—BoSi and Pvrhie, a.ents Enterprise 10. 2, p.s., from the Thameß. —H. B. Morton, ugent. Lady Bowen, p.s., (on ferry service). —M. Niocol, agent. Countess of Kintc■ . ship, from England.—Cruickshank, iimart i C agents. Queen Bee, ship, from London,—Brown, CampbeD, and Co., agents. Duke of Edinburgh, barque, from Newcastle. —Headerson and Macfarlune, agents. Australasian Packet, barque, from Newcastle.— Henderson and Maefarlane, agents. Caroline, brig, from Newcastle.—Henderson wd Macfarlar agents. Mariner, Bohooi.ur, from Kaipara. Excelsior, schooner, from New Caledonia. Southern (Jross. schooner, from Norfolk Island. Kate Grant, schooner, from the South Sea Island*.— Coomhes anci Daldy. agents. Midge, scbooT'pr, from Tahiti.—l/. D. Nathan and Co., agents. Clyde, Bchooner, from Rorotonga.—L. D. Nathan A Co., agents. Onward, s'-hooner, from Tauranga. Kenilworth, schooner, from Batavia. —Cruickshank, Smart & Co. agents. Tawera, schooner, from Poverty Bay.—J. 8. Maofar* lane, agent. Stranger, schooner, from Newcastle.—Stone Bros., agents. Margaret, schooner, from Dnnedia.—W. Gregg & Co., agents. Tauranga, schooner, from Bay of Islands. Argo, schooner, from Wanganui.

IMPORTS. Per Margaret, f~om Dunedin: —Under bond— 70 tea, 10 chests do., 50 do. 20 chests do., Henderson and Macfarlane; 50 cases bottled ale, 30 do. stout, 1 do. cigars, order; 300 kegg blasting powder (under Arms Act), order. Free goods—4o boxes maizeno, 147 casks stnut, 42 eases do., 50 cases nle, 70 do. cordials, 2 bags bacon, 5 cases jhauip, 7 bags hums and bacon, 5 caaei mustard, 5 bales piper bag?, 1 cask salmon, 1 case cigars, 1 parcl, 60 bags malt, ord«r; 1 engine, W. Gregg and Co. ; "5 bags oats, R. Bairdj 20 qr.casks vinegar, ord-r ; 1 hhd. earthenware, 2 c&skg glassware, 1 crate earthenware, 1 case chinawar9, order; 598 bags oats, Henderson and Co.; 20 case* turpentine, 2 do. varnish, 1 do. sundries; 1 do. brushes, 1 bale canvass, 43 drums oil, 3 casks do., 17 do. paint, 1 da. putty, 2 do. whiting, Scan]an, Bros.—Gregg & Co., agents.

ARRIVATi OF TtfE MAKGiRET. The schooner Margaret, Capt. J. Harrold arrived in harbou* yeßtetdav morning from Dunedin, bringing a full caigo of oats, powder, tea, and general merchandise. Tho Margaret sailed from Port Chalmeis on the 14tb ult., and on tbe following day experianced strong eus'erly winds which continued until the 20th. t'n the evening of the 20th the wind veered to N. and N.E , and blew a complete hurri« cane, the barometer being down to 29.30. Thence until the 27th ult, lud a succession of head winds, and on the 28th the wind veered to the Southward. Dn ing the night tbe sky was filled with fire, forked lightning, thunder, and rain, the wind veering all round the compass, and at times blowing with great violence. 'On the 29th tha "weather was more moderate, with light breezes. Hounded the Ettt Cape on the same day, and has since been becalcsied, with light wind*. Made the Great Barrier on Sunday, and arrived in harbour yesterday morning, with • fresh easterly breeze. The Margaret brings two passengers, and iB oon« signed to Messrs. Gregg and Go. We have to thank Captain Harrold for Dunedin papers. PROPOSED HffTBBNATIOSrAL YAOHT HACK, The New York Herald of the 19th of November publishes the subjoined challenge given by Mr. J. Ashbury, owner of the English yacht Cambria, to tht President of the New York Yactit club, and eayi that; " so far, matters have not been fully arranged, but it is hoped that nothing will be left undone to bring about an interna'ional race, wherein the true aeriU of competitors will be brought to the teat. The following are the terms of tbe challenge " Schooner Yacht Cambria, off South Coast of Spain, Oot. 5, 1808. "To the President of the New York Yacht Club,

" Sir, —At the owner of the English schooner yacht Cambria, which some titre ago won therao* round the Isle of Wight against the Atrericaa schoonor Sappho and three crack English realms, I cannot but regret the accident to yonr representative ▼esse], and also my inability to have renamed in England to again race her round the Wight or serose to the coast of France. lam now on a oroiM along the coast of Portugal and Spain, &c., a journey which I postponed at great inconvenience in order lo give me the pleasure of being courteous to the extent of allowing me to enter against so splendid a vessel as the Sappho, the property of an American gentle* man; and I am in hopes this communication will show the owners of the Sappho that they may probably have an opportunity of again testing hef qualities against the Cambria, and in American waters. " All Englishmen believe that, taken as a whole, the art of yacht-building received a great stimulus by the acknowledged victories of tho America in 1851, and now equally hope and believe that the loading English yachts can hold their own against the world; but, America excepted, there are no yachts whiohws think stand any reasonable degree of success agaio&t our vessels of the last few years. All yachtsmen, as well as others, ouly appreciate the compliments your New Tort (. lub have paid us by, from time to time, sending vessels over to this country, and it is a source of much regret on this side of the water that those compliments have not been reciprocated by any leading yacht club deputing one or more of their crack vessels to go to New Xurk waters for racing purposes. " So much do I feel on this subject that I proposed to one of the leading clubs last winter to send to New York an invitation for two or three vessels to come over in time for the races at Cowes and Kyde this year, and then for several of our leading yachts to sail them back to ew Yoi k; and, in order to tempt our friends over here, I proposed thac special sub" scriptions should be solicited from each member of a yacht club wherewith to form a large fund forgiving splendid prize?, irrespective of what the clubs might, give. At the meeting in question I oftered to subscribe anysumup to 500/. and to enter the Oam' r rift for the return race to New York. I mention this in no egotistical spirit, but simply to show that [ desire to fairly test the merits of my vessel against those of America in rough as well as smooth water. onfor« tunntaly this arrangement could not be carried out, as most of the otrners generally leave off vE-hting after the Wight races for grouse and partridge Bhootirtg, or go abroad. " Before my yachting time vcur schooner America had the honour of winning the cup presented by Het Majesty to the Koyal Yacht Squadron, and X am led to believe that the sfew York yacht club have in the most friendly and courteous manner offered the cup in question to be sailed for in New York waters to any English yacht which will compete for it. It U an esteemed honour for any SnglUhman to win at any time the Queen's i'rize, but J venture to think none would he so much valued as the one so triumphantly taken away in 1851 by the America, and subject to conditions which I hope will be deemed equitable and reasonable to all-concerned. I now tno pleasure to ask you to kindly state to your committee that T am disposed to challenge all America for the possession of ihe oup in question " Firstly.—l propose that during or before the season of 1869 the New York Yacht. Club select; their champion sohooner, of a tonnage not to exceed 10 pes Oant. of tho Thames measurement (188 tons) ot

u T.'ie ressM to T fe-ou'd deeirr ♦n ape arri*» in Kn«ltnd in nmol'- time to tnk>.- part «„ the nutclf* -f th<? «ov»l Yacht «qu idron at. Cowe-, Kt, . val "Victoiin Club at hyde, for which racc-sl-.e v.iil d übtlfss hp permitted to enter on time »llown«e."iid mo«.*uroment . 8 perruU-s 0 t cinb?. Th.-s- ra. es a™ hold e.rly in A.igu.t ix to eight or nine in number, round the lsl-mi; (00 miles) the Vi ton > and Queon'e uourse< (al-o about 60! an i pr.--b.Mv a run to i herbourg and back.. f iio rjrizes would be the annual Queen's Cup presentwd to tie Kot.ml Yacht Squa iron ; two mips of £100 each from 'h" towns of Oowes and Hyde, and several £100 mil £50 cups ; and, I may » d d, thiit if tho vacllt could arrive about unr nth earlier sho woull be [n time for some of tho beat ocean races of the Royal Thame# Yacht club. "At these races yur representative vos-iel would meet alt the belt and fastest English and Scotch ysc hts smone others, sehooneis Guinivere, Murm, Cambria, G1 iriana, Itgerin, Albertine, Bine Bell, Pantomime, Oelert, ic. ; yawls Lufra and Julia,; cutter:! Ciina:*a, Cont'or, Fiona. Arrow, and would hive a fair opportunity of testing her qualities during the height of tha Isle of Wi"lit yachting season, and with the temptation of many prizes h irhly Tallied and much sought after, but not for their mere intrinsic value. "Thirdly.—On or about the Ist "eptotnber I WJuld race yourvetsel from the Isle of Wight to New York for a cup or service of silver, value £250; no tiice alhwancee, no restriction a§ to canvas or number of ban s. '* Fourthly.—l would then, at an early date, race tlis said vessel round Long Island, on the Tham--s Yacht Club measurement, and their time allov ance ; two rac.s out of thiee ovt-r this course to decide as to the championship and the final possession of the America Queen's < up of ]Ssl ; if lost I would present the New 1 ork Vac-lit Club, or the owner < f the successful vessel, with a cud value 100 uuitieas; or I would race any other schooner of about, my tounaee oTer the same c< urse on tliu said corulitione, the competing vessel tn have hecn previously pronounced bv the sew York Yaeht t'xub as the fustest Ttsgel in Anier-ca of her Bize and class, and providing the slid Tessel had not been built since tha date of ;hi« communication, ai:d was in all respects a ceagoing vessel and not a mere shell or racing machine. '■ At your earliest convenience I shall be glad to hear from you or tho club secretary on the subjeot. Meanwhile, believe me, yours truly, " .IA"UE3 Asheuhy. " p.g.—Pleaso address your reply to 6, Easternterrace, Brighton."

OUR KInGLISH SIITP3. To the liditor of the Herald. Sra,—There is an ancient riddle—" which is the Oddest, you or If" nnd the writer in the shipping columns of the Daily Southern Cross of yesterday might with truth reply " I am," !or he is certainly the queerest querist that ever wrote in the columns of a newspaper, a.id ] do not wonder that the Editor of the Daily Southern Crost preferred publi.-bing querist's production Lf paste and scissors in its naked beauty, without appending an opinion, for as he probably has subscribers holding opposite -views on the q :eetion, he hare offended one side or the other by any expression tf feeling. I ; conclude, from the extracts from your paper being placed ysrd-Brm and yard-arm, that Querist imagines that"there is some inconnruits between your two statements of October and February. Hiving read over both carefully I must confess that until further illuminated by the brilliancy of the paste anil scissor man, I fail to perceive any discrep«n r y* In the extract from your paper of the 241h October you complain cf the monoply existing in the carrying trade between London and thi<s Port, and fuggest that something ought to be done &• remedy the grievance. It would appear that nothing i* done —at least nothing to the point—that the mer chants prefer to " grin and bear it," to instituting at cnce a line ot their own ; and on the 4th instant you congratulate the importers of Auckland upon having a better class of ships laid on for the port, —the result of the improved state of Ihe Province. Of course, it is patent that the opinions of ■Rekald •snd Mr. J. Macfarlane are diametrically opposed, but it strikes me or. the face of it that Mr. Macfarlane and you haTe not got- hold of the same rope. Mr. Jlncfarlane soys, "In place of jyletsrh. Shaw, Savil'.e & Co. having given snti?f iction to the Auckland merchants during the last six or tight years, &c." In neither of the extracts from y ur paper do I observe that you make any attempt at saying that Shaw, Saville*& Co. have given .satisfaction to Auckland merchants ; so far frotnit, in the issue of the 24th October you convey a very opposite opinion jbutsubsequently.whenyou hsarthatShaw, Saville & Co. have pnt on a superior class of vessels, you, very properly, speak highly of them, in eontiast to any ether line which is at present established. I agree with Jlr. Macfarlane, as ind>ed do we all, fo a ereat extent, but at the same I would say, if lotcer freights would pay, why did not Auckland merchants long since charter their own bottoms, and carry merchandise at the loicest post ile rates ? lf monoply has existed, who has been to blame ?—I am, &c., Babnacle,

The schooner Aurr.ra proceeds to ETaipara to load timber for the South. The b rque Tell took her departure for Newcastle yesterday morniDg, leaving the harbour with a fair wind. The schooner Tauranga arrived from the Bay of Island* yesterday morning, with a quantity of gum and other produce. Erection of a Light at the Sandspit—We would rail the attention of masters of vessels trading to the Thames, to a paragraph which appearo in our local colon]us, from which it will be seen that there is every probability of a light being erected on the Sean Rock near the Sandapit passage. It is also proposed to two or three lights for the guidance of vessels at the Port of Auckland. The cutter Wangarci brings 66 sheep, 2 head cattle, 3 tons luggage, a quantity of settlers' produce, and 14 passengers. Ths 8.8. Phoebe is expected in harbour from Ifapier and the fouth during the present week, and the lord Ashley is advertised to leave for the Southern ports on tbe 16th inßtsnt.