SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 118, 19 July 1873, Page 10

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

arrived. JULY. 11, Spray, schooner, 60 tons, Clarkson, from Lyttelton. „ . , , 11, Ladybird, s.s., 286 tons, Daniels, from Lyttelton. Passengers: Mr and Mrs Foley, Messrs Abbott, Fisher, Donald, Fitzgerald, M'Gillivray, O’Conor, Jay, Hooper; 9 for the Worth. ' 14, Albion, s.s., 591 tons, M'Lean, from Melbourne, via the South. Passengers: Major Croker, Hon W. Robinson and family, Hon Mr and Mrs Peter, Colonel Brett, Messrs Mason, Lambert, Cook, Murray, Thomson, Stewart, Cuthbertson, Palmer, Bluett, Webb, Brown, Studholme, Parker, Thompson j 5 steerage ; 25 for other ports. 14, Heversham, barque, 465 tons, Yule, from Newcastle--14, Schiehallion, barque, 602 tons, from London. Passengers —Cabin : Mr Cooper ; Government immigrants: Messrs I/ewers, Bowen, W. Jones, Sam Jones, M'Keanon, Angove, Payne, James Jones. 14, Halcione, ship, 842 tons, Bishop, from London. Passengers —Cabin : Mr and Mrs Burnett, Mrs Mills, Mrs Bishop, Mr and Mrs Caulier, Miss Mitchell, Messrs Butler, Hadfield, Riach, and Master Bishopsecond cabin : Mr and Mrs Kilminster, Mrs Bailey and 3 children, Mr and Mrs Sanson, Misses Sanson (2), Mr Lowes, wife, and children: 252 steerage. 15, Luna, p.s., 296 tons, Fairchild, from the North. Passengers : Hon H. Chamberlain, Hon Every M'Lean, Reader Wood, M.H.R , D. M. Luckie,M.H.R., W. Swanson, M.H.R., Archibald Clark, M.H.R , W. Buckland, M.H.R., J. C. Andrew, M.H.R., Wi Xateni, M.H.R., Mrs Kateni, Owen. Joneß, Morrin, Windley, Deas, Major Atkinson, Stevenson, Miss Horne, Misses Buckland (2), Wm. Berry, John J. Utting. 15, Wellington, s.s., 262 tons, Carey, from the South. Passengers: Sir J. C. Wilson, Messrs Rclleston, Rhodes, Reeves, Mervyn, Webster, Tancred, Wheeler, Carrick, Maekay, Purnell, Francis; 3 for North, and 12 in the ateerage. 15, Lyttelton, p.s., 86 tons, Scott, from Blenheim. 15, Wellington, ship, 696 tons, Hill, from Newcastle. Passengers :Mr and Mrs Larn■on, Messrs Yule, Beck. 16, Esk, barque, 415 tons, Stevenson, from Newcastle.

15, Aspasia, schooner, 44 tons, Thompson, from East Coast. 15, Ruby, sohooner, 24 tons, Frazer, from Kaikoura. 16, Falcon, ketch, 37 tons, Morrison, from Blenheim. 15, XXX, ketch, 20 tons, Fisk, from Wairau. 15, Janet Grey, schooner, 30 tons, Ware, from Lyttleton. 16, Rangatira, s.s., 196 tons, Hepburn, from Wanganui and Manukau. Passengers : Mrs Betoki, Rev Mr Paterson, Messrs Nelson, Samuels, Stevens ; 1 steerage. 17, Taranaki, s.s., 281 tons, Wheeler, from Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manukau. Passengers : Colonel Kenny, Mrs Murray, Mrs Watson, Mrs Richmond, Mr and Mrß Rawlings, Miss Rawlings, Mr and Mrs Barton, Father Bensfeld, Miss O’Neill, Captain Kenny, Messrs O’Neil), Curtis, White, Richmond, Stuart, Woolcock, Scully, Dalton, Turner, Johnson, Bell, Hunt; 15 steerage ; 21 saloon and 11 steerage for the South. SAILED. 12, Ladybird, 268 tons, Daniels, for Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manakau. Passengers : Mr and Mrs Anderson and daughter, Miss Gully, Miss Trice, Mrs Dutton, Messrs Hunt, Beafcson, Hirst, Dodson, Mame, Binckley, M'Bride; 6 steerage. 14, Albion, s.s., 591 tons, M'Lean, for Melbourne, via "West Coast. 14, Amateur, ketch, 25 tons, Hamilton, for Pieton. 16, Rangatira, s.s., 185 tons, Hepburn, for Napier. 17, Taranaki, s.s., 299 tons, Wheeler, for Lyttelton. Passengers : Messrs King, Francis, Neill, Orbell; 7 steerage. The barque Schiehallion, Captain Levack, from London, arived in port on Monday morning, after a passage of 78 days. Left Gravesend on Monday, April 21, at 7 p.m., and at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the 23rd, was reported off Start Point; on Saturday, May 10, spoke the British ship Jessie Readman, from Wellington to London, in latitude 4deg north, longitude, 26deg west ; on Monday, May 12, at 6 a.m., crossed the equator in longitude 25 deg west; passed Trinidad Island od Wednesday, May 21; on Friday, May 30, passed Tristan d’Acumba Island ; on Monday, June 2 crossed the meridian of Greenwich, in latitude 38deg south, and that of the Cape on Saturday. June 7, in latitude 41deg south ; She experienced an average passage. The ship Halcione, which arrived in harbor in company with the Schielhallion, left the Docks on the 16th April, and Gravesend on the 18th ; London Channel pilot on the 20th, and got out of the Channel on the 21st; crossed the equator on the 13th May, and passed Trinidad on the 22nd ; had tolerably fine weather up to this time, and then pretty moderate weather, with a gale or two and damp weather up to the 29th June, since whioh baffling easterly winds and calms up to the 13th July, when Cape Farewell bore at noon east half south 22 miles, arriving in Wellington as above. She brings 11 cabin passengers, 14 second cabin, and 254 immigrants, and 33 in crew, and owing to the unusual number of children, they make in all 384 souls. There have been five deaths on board during the passage. It is with regret we record the death of Mrs A. J. H&dfield, after • long iUnen.

The following testimonial to the eaptain and officers of the Halcione has been handed to us for publication :—We, the saloon passengers of the Halcione wish to express our appreciation of the ability of Captain Bishop, chief officer, Mr Wright, second officer, Mr Beck, and Dr Bosley, and tender our sincere thanks for their kind endeavors to promote our comfort and happiness on the voyage from London to this port.—H. Hanlier, Emily Hanlier, Cornelius Burnett, L. C. Burnett, A. John Hadfield, Thomaß G. Riach, Priscilla Mills, Mary J. Mitchell. The N.Z.S.S. Co’s steamship Phoebe may be shortly expected from Sydney, where she has been undergoing a thorough repair. She is now brig-rigged, has an open transom with four lights through the stern ; the deck-liouse and skylight are the same as the Ladybird s ; and the ladies’ cabin is enlarged. The fore cabin is enlarged, and there is a forecastle on deck for the sailors and firemen. Her bottom is in first-class condition, and with the overhauling that has taken place, she will be as good as a new ship. On the whole, she will be more comfortable, and second to none of her tonnage in these colonies. The following is an official comparative return of the arrivals and departures at this port between the quarters ending June 30, 1872, and 1873 Arrivals (1872) : Great Britain, 1 ship (444 tons) ; New South Wales, 10—3898 tons ; other ports, 17—8685 tons ; Coastwise, 100 —16.761 tons ; making a total of 128 vessels and 29,788 tons. Arrivals (1873) : Great Britain, 6 ships (4282 tons) ; New South Wales, 8—3393 tons ; other ports, 14 —7775 tons ; coastwise, 146 —22,521 tons ; making a total of 174 —37,971 tons. The departures for the same quarter of 1872 were : Great Britain, 1 ship —702 tons ; New South Wales, 10—3898 tons ; other ports, 17 —8685 tons ; coastwise, 100 —16,761. Totals, 128 vessels, 30,046 tons. Departures for same quarter (1873) : Great Britain, 2 ships —1425 tons; New South Wales, 11 —5413 tons ; other porta, 15 —8612 tons ; coastwise, 146 — 22,521 tons. Totals, 174—37,971 tons. The Home agent of the province of Otago, in a letter to the Superintendent, dated 6th March, says : —“ On the subjects of steam navigation between this country and Otago, I have received from Mr Galbraith a letter, dated 3rd inst, wlpch I fear precludes all hope of any present arrangement being made with him on that subject. I beg to enclose a copy of the letter.” The following is the letter referred to :—“ Glasgow, 3rd March, 1873. John Auld, Esq, Edinburgh. —Dear Sir, —I have your letter in reference to the communication addressed to you by his Honor the Superintendent of the province of Otago, on the subject of a steam service between England and New Zealand. I much regret that, just now, it is impossible for me to entertain any proposition for the establishment of such a line of steamers —the present enormous cost of construction being quite prohibitory to an enterprise of this character. When Mr Dillon Bell and Dr Featherston were in England together, about two years ago, I spoke to them on this subject, and then I was prepared, in conjunction with Mr Denny (who has built for, and is associated with me, in most of our steamers), to have taken up and carried through on very reasonable conditions a monthly line of steamers to New Zealand, via the Cape, of a size to obviate the necessitv of coaling on the passage, and of such power as to have brought the voyage under fifty days. Mr Bell seemed to be willing to entertain and encourage such an undertaking ; but Dr Featherston would listen to nothing said in favor of the route proposed as against the then contemplated service via San Francisco, since carried out —or, I should rather say, attempted but failed to be carried out. At that time the cost of building was between 60 and 75 per cent less than it is now, and the vessels could have been constructed in twelve months; while now —even were prices what prudence would warrant to be given—no first-class builder could deliver steamers, of size and p ower required, in less than two years from date of order. Mr Macandrew is quite right as to the stimulus to emigration to New Zealand from this country such a mode of conveyance would ensure—a stimulus which nothing else will afford, and without which this great object of the New Zealand Government will never be fully attained. This, apart from the great comfort and convenience of the route over any other to the general class of New Zealand passengers, and the commercial advantages afforded by the rapid conveyance of cargoes to and from. It could not, however, be carried out without a subsidy, though this—to the extent needed —would be well spent money, and, in my opinion, amply repaid in the benefits secured. —I am, &c (Signed) Jas. Galbraith.”

The sailors in British America recently struck for 2dols a day, and forcibly compelled many who did not approve of the movement to join them. At a meeting of captains and owners it was decided that sailors rated first, second, and third-class should be paid 2dols, Idol 50c, and Idol per day respectively, on condition that they boarded themselves. Two great blue-books have been printed and laid before the House of Commons, containing together above 1200 pages, filled with the usual accounts relating to shipbuilding and dockyard transactions in the financial year 1871-72. One volume shows, for each of the home dockyards and foreign yards, and in detail, the amount paid out of the votes, and its appropriation to the building, completion, and maintenance of her Majesty’s ships ; and there are accounts showing the value of land and buildings, and the stock of timber and stores at the beginning and end of the year. There is an account ship by ship, and an account of expenses for shipbuilding, &c, other than those incurred at her Majesty’s dockyards. There is given this year, for the first time, a detailed statement of the expenditure on each class of experiments coadueted

at the dockyards, &c, during the year. The other volume shows in detail, as in former years, the cost of manufacturing and repairing articles on conversion at the several dock yards and factories. It appears that the difference between the aggregate cost and the rate-book price or value, at which articles have been charged to stock, of the conversions of limber and of articles manufactured in the year is 1.8 per cent. An “ extraordinary scene,” according to the Cornish “Telegraph,” took place the other day at the wreck of the Lalla Rookh at Salcombe. On the arrival of Lloyd’s agent from Dartmouth he made an offer of £1 to each man who would swim through the surf and reach the ship, and £lO if they could unbend all the sails and get them ashore. To attempt to reach the vessel by such means was most hazardous, yet several embraced the offer. On their way now and then the sea would break over them with great force, and one man nearly lost his life, while those on shore watched with breathless anxiety the struggles of the men with the heavy sea that rolled in, tremulous lest any of them should lose their lives ; but eventually all gained the ship. By the time that they hud unbent the sails of the mainmast it was nearly dark, and it was necessary for the men to begin to make their return journey. But with the incoming tide the surf had increased, and there was not one daring enough to make the attempt to swim back. Iu this emergency the rocket apparatus had to be fetched from Prawle, and by this means the men were safely brought ashore. To show what the shipping trade of this colony with Great Britain has reached, we give below the number of ships, and their tonnago, which arrived in New Zealand last

Total, 66 ships, registering 56,006 tns.

The screw steamer Omeo, which is intimately associated with the conveyance of men and material to the Northern Territory for the overland telegraph construction party, and also with the successful navigation of the Roper River, is about to make another trip to Port Darwin. The present venture is also under South Australian auspices, and she will leave Melbourne immediately for Adelaide to embark passengers and ship cargo for the “ Far North.” During the last few weeks tbe Omeo has been undergoing a thorough overhaul and refit, especially aloft. Her rig will be lighter than formerly, and she will now be able to make better headway in steaming against heavy weather. The following particulars of the wreck of the Fidelia are given in the “ European Mail” : —“ The steamer Fidelia, 714 tons, of London, Captain Swainston, sent from England for the mail service between New Zealand and Australia, but calling at Table Bay en route with a cargo of coal for the United Company, was totally wrecked on the night of Monday, April 7, near Cape Recife. She discharged her coal at Table Bay, and shipped a large quantity of produce for the Australian market, Natal, and the Mauritius, with which she sailed on April 4, and after putting in at Mossel Bay, proceeded towards Port Elizabeth. In making the harbor during the .night she kept too close in shore, and ran upon a rocky bottom soon after passing the lighthouse. The passengers got ashore in safety, and a good deal of cargo was subsequently got out of the vessel, but most of it was in a more or less damaged condition. On the question of going into Committee of Supply on the Navy estimates, Mr Brassey made a clear and sensible speech on the state of the Naval Reserve, one of the late Mr Grave’s questions. He expressed a general approval of Mr Goschen’s reeent regulations, but urged that greater encouragement should be given to the training of boys in the merchant service, greater facilities for the instruction of officers in gunnery, and that the Naval Volunteer Force should be placed under one general command. Mr Shaw-Lefevre’s excellent reply showed that the Admiralty are proceeding steadily in the organisation of the Reserve. At present there are men enough to man every ship we could send to sea, and 6000 to spare. It is curious to consider how the changes in naval warfare diminish the demand for blue jackets. The old three-decker Victoria carried 1100 men, and 600 of them were blue-jackets. The Devastation will be fully manned with 300, only 100 of them being blue-jackets. The modern man-of-war is, in fact, a floating fort, garrisoned by gunners, and only navigated by sailors.

year:— Ships. Tonnage. Otago ... 16 ... 17,034 Auckland ... ... 17 ... 13,292 Canterbury ... 12 ... 11,683 Wellington ... 13 ... 9.375 Nelson 5 ... 2,800 Napier 2 ... 1,453 Nelson and Napier 1 369