Shipping Intelligence.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 422, 13 March 1880, Page 12

Shipping Intelligence.

ARRIVED. March 4.—Manawatu, p.s., 103 tons, Scoones, from Wanganui. Passengers—Cabin : Messrs. Dransfield, Smith, "Welch, Cooper, and Clarke ; 3 in the steerage. Martin, agent. Wanganui, s.s., 179 tons, Bayldon, from Wanganui, Taranaki, and Manukau. Turnbull and Co., agents. Buttermere, barque, 993 tons, Ogilvie, from London. Passengers—Steerage : Frank and Walter Parsons, Nicholas and Patrick Walsh, Ernest and Annie Parry, Frank Longland, Frederick Heggs, James Aldridge, James McAllister, Henry Beattie, James Murphy, Alfred Hobson, Edward Blundell, T. Rowe, Edwin Newling, Alfred Horn, Mary Chaplin, John Mersham, and Clifford. N.Z.S. Company, agents. Napier, s.s., 48 tons, Fisk, from Blenheim. Turnbull and Co,, agents. Wakatu, s.s., 78 tons, Evans, from Wanganui and Nelson. Passengers—Cabin : Messrs Tait and Griffiths ; 4 in the steerage. Heaton, agent. Tui, s.s., 64 tons, Wills, from Kaikoura and Lyttelton. Passengers—Cabin : Messrs Croll, Bishop, Whittington, Richards, Mobray, Boerman, ■end McClachan ; 1 in the steerage. Turnbull and Co., agents. March s.—Arawata, s.s., 623 tons, Sinclair, from Southern ports. Passengers—Saloon, from Melbourne : Miss Gore, Mr. Keoch, Master Brady ; 12 in the steerage. From Coast; Misses Miller (2), Potson, and Haywood, Mesdames Handley and Miller, Rev Mr Andrew, Messrs Potson, Miller, Wright, Bishop, Thomas, Belcher, Drake, Hick. Johnston, Climie, Grant (2), Mayer, Goddard, and Foster ; 6 in the steerage. D. Mills, agent. Wanaka, s.s., 277 tons, McGillivray, from Auckland via East Coast ports. Passengers—Saloon : "Misses Majoribanks and Hewling, Mrs Jacob?en and child, Bishop of Waiapu, Rev Mr Willis, Messrs. Jamieson, Birch, Blythe, Kennedy, Graham, Shaw, and Pansy. D. Mills, agent. Charles Edward, p.s.. 126 tons, Whitwell, from Nelson and West Coast. Passengers—Cabin : Miss Bullard, Mesdames Bignall, Campbell, and Masters, Superintendent Sherman, Drs Leatham and Gillon. Messrs Masters, AVilson, Canning, Hounsell, Taylor, Stubbs, Fleming, Seaton, and Rothschild; 4 in the steerage. Deacon, agent. Grafton, s.s., 244 tons, Johnston, from Lyttelton. Passengers—Cabin: Miss Millward, Messrs Bell, Murphy, Stock, and Mayhew. Williams, agent. Patea, s.s., 50 tons, Gibbons, from Patea. Passengers—Cabin : Messrs Adams (2) and Sinclair. Turnbull and Co., agents. Lyttelton. p.s., 86 tons, Scott, from Blenheim. Deacon, agent. Southern Cross, s.s., 139 tons, Helander, from Wanganui. Turnbull and Co.. agents. Jlaech 6.—Taiaroa, s.s., 228 tons, Petersen, from Manukau and intermediate ports Passengers —Saloon : Misses Persuhn and Fraunseler, Mrs. Johnson, Messrs. Coppins, "Vrilling, Rundle, Bishop, Wright, Darrell, Thompson, Windle, Marsden, Sind, Appleby, Wakefield, Masters, Hawkins, and Coote ; 7 in the steerage. Mills, agent. Jane Douglas, s.s., 76 tons, Fraser. from Foxton. Passengers—Cabin: Messrs. Chapman, Whitehead, Dickie, Noble, Ruset, and Boseau. Martin, agent. Wakatipu, s.s., 1158 tons, Wheeler, from Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. Passengers—Saloon: Misses Wheeler (2), Mesdames Wheeler and Mackie, Rev. Mr. Habens. Dr. Hector, Messrs. Lusk, Hatfield, Steele, Mackie, Pillows, Northy, Austin, Scott, Prince, Thompson, Weston, Jerome, Techemaker. Nolan, and Short ; 8 in the steerage ; 9 saloon, and 33 steerage for Sydney. D. Mills, agent. Go-Ahead, s.s., 130 tons. Dicker, from Napier and East Coast. Passengers—Cabin : Mr. and Mrs. Barnard and daughter. Johnston and Co., agents. Kiwi, s.s.. 133 tons, Campbell, from Napier and Castlepoint. Levin and Co, agents; March 7. —Rotorua, s.s., 576 tons, Mcintosh, from Sydney via Auckland and the East Coast. Passengers—Saloon : Misses Palmer and Alexander, Mesdames Jardine. Caro, and Mcintosh, Messrs. Chapman, Elder, Bell, Jardine, Liardet, Abrahams, Bacon, Battley, Buchanan, Fraser, aud Price. D. Mills, agent. Penguin, s.s , 442 tons, Malcolm, from Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. Passengers—Saloon : Captain Dempsie, Messrs. Reid, Gardiner, Aiken, Duncan, Crain, Millen, McGregor, Saunders, Fraser, Tinline, Reid, Lowmar, Flegetant, Sunley, Conyers, and Austin ; 5 in the steerage. Mills, agent.' Tui, s.s., 64 tons, Wills, from Foxton. Turnbull and Co, agents. Stormbird, s s., 69 tons, Doile, from Wanganui. Passengers—Cabin : Miss Rodgers, Mesdames McLennan and 3 children. Grimbsy, Rodgers, Maria and son, Messrs. Christie, Malcolm, Copeland, Mathewson, Coleridge, and Kuraheke Putu; 5 in the steerage. Martin, agent. Napier, s.s., 48 tons, Fisk, from Blenheim. Turnbull and Co., agents. Wakatu, s.s., 78 tons, Evans, from Wanganui. Heaton, agent. Huia, s.s., 90 tons, Berryman, from Wanganui. Turnbull and Co., agents. March B.—Hannah Barrett, topsail-schooner, 5 tons, Renner, from Waitara. Master, agent. Aspasia, schooner, 45 tons, Moore, from Foxton. Master, agent. Forest Queen, ketch, 51 tons, Botham, from Wanganui. Mclntyre, agent. March 9. —Manawatu, p.s.,|lo3tons, Scoones, from Wanganui. Passengers—Cabin ; Messrs. Goodbeere, Woods, Whiting, Bunkum, and Lewis. Martin, agent. Robin Hood, brig, 267 tons, Hill, from Newcastle. Williams, agent. March 10.—Taiaroa, s.s., 228 tons, Petersen, from Picton and Nelson. Passengers—Saloon: Misses Morgan, McMahon, and Percy, Mesdames Smith, Bucholtz, and Williams. Messrs Williams, Dixon, Croucher. Hayhul, Gully, Sutherland, Parker, Ballinger, Whittem, Turner, McKenzie, Bannister, Field, Prouse, Mapps, Kicholl, Ellis, and Dobson, and 30 for other ports ; 3 in the steerage. : D. Mills, agent. Wellington, s.s., 279 tons, Anderson, from Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. Passengers—Saloon : Mesdames McKay and Wilkinson, Messrs Mackav, Wilkinson, Cuff, Fulton, Coffey, Rhodes, Hydes, Twentyman. Godbery, Beswick, McKay, Blackburn, Moore, and Shanks ; 19 in the steerage. D. Mills, agent. Huia, s.s., 90 tons, Wills, from Wanganui, Passengers—Saloon : Miss Hill, Mrs Rardey and son, and Mr Gordon ; 2 in the steerage. Turnbull and Co, agents. Murray, s.s., 78 tons, Conway, from Nelson and Wast Coast ports. Passengers—Cabin : Miss Campbell, Mesdames Campbell and Steer, Captain Creagh, Messrs Forsyth, Sullivan, Frederickson, and Bentley. Deacon, agent. Napier, s.s., 48 tons, Fisk, from Blenheim. Passenger—Cabin : Mr Ogg. Turnbull and Co. agents. Stormbird, s.s., 69 tons. Doile, from Wanganui. Passengers—Cabin -.Messrs Mordet, Wyllie, Collins, and Kelly ; 3 in the steerage. Martin, agent. Alastor, barque, 823 tons, Glazebrook, from London. Levin and Co, agents. SAILED. March 4. —Huia. s.s., 90 tons, Berryman, for Wanganui. Passengers—Cabin : Miss Kinnon, Mesdames Bishop, Benjamin, and Furniss ; Messrs Paynter, Bishop, Benjamin, Kinnon, Davis, and Furniss ; 4 in the steerage. Turnbull and Co., agents, Wanganui, s.s., 179 tons, Bayldon, for Southern ports. Turnbull and Co., agents. Waitaki, s.s., 228 tons, Edie, for Picton, Nelson, Taranaki. and Manukau. Passengers*—Saloon : Misses Bailey and Dixon ; Mrs. Walters, Major Heaphy, Captain Creagh, Messrs Cully, Robinson, Middlernes, and Ruxton ; 9 in the steerage. D. Mills, agent. March 5. —Wanaka, s.s., 277 tons, McGillivray, for Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. Passengers— Saloon : Mrs Seed, Messrs Seed, Williams, Hyde, Paigua, and Bannister ; 9 in the steerage. Mills, agent. . Tui, s s., 64 tons, Wills, from Foxton. Passengers—Cabin : Mr. and Mrs Williams and family (4), Messrs Baker (2), O'Neill, and Richardson. Turnbull and Co., agents. Grafton, s.s., 44 tons, Johnston, for Nelson, Westport, and Greymouth. Passengers Cabin :

Messrs Wylde, Lang, and Fergusson. Williams, agent. Wakatu, s.s., 78 tons, Evans, for Wanganui and Nelson. Heaton, agent. Arawata, s.s.. 622 tons, Sinclair, for Auckland via East Coast. Passengers—Saloon : Miss Rowden, Mrs Cook, Hon J. Hall, Messrs Grant (2), Foster, Dyson, Stone, Smith, Maginnity, and Wilson; 10 in the steerage. D. Mills, agent. Napier, s.s., 48 tons, Fisk, for Blenheim. Passengers- Cabin : Mrs. Corbett and Mr. Hickson. Turnbull and Co., agents. Rangatira, s.s., 197 tons, Harvey, for Wanganui, Taranaki, and. Manukau. Martin, agent. March 6.—Wakatipu, s.s., 1153 tons, Wheeler, for Sydney. Passengers—Saloon : Mesdames Morris and child. Gurmar, Johnston, Jowatt, Northay, and Guthrie, Messrs. Morris (2), Stubbs, Gurmar, Jupp, WrLley, Johnston, Munson, and Lowe ; 9 in thesteerage. D. Mills, agent. Charles Edward, p.s., 126 tons, Whitwell, for Nelson and West Coast ports. Passengers—Saloon : Miss Ogilvie, Mesdames Masters and Staples, Mr. and Mrs. Dupre and family, Dr. Gillon, Messrs Finch and child, Watts, McGlashan, Masters, Craig. Richardson, Andrew, Kilner, Teschemaker, Madden, Goldberg, and Davenport. Deacon, agent. Southern Cross, s.s., 139 tons, Helander, for Auckland via East Coast. Passengers—Cabin : Mr. Wright; and 1 in the steerage. Turnbull and Co., agents.

Manawatu, p.s., 103 tons, Scoones, for Wanganui, Martin, agent. Patea, s.s., 50 tons, Gibbons, for Patea. Turnbull and Co., agents. Lyttelton, p.s., 86 tons, Scott, for Blenheim. Deacon, agent. Anne Melhuish, barque, 344 tons, Kay, for Newcastle. Williams, agent. Poneke, topsail schooner, 79 tons, Lee, for Greymouth. Waddell and Co., agents. Fanny Thornton, ketch, 80 tons, Mcßirnie, for Greymouth. Master, agent. March 8. —Rotorua, s.s.,' 576 tons, McGee, for Melbourne via Southern ports- Passengers—Saloon : Misses Smith, Andrews, and Anderson, Mesdames Stevensen, Kayll, Johnstone, Johnston. Hall, Warren, Peters and 3 children, Judge Johnston, Captain Bowling, Messrs Marsden, Hayhurst, Hounsell. Appleby, Macpherson, Rothschild, Elphinstone, Hall, Warren, Peters, Johnstone, Williams, Majoribank, McNeill, Hantana (2), Scott, Moore and Mallett: 15 in the steerage. D. Mills, agent. Penguin, s.s., 442 tons, Malcolm, for Auckland via East Coast ports. Passengers—Saloon : Mesdames Best, Biss, Patterson, and McCaul, Rev. Patterson, Messrs P. Bell, Pounceby, Climie, Birch, and McCaul; 12 in the steerage, and 30 original. D. Mills, agint. Taiaroa, s.s., 22S tons, Pietersen, for Picton and Nelson. Passengers Saloon: Misses Fair and Cornwall, Mesdames Mackay, Skae, and Otterson and servant, Bishop Redwood, Dr Skae, Messrs Troutevetter, McLean, Mackay, Woodward, Cornwall, Otterson, and Wier ; 10 in the steerage. D. Mills, agent. Stormbird, s s., 69 tons, Doile, for Wanganui. Passengers—Cabin: Mrs Manson and 7 children, Messrs Marshall. Martin, Harding, and Howell; 5 in the steerage. Martin, agent. Jane Douglas, s.s., 76 tons, Fraser, for Foxton and Rangitikei. Passengers Cabin: Mrs Waw, Messrs Wills, Campion, George, and Waw. Martin, agent. Huia, s.s., 90 tons, Berryman, for Wanganui. Passengers—Cabin : Messrs Aymes, Milne, Warren, and Holford, Turnbull and Co., agents. Tui, s.s., 64 tons, Wills, for Kaikoura, Passengers— Cabin : Mrs Goland, Mr Campbell. Turnbull and Co., agents. Napier, s.s., 48 tons, Fisk, for Blenheim. Turnbull and Co., agents. March 9.—Stella, Government 5.5.,. 156 tons, McKersie, for Picton and Nelson. Passengers—Hon. Mr Oliver and Mr Conyers.

March 9. —Manawatu, p.s., 103 tons, Scoones, for Wanganui. Martin, agent. Go-Ahead, s.s., 130 tons, Dicker, for Napier and Castlepoint. Johnston and Co,, agents. Kiwi, s.s., 133 tons, Campbell, for Napier and Castlepoint. Levin and Co., agents. Hinemoa, Government s.s., 282 tons, Fairchild, for Opunake and Taranaki. Passengers—A number of families of Government laborers.

March 10.—Taiaroa, 228 tons, Pietersen, for Lyttelton and Port Chalmers. Passengers—Saloon : Messrs Mears, Riddiford, Buchanan, and 30 original; 6in the steerage. D. Mills, agent. Stormbird, s.s., 69 tons, Doile, for Wanganui. Passengers—Cabin: About 30 excursionists. Martin, agent. Huia, s.s., 90 tons, Berryman, for Wanganui. Passengers—3o excursionists. Turnbull and Co, agents. Murray, s.s.. 98 tons, Conway, for Nelson and West Coast ports. Deacon, agent. Napier, s.s., 48 tons, Fisk/for Blenheim. Turnbull and Co, agents. Go-Ahead, s.s., 130 tons, Dicker, for Napier and Castlepoint. Johnston and Co., agents. IMPORTS. Buttermere, from London : 72 cases, 306 bales, 102 stands and crossings, 214 rails, 4 carriages, 4 under frames, 24 springs, 12 .pairs wheels, Hon. Minister Public Works ; 486 cases, 200 boxes, 5 casks, Bannatyne and Co ; 1 case, Lyolfcand Blair ; 9 vats, 62 pkgs, 116 cases, Hon. ColoniJß Secretary ; 2 bales, 10 pkgs, 1 case, Gilmour ; 6 bales,*Curle*and Anderson ; 1 case, Orbell; 1 case, Bethel; 2 i-casks, 3 cases, Murray, Roberts and Co ; 31 cases, Wilson and Richardson ; 10 casks, McCutcheon ; 33 cases, Neal and Close ; 2 do, Johnston ; 12 pkgs, Willis ; 12 cases, 6 casks, Dr Kemp; 75 cases, 2 do showcards. Johnston and Co; 2 bis, Lucas; 8 pkgs, Kenworth; lbox, Ormond 1 case, Justice Richmond ; 1 do, Brockbank; 1 do, Lemon ; 2 casks, 2 cases, Wilkins; 2 cases, Waterhouse ;11 pkgs, O'Kell; 1 case, Teschmaker ; 1 box, Levin and Co ; 2 casks, 3 cases, Sharp and Pickering ; 4 cases, Kinross ; 1 do, Hudson ; 13 cases, 2 trunks, Neal and Close ; 10 hhds, 30 cases, Kinross : 2 cases, Darby ; 18 bales, J. Smith ; 15 cases, 8 trunks. 16 bales, 1 box, Thomas and Mcßeth; 97 cases, 4 bales, Harcourt and Co ; 38 cases, Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co; 2 pkgs, Gabites and Plante; 20 J-casks, 369 cases, 3 bales, 2 cases tablets, 23 rolls, Whittem and Nicholson ; 108 cases, 53 bales, Thompson, Shannon, and Co ; 15 cases, Kirckaldie and Stains ; 2 do, 1 boiler, City Council; 2 boxes, 3 bdls. 1 case, Moncaster ; 320 bars, 50 bdls iron, 32 cases, 85 bdls, 14 sheets iron, 25 frames, 2 crates, Dawson and Co ; 4 bales, 1 case, E. W. Mills ; 39 bdls, 33 cases, 10 casks, 27 crates, 2 hhds, 1 truss samples, Nathan and Co ; 2 tanks surplus stores, N.Z.S. Co ; 21 bales, Evening Post ; 1 roller, 1 pair wheels, 48 arms and "boxes, 328 bars iron, 38 drums, 15 trunks, 289 bdls iron, 1030 arms, 27 boxes, 26 bales, 140 bags, 66 pkgs, 2 pels, 568 casks, 12 J-do, 102 brls, 1 tierce, [6O crates, 175 bdls, 30 hhds, Order. BY TELEGRAPH. . LYTTELTON, March 6. The ship Piako was towed out at noon by the tug Lyttelton. She takes a full cargo of wool and grain and 12 saloon passengers. March 10. Cleared • Arethusa, ship, for London, with 15,660 sacks wheat, SSO sacks oats, 125 casks tallow. PORT? CHALMERS, March S. Sailed : Elinor Vernon, barque, for Wellington. ATJCK LAND, March 9. The ships Earl Granville and Stracathro, on discharge of cargo, proceed to .Lyttelton to load grain for London.

The Hnion Company's steamer Arawata arrived in harbor at 8.40 a.m. on March 5. She left Sandridge at 5.30 p.m. on the 25th ult. ; experience I light variables and fine weather to the 27th, and from thence strong head wind.' Was off the Solanders at 5.30 a.m. on the lstinst., and arrived at the Bluff at 12.30 p-m.; got away again at 5 p.m.. and arrived at Port Chalmers at 7 a.m. on the 2nd ; sailed at 4 p.m. on the 3rd, reaching Lyttelton at 7 a.m. on the 4th, and left at 6.40 p.m. for Wellington. Experienced fine weather up the coast. The Arawata left at 3 o'clock in the afternoon for Auckland via East Coast ports. The tonnage loading at London at the end of January, for India, China, and the Cape, amounted to 43.932. and for Australia and New Zealand, to 37,526 tons.

Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co.'s three-masted schooner May may be expected to put in an appearance in the course of a fortnight. She left Singapore on the Ist lilt, with a valuable cargo of Eastern produce.

Messrs Turnbull and Go's barque Alexa sailed from the Mauritius on March Ist for Port Chalmers and Wellington, with cargo of sugar ; while at the former port she will take on board a quantity of cargo for a Chinese port, for which she sails after discharging the Wellington portion of her cargo. At 10 minutes past 2 on Saturday afternoon the Government steamer Hinemoa left the Queen's "Wharf for the Brothers' lighthouse, for the purpose of changing keepers and landing stores The Union Company's steamer Wakatipu, bound to Sydney, had cast off about two minutes previous, and was steaming slowly down the bay, when the Government steamer got fairly under way. It was at once apparent that there would be a good race between the steamers, as they seemed about equally matched, the Wakatipu appearing to have rather the best of it. However, this latter surmise was slightly disproved, when the Hinemoa was observed rounding Point Hatswell a good ship's length in advance of the Sydney trader, and by the time the reef was reached was a mile a-head, and had increased this distance to fully seven miles upon reaching her destination at 5 o'clock in the evening, the Wakatipu not being abreast of the island until 40 minutes later. A start was made for home at 6.21 p.m.; the steamer making fast to the wharf at 10 minutes past 9. She accomplished the distance, 66 miles, in 7 hours (including detention of 1 hour 20 minutes at the Brothers), which would give her a mean speed of slightly under 12 knots, this too under rather unfavorable circumstances, as she h;id a strong head wind to contend against on the upward passage, and the tide against her both on the up.and down trip. Captain McGee came up in the Penguin from South on Sunday afternoon to take charge of the Rotorua. Owing to the severe illness of Captain Tozer, which compelled him to remain at Sydney, the steamer had been brought on to Wellington by the chief officer, Mr. Mcintosh.

The barque Sophia R. Luhrs was taken tip on the Patent Slip on Monday, to ascertain what damage she sustained through striking on the Paton rock when beating into harbor. Captain Bendall surveyed her on behalf of the Insurance Companies. It was found that her false-keel had been knocked off, and her bottom chafed a good deal. The repairs, among which will have to be included part stripping and recoppering, besides replacing keel, are expected to be completed in about a fortnight. The U nion Company's steamer Rotorua arrived in harbor early on Sunday morning. She left Sydney at 4.30 p.m. on the 25th ultimo, and arrived at Russell at 11.30 a.m. on the Ist instant ; sailed at 6 p.m., •reaching Auckland at 6 am. on the 2nd : sailed at 10.15 a.m. on the 4th; was at Gisborne at 2 p.m. on the sth; got away at 6 p.m., and arrived at Napier at 6 a.m. on the 6th ; sailed again at 12.15 for Wellington. Experienced fresh southerly wind, with moderate weather, to Napier, and from thence light variable wind and fine weather till coming into the Strait, when she encountered a hard gale from the north-west. The Rotorua left for Melbourne via Southern ports on Monday afternoon. The approximate value of the vessels of all nationalities, with their cargoes, lost during the year 1879 was no less than £25,500,000, including British property £19,230,000. The grand total number of wrecks reported was 1,688, which, compared with the total at the end of 1878, shows an increase of 94. Britishowned ships numbered 833, and those of all flags wrecked on the coasts of the British Isles were 425. The registered tonnage aggregated upwards of 850,000 tons, inclusive of 170 steam vessels, mostly owned in the United Kingdom. About 5000 lives were lost, about 150 vessels were lost through collision, and about 4C through fire. The Dawpool, a fine iron ship, was recently launched at Belfast from the Queen's Island yard. Her dimensions are :■— Length, 262 feet; beam, 38 feet; and depth of hold, 23 feet. The carrying capacity of the vessel is 1696 tons register, and 1778 tons gross. The Dawpool was built to the order of the owners of the White Star Line of sailing ships, and will be engaged in the Liverpool and Australian trade. The largest ferry-boat in the world has recently commenced its work of transporting passengers and freight across the Straits of Corquinez, between Port Costa and Benicia. It is 424 feet long, with an extreme width of 116 feet, and the engines are capable of developing a power of 2000 horses. The Solano, as the boat is named, has four iines of metals extending fore-and-aft, on which she can accommodate 48 freight waggons or 24 passenger-carriages of the largest size. The vessel is not only the largest ferry-boat, but in some respects is a unique specimen of modern naval achitecture.

The barque Scottish Prince and ship Maraval have made but iittle progress towards filling up during the past week, the wool, tallow, etc., coming to hand in such small quantities. The former vessel is loading under the N.Z.S. Company, and has now on board the following cargo :—2226 bales wool and 559 casks tallow, while the Eastminster (Levin and Co.) has on board 120 bags 3896 bales wool, 23 do skins, 29 do fiax, 541 casks tallow, 13 cases shells, and 120 cases meat. It is expected she will be a full ship on Monday. There are some 12 passengers intend booking by her.

THE SOPHIA R. LUHRS ACCIDENT. DISCOVERY AND SURVEY OF THE ROCK.

Captain Ed win, R.N., and Captain Fairchild, received orders from the Government to proceed to the scene of the accident to the barque Sophia R. Luhrs, in the Hinemoa ; for the purpose of carefully surveying the danger, for the correction of charts Captain Paton, of the barque, accompanied the party. The steamer left the wharf a.m. on March 4, and half an hour later was off the s\ipposed position of the rock as pointed out by Captain Paton The vessel then proceeded under easy steam, and in the meantime careful soundings were taken from different parts of the steamer, six lines being continually kept going, three on each side. The rock was quickly discovered, and Captains Edwin and Fairchild proceeded to take soundings and bearings. The danger is a large patch of rocks running eastward from the west side of Lyell's Bay, and is about a-quarter of a mile further out than anything laid down on the latest Admiralty charts. The least water found on the rock was 18ft., and this, when reduced to low springs, will give about 16ft. Correct bearings, &c, will be forwarded to the Admiralty, and the usual notice to mariners will be published as soon as possible in the JVew Zealand Gazette. No other steamer being available forfthe purpose, the Hinemoa proceeded to the barque Buttermere, at anchor about a mile outside the Heads, and took her in tow, arriving in harbor at 5.30 p.m. ARRIVAL OF THE BARQUE BUTTERMERE FROM LONDON. The barque Buttermere, which we stated -in our last week's issue as being at the H eads, arrived in harbor on Thursday, March 2, in tow of the steamer Hinemoa. She is a smart little barque of 923 tons register, belonging to the firm of Fish, Sprott, and Co of London and comes here to the charter of the New Zealand Shipping Company. The vessel is under the command of Captain Ogilvie, who is also part owner and is no stranger to New Zealand, he having been to four years ago with immigrants, in the Ueraldme Paget, and last year visited Port Chalmers and .Lyttelton in his present vessel, loading at the latter port for Home. There are only twenty passengers on board, who arrive in good health, and speak warmly of the kindness of Captain Ogilvie, who throughout the tedious voyage had done everything conducive to the comfort of the passengers. The protracted passage of 94 days must not be attributed to the inferior qualities of the vessel, as she has made a fair average passage to the coast, the great delay being caused by calms experienced from thence. The tfuttermere left London on the 3rd December ; ran n F^ 1 \ n ?} Wlfch a hard eas terly gale, which was so violent that it was impossible to land the Channel Kmr' m£ ** s nofc an opportunity of transhipww i, to i a Home shi P " ntil otf tl,e Equator. ! ll * clear of the land the wind shifted to ti"e &*&y£? reasmg to a S ale - which drov e her up thl 16th L 7 \i m } fTOW thence M S ht variables to ine 16th, in 28 north, 25 west, when she experienced a g o^ ft i 0m the "oufch'ard. with very vivid light?r,tp g rml«ln^ ea f Vy raiD ' , which continued without iSrffiPi?- i / uearly two da - vs > and then lulled. Picked up the north-east trades on

the 21st December in 25 north, and lost them on the 29th instant in 3 north ; on the 30th transhipped the Channel pilot to ship Botanist, bound to Falmouth. Crossed the line on New Year's Day. The south-east trades were met with on the 31st December in 1 north, and carrried her to 34 south. Although the trades gave out here there was still a continuance of easterly weather, which carried the vessel down to 40 south, the weather being bitterly cold. From thence strong nor'west and westerly winds. Passed the Cape of Good Hope on the 23rd January, 50 days out. On the 24th she experienced a hard gale for 24 hours from the south-west, and the wind then veered north-west, and continued moderate from the same quarter till sighting the Snares. Was off Tasmania on the 20th ultimo, and the Snares en the 24th ; the north-west wind still continuing, hauled up, and sighted land to leeward off the Nuggets. From thence she experienced nothing but calms and light variable weather, the vessel almost drifting up the coast. Was off Otago Heads on the 25th, and Banks' Peninsula on the 29th. Sighted Cape Campbell on the Ist instant, with thick foggy weather and north-east wind. Was off Taura-kira-'on the 2nd, when the wind increased to a gale, with heavy squalls, against which the barque beat up to the Heads, where she arrived on Tuesday night, and brought up about a mile outside the light. Pilot Holmes boarded her about 10 p.m. The gale still continuing, she was compelled to remain at anchor up to yesterday evening, when she was taken in tow by the Hinemoa, and brought into Port Nicholson at 5.30 last evening. The following vessels were sighted by the Buttermere :—The Rydale Mare, on the 15th December, bound from London to Adelaide; and the Botanist, on the 31st December, bound from Rangoon to Falmouth; and on the 16th, the Padishaw, bound to Port Chalmers ; Twilight, from Cardiff to Bombay; Altogether there were a fleet of fifteen vessels in company for several days. NARROW ESCAPE FROM COLLISION. A narrow escape from a collision at sea, which, had it occurred, must have resulted in a fearful disaster, happened on Thursday night, in the French Pass, about 11 o'clock. The s.s. Waitaki, which left here on Thursday for Picton and Nelson, steamed through the Pass, going with the tide. The p.s. Charles Edward, which left Nelson yesterday for this port, also came through the Pass on the same tide, and the two vessels met just in the Narrows. What happened is best told in the words of our informant, one of the passengers on board the Charles Edward. He says : —" We were coming along under easy steam against the tide, not doing more than four or five knots, and had got to the narrowest part of the Pass. The night was rather thick, and the moon was not yet up : we could just make out the rocks on the starboard, but could see only a. very little distance ahead, owing to the gloom and the point of the reef shutting out any view of the clear way. Captain Whitwell was on the bridge, and several of the passengers who did not care to turn in. Suddenly we saw close ahead the lights of a steamer, bearing full down upon us, stem on, and coming with the full force of the tide. There was instant terror amongst us, but Captain Whitwell never for a moment lost his nerve. His instant command ft' Stop her, 5 and the as ready response of the engineer in charge, saved us. The Charlie, checked in her course, drifted, and then swang half round with the tide, her faose grazing the rocks, and the Waitaki, for it proved to be that vessel, unable to check her way, swept past ,our stern so closely that those on board might have jumped from the deck of one vessel tO|the other. It was all over in a few seconds, but the escape was most providential. A less careful lookout or an instant's hesitation on the part of our skipper, when the lights of the Waitaki suddenly showed up, and there would have been but|few, if any, left to tell the tale. Captain Whitwell, one of the coolest and most undermonstrative of men under ordinary circumstances, gave vent to a little pardonable excitement the moment the danger was over. We were all very much scared, and were heartily s;lad when we had got out of the Pass and into freer water. There was no blame to be attached to any one. But the incident shows what may possibly happen to vessels making the passage during night time." We have obtained the following precise particulars from Captain Whitwell; —The steamer Charles Edward entered the French Pass about 11 o'clock on Thu-sday night, and was proceeding under easy steam, when the lights of a steamer, which had been shut out by the point, were discerned about three ships' lengths ahead, and coming down at full speed iwith the strong tide. The Charles Edward was immediately stoppe 1, and allowed to drift astern with the tide, and as soon as she was clear of the reef went ahead into the westward of the reef, and allowed the Waitaki to pass. ARRIVAL OF THE ALASTOR. Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co.'s barque Alastor, Capt Glazebrook, was towed into port by Messrs Levin and Go's s.s. Kiwi, which had left port for the East Coast at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and despite the stiff north-west breeze which was blowing the steamer succeeded in bringing her to an anchorage in the harbor between 10 and 11 o'clock. From the report furnished us by the chief officer we gather that she left Gravesend on the 27th November, experiencing easterly winds down the Channel. Start Point was passed on the 29th. A fresh gale was experienced on the 3rd December, but it only lasted for the day. Madeira was passed on the 17th of the same month. No N.E. trades were experienced, the wind veering several times from south-east to south-west, when they should have prevailed. On the 23rd she sighted the island of San Antonio, and on New Year's Eve crossed the Equator in longitude 26 west, being then 35 days out- Then fell in with steady south-east trades, passing Gough Island on January 19th. From thence to Tasmania, which was passed on the 28th February, unusually fine weather prevailed. Cape Farewell was sighted on the afternoon of Sunday, the 7th instant, a fresh north-west breeze which brought the vessel from Tasmania still keeping on and taking her to the Heads, where she anchored at 4 p.m. on Monday, the Bthinst. being towed in as above statedThe Alastor brings 26 steerage passengers, all of whom enjoyed excellent health during the voyage. They speak in the highest terms of praise regarding Captain Glazebrook and his officers, who, they say, were untiring in their efforts to make them comfortable, and to shorten the time for them. An unfortunate accident occurred when the vessel was off Madeira to a seaman named William Day, who was aloft loosening the topsail; he fell to the deck, fracturing a thigh, dislocating one of his shoulders, and sustaining internal injuries, which led to a fatal termination within four hours of the accident. Beyond this there were no mishaps. The Alastor is.a finelookng barque of 823 tons, built at Sunderland in 1875. and owned by Messrs Penny, of Shoreham. She is a stranger to this port, but not to the colony, as she has made two voyages to Auckland. As she has a quantity of powder on board she will not be berthed at che wharf until this dangerous portion of her cargo his been discharged. '"4? ENGLISH SHIPPING.

Passengers per Messrs Shaw, Savill and Co.'s ship Portland (Captain Wood), which left London on December 31, for Wellington (consigned to Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co): —Second cabin: Wm. Brunskill, Mrs Brunskill, John Brunskill, James Brunskill, Mr M. B. Wilton, Mrs Ann Wilton, Miss S. A. Wilton, Miss Lucy Wilton, Wm. Wilton, F. W. Clark. Elizabeth Clark, Frederick Clark, and E. W. Uorfield. Steerage: George Baker, Alice Baker, Mildred Baker, Elizabeth Baker. Patrick O'Keefe, Andrew Davidson, i James Davidson. W. T. Taylor, A. C. Clark, G, Balls, P. Inge, William Ford, H. t»!one, T. Armstrong, J. E. Varby, and Mrs Ford. Passengers per New Zealand Co.'s Caroline (Captain George Davis), which left London on the 6th January, for Wellington (N.Z.): — Saloon: Mr Charles Hudson, Mr Charles G. Hope, Mrs Hope, Miss Ada Hope, Master George Hope, and Dr Hudson. Second cabin : Mr George Thackery, Mr Christopher Thackery, Mrs Christopher Thackery, Mr James Andrews, Mrs Andrews, Mr Robert Moffatt, Mr Alfred L. Jones, Mr Samuel R. Raleigh, Mr C. D. Ryder, Miss Ryder, Mr John Macdonald, and Mr George J. Richardson ; and about 385 in the steerage.

The Frank Wilson, from Liverpool for Brisbane, was in collision, on Jannary 5, above Newferry (River Mersey), with the .Brodick Castle, bound from Wes-

tonpoint for Galway. The former vessel was slightly damaged ; the latter had foretopmast and gear attached carried away, mainrail split, some bulwarks, plank, one stanchion, port light, and screen carried away. The Frank Wilson sailed on January 11 for her destination.

The tonnage loading on the berth at London on January 9, for India, China, and the Cape of Good Hope, amounted to 45,116 tons, and for Australia and New Zealand to 38,504 tons.