THE CENTURION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7974, 14 June 1887, Page 4

THE CENTURION.

Yesterday forenoon the ship Centurion, from London, came Into port in tow of the Awhina, and under the superintendence of the deputyharbourmaster wan berthed at the end of the Qaeen-street Wharf during the afternoon. The Centurion pays her first viiit to Auckland, although she is not by any means a stranger to Australian porte, most of her trading having been done between London and Sydney; but the great revolution that stoam has made in late years in the trade with the colonies, and the severe competition that has thus arisen, has com-, pelled sailing vessels to drop out of their ordinary grooves, and. as the phrase goes, to go " seeking." To this, in a large measure, are we due for the present visit of the Centurion, ■which comes into harbour under charter to the New Zealand Shipping Co. The ship is a fine wholesome-looking iron ship of 1253 tons gross, and 1194 tons nett, and bails from that great shipbuilding centre, Glasgow, having been turned out by that well-known building firm, A. Stephen* and Sons, for Mr. J. McKellar, in the year IS6S. Like the Centurion, her master, Captain Widdicombe, is also a 9tranijer to this port. Ho has brought his fire vessel into harbour in capital order. The shipping company early in the afternoon had the vessel reported inwards at the Customs, so that consignees of good* must be prompt in getting their entries passed and their freight paid, as all goods that may impede the ship in her discharge will be stored at the consignee's risk, and. what is more, their expense. Of the passage of the ship there is little to report, it having been a moit uneventful and uninteresting one. London was taken departure from on the 6th March last, and on the 12th the ship cleared the English Channel, light winds prevailing, and so continued, with moderate fine weather, through the N.E. trades. The equator was crossed on the 6th April, and the S.E. trades proved moderately good, and the ship made very fair progress until coming across the j Southern Ocean, when very dirty weather was met witb, accompanied by heavy and almost continuous rains. On the 3rd instant Tasmania was rounded, and from thence to the New Zealand coast fine weather prevailed. The : North Cape was rounded on Saturday night last. I PORT OF ONEHUNGA. DEPARTURES. Gairlocb. s.s., McArthur. for Waitara. Pas* sengers : Messrs. George, McLaughlan, Owen, Kendiab, Syms, Gallagher, and four natives.— A. Btrnes, agent. Rotorua, b.s., Neville, for the South. — Pas sengers: Messrs. Flyger, Buchanan, H. F. Christie, G; Wright, A. B. Heather, R. J. Sraythe, Mesdames Buchanan, Flyger, Dingle, Misses Christie, Buchanan, Smale. — Union S.S. Co., agents. Herald, 8.5., Jones, for Greymouth.— Stone Bro«., agents. Macgregor, «.s., Johnson, for Wanganui. Passengers : Messrs. Applin, Hamilton, Westfold.—A. Barnes, ageat. Manukau, s.s., Schnauer, for WaiuVu and way ports. Seven passengers. —G. Vause, agent. The Northern Co.'a g.s, Gairloch, for Waitara. took her departure at 2 o'clock yesterday with 250 cases tin, 39 ingots tin, 30 piss lead, 2 casks crockery, 30 bags sugar, 8 cases tea, 19 bags rica, 3 cases boot*, 6 canes drugs, 20 oases fish, 18 packages samples, and 70 sundry packages. The Northern Co.'s e.g. llacgregor, for Wanganui, took her departure at 6 o'clock last night, with 16 cases and 4 bales drapery, 3 cases stationery, 15 cases kerosene, 190 bags sugar, 6 trunks boots, 4 cases corrugated iron, 15 cases sewing'machines, 15 sacks lime, and 197 sundry packages. The Union Co.'s s.b, Rotorua, Captain Neville, for the South, took her departure at 2-30 p.m. yesterday, with a general cargo and several pas» sengers. The s.s. M*nukarj, for Waiuku and way ports, left yesterday at noon with a full cargo. The s.s. Herald. Captain Jonea, for Groymouth, took her departnre at 4 o'clock yesterday, with 19 cases drapery, 10 cases gingor ale, 1 case piano, 10 oases sardines, 4 cases tobacco, 1 bundle tubs, 2 oases boots, 2 bundles mouldings, and 70 sundry packages. Y~T~E~Ju~Z~Z~irZ _. WELLINGTON. June 13.—Sailed : S.s. Penguin, for Picton and Nelson ; s.s. Wakatipu, for Sydney ; a.a. Wairarapa, for the South. LYTTELTON. June 13.—Sailed : U.s. Grafton, for Dunedin, via Timaru; s.s. VTainui, for Dunedin; s.s. Wanaka and Mahinapua, for Wellington. PORT CHALMERS. June 13.—Arrived : Inveroargil, from Invercargill. Sailed: S.s. Hawea, for the North. Passengers :—For Lyttolton : Mrs. Graham and Mr. Winter. For Nelson : Dr. Dick and 2in the steerage. S.s. Kakanui, for Riverton,