SHIPPING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4172, 4 August 1874, Page 2

SHIPPING.

POUT OP WELLINGTON. High Water, 8.30 a.m. : 8.57 p.m. 4BUIVED. ' • August 3.—Merlin, schooner, 41 tons, Block, from Auckland, via Mercury Bay. W. ft G. Turnbull ft Co., Dagmar schooner, 44 tons, Lambert, from Picton. Hunter, ketch, 22 tons. Hart, from Hokitika. Thomas, agent. # _ . Aspasia, schooner, 45 tons, Thompson, from East Coast. E. Pearce, agent. Unity, schooner, 44 tons, Irvine, from Picton. Krull ft Co., agents. Conflict, ship, 1171 tons, Pv. Hardy, 84 days out, with 450 immigrants, all well. IMPORTS. Merlin—From Auckland; 240 qr.-barrels powder. • From Mercury Bay: 25,300 feet timber. Dagmar—From Picton: 4 tons potatoes. Hunter—From Hokitika : 30 tons potatoes, Aspasia—From East Coast: 106 packages, 0 sacks otatoes, 2 qr.-casks, 1 keg, 0 casks, 1 fork, 1 parcel. Unity—From Picton: 35,000 feet sawn timber. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Northern Pouts.—Phcebe, this day. .* London.—Reichstag, Strathnaver, St. Leonards, Panthea, Euterpe, sailed 2Sth April; Cartvale, Star oi India, and llourah. New York.- Oneco ; sailed 2nd of Juno. Liverpool. —J. A. Thompson, ship. Southern Ports.—Taranaki, this day. Melbourne, via the ‘West Coast—Alhambra, s.s., 10th inst. Hobarton.—Free Trader, barque, to sail thence on July 15. , "Wanganui.—Stormbird, this day. Foxton.—Napier, this day.' Newcastle. —Result, ship : Malay, Edwin Basset, Camille, Anne and Jane, and Anno Melhuish, barques. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Melbourne, via the South.—Alhambra, s.s., 10th inst. , t , . Northern Ports.—Taranaki, sth inst. Southern Ports.—Phcebo, this day. Wanganui.—Manawatu, this day; Stormbird, this day. Castle Point.—Aurora, schooner, early. Auckland, —Waikato, ship, early. Newcastle.—Frowning Beauty, early. Hokitika.—Onward, early. BY TELEGRAPH. NELSON. August 2.—Arrived, 7.30 p.m.: Albion, from Wellington. August 3.—Sailed, 1 p.m.: Phoebe, for Picton. SPIT. August 3.—Arrived, 11 a.m.; Rangatira, from Wellington. LYTTELTON August 3,—The s.s. Taranaki will not sail North before half-past one to-morrow afternoon, in consequence of the Inclemency of the weather. The Jollba has arrived from Sydney; Byron, from Havelock. The Elizabeth Carle sailed for Hokitika. AUCKLAND. August 3.—Arrived: Letitia, from Napier. PORT OF NEWCASTLE, N.S.W. July 15.—Arrived: City of Tanjore, from Dunedin. July 16.—Arrived: Asia, from Dunedin; Wallaroo, from Auckland ; and Heather Bell, from Auckland. July 18.—Arrived: Woodbine, from Nelson. • PORT OF MELBOURNE. July 17.—Arrived: Apelles, ship, from Lyttelton. July 21.—Arrived : Zephyr, from Greymouth. July 22.—Arrived ; Chanticleer, from Wangaroa ; Alice Ward, from Greymouth. Sailed: Zephyr, for Hokitika. PORT OF SYDNEY. July 19.—Arrived: La Hogue, ship, from Wellington. Nothing has been heard of the s.s. Napier, which sailed on Saturday for Foxton, as telegraphic communication is interrupted. Owing to the boisterous weather, it is highly improbable that she would continue her passage ; and it may reasonably be surmised that she has sought shelter under Kapiti. This supposition is strengthened by the fact that the Napier had forty-one very valuable sheep, from Mr. Ludlara's farm, on her deck; and Captain Butt would, no doubt, be fully alive to the value of his cargo, and the necessity of sheltering them as much as possible from the extreme severity of the weather. The harbor seems at present fairly alive with small craft, which have arrived during the past three days. As some of them, on their outward passage, will take away iron pipes, the large pile at the breastwork should soon be cleared off. The Outer Pilot reports that at 4.30 on Sunday evening a barque was signalled to the Southward, bearing for this port, but it was not possible to send a boat to pick her up. She has not been seen since, but it is almost certain that she has run through the Strait; in fact, in such weather, it was her only course. This barque will most probably prove to be the Free Trader, - from Hobart Town, which vessel was to sail on the 15th of July. The brigantine Enterprise, which arrived in ballast on Saturday, has been absent from this port for some time, having been detained on the East Coast. The weather-board yesterday denoted that all along the coast the sea was rough. The ketch Ruby, which sailed about a fortnight ago for the Kaikouras, has not yet arrived at her destination. The duration of her passage may be easily accounted for by the prevalence of so much southerly wqather along the coast of late. Messrs. W, and G. Turnbull's s.s. Stormbird, which sailed for Wanganui and New Plymouth on the 30th ulfc., experienced such rough weather on her passage that she was compelled to heave-to off Opunake on Saturday, a heavy sea and head wind prevailing at the time. It is anticipated, however, that she has reached Taranaki ere this, but as the wire was down up to a late hour yesterday, nothing definite is known. Although it frequently happens that vessels anchored at the Heads have to slip their anchors, the Conflict is the first instance in which Pilot Holmes has done it with a vessel in his charge, although he always takes the precaution to have,everything in readiness for a contingency. The necessity must, therefore, have been great on this occasion. The schooner Merlin has at length arrived from Auckland, via Mercury Bay, after occupying a month on the passage from the latter place. The experiences of those on board during this time have been of anything but a pleasant description, as may be easily imagined, when it is explained that they ran short of provisions; and bn two occasions had to •put back, each time suffering considerable delay. The first retreat was to Hicks's Bay, where she remairtfed two days. On the second occasion, she ran back to Mahea Peninsula, and had to lie there seven days. The Merlin will shortly go to Havelock, where she will load.timber for Waitara. , A. sailing-boat which took fresh beef off to the newly-arrived ship Conflict yesterday, had a rough time of it in attempting to beat back. In one tack she failed to weather H.M.S. Blanche, and, passing to leeward of her, fouled ilis Excellency’s yacht. After sailing out, she stood over towards Point Jerningham, and on tacking again, her jlb-aheet was carried away, consequently she could make no headway, and drifted down below Hatfield’s wharf, where she grounded. A boat put off, however, and released her occupants from their awkward position. The ship Apelles.—The iron clipper ship Apelles, which has been to this port before, has come over from New Zealand here to load horses for India. The ship is still in command, of Captain John L. MXay, who was complimented after arrival at Christchurch on the safe landing of the immigrants who had been conveyed there in the Apelles without sickness or mortality, and also on the cleanliness and order maintained on the ship. The Apelles left Lyttelton on the 30th ult., and had fine weather through Cook's Strait, bub afterwards fell in with very heavy westerly gales. The fiercest of these prevailed from the 4th to • the Bfch inst., and were accompanied with terrific squalls, thunder, lightning, and rain, and a turbulent sea. Variable and easterly winds with fine weather marked the latter part of the passage. The Apelles was taken alongside the Sandridge town pier yesterday, to land her cargo of cereals. There is a small parcel of NeWZealand preserved meats in -the ship, which is to be taken to India, to test the market there for such a commodity.—Melbourne Argus. Fishing Smack Run Down.—The Crew Lost.— The inquiry by the Steam Navigation Board into the charge of Inhumanity preferred by the crew of the ship Oakworth against their master, William Edgar, was concluded yesterday. The evidence taken during the bearing of the case showed that on the 21st March last, the day after the Oakworth left Queenstown, she ran down a fishing smack off the Old Head of Kinsale, and that the captain took no steps to render assistance to the fishermen who were cast into the water, and whose piteous cries for help were heard by everybody on board the Oakworth, but kept on his course, neglecting even to report the occurrence to another fishing, boat which hailed him shortly after the collision. The Board commented strongly on the captain's conduct, and inflicted the heaviest penalty in their power, viz., the utter cancellation of Captain Edgar’s certificate as a master mariner. At the same time they cited Mr. Rice, the chief officer of the Oakworth, to appear before the Board on Mondaynext,to show cause why bis certificate should nofc.be similarly dealt with, for his neglect to save the lives of the fishermen, he being officer of the watch at the time the collision occurred. The evidence taken in this case has been forwarded to the Crown law officersfor them to decide whether a criminal information shall be laid,against Captain Edgar for his culpable neglect of duties imposed by Act of "Parliament on all masters of vessels in cases of collision. The Government are likely to take action in the matter. —Melbourne Age. ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP CONFLICT. The ship Conflict, Captain Hardy, 84 days out, with 459 immigrants on board, arrived in harbor at 3.30 a.m. yesterday. She was boarded by the Pilot at 7.30 on Sunday night, at which time it was blowing hard from the north-west. At nine o'clock the ship was anchored off Fencarrow, At midnight the wind came suddenly from the south-east, with thick rain and heavy mist. During the night Pilot Holmes took the precaution to have the shackle of the cable prepared and oiled ready to slip if such a proceeding should be found necessary; and it was fortunate he did so, for when the wind came so suddenly from the south-east it was impossible to heave up the anchor, and the pilot thought It prudent, for the safety of the ship, to slip the anchor, which was accordingly done, with sixty fathoms of chain. No lights were visible, nor was the land to bo seen, so that the run up had to be made entirely by compass course, and the safe accomplishment of such a risky task on a morning like that of yesterday, reflects great credit on the nerve and ability of Pilot Holmes, The Conflict was anchored as above some distance down the harbor, where she was boarded by the Health Officer at nine o'clock, and at once released. Should the weather moderate the immigrants will probably be inspected and landed to-day. The passengers speak well of the officers of the ship, and of their treatment on the voyage, during which nine deaths occurred, of which

two were of adults, and seven of children. Several cases of measles occurred during the voyage ; but the last was in the middle of June, and no other infectious or contagious disease prevailed. The Pilot says that last Sunday night was the dirtiest he ever had when engaged in a similar duty. THE WRECK OF THE BRITISH ADMIRAL. Some difficulty was found by the purchasers in discovering the wreck of the British Admiral on the coast of King’s Island. Mr. Henry and his men at last ascertained that the ill-fated vessel was lying in seven fathoms of water, about two miles from the shore, and immediately opposite the beach where most of the cargo was washed ashore. About 200 fathoms further out from the wreck, there is a reef which breaks the force of the sea coming in, and renders the water where the vessel is submerged comparatively smooth, so that it is considered that in two or three months’ time, when calm weather may be expected, there will bo little difficulty in recovering the bulk of the cargo. While Mr. Henry was at King’s Island, ho had several opportunities of examining the wreck under circumstances favorable to the formation of a pretty correct opinion as to her condition. The water being very clear, ho was enabled to see that the upper deck had only been burst in the centre, the fore and stern portions remaining comparatively intact. It is, therefore, his opinion, that the bulk of her cargo which has been washed ashore, has come from between decks, and that the greater part of that contained in the hold of tho vessel is still there. Cases of zinc and railway iron were plainly to be seen in the hold. Since tho last advices were received, eight more bodies have been recovered and buried; seven being those of men, and one that of a woman. All were so far decomposed, that identification was impossible; and some were most dreadfully mutilated. Four other bodies were seen last week, some miles from the wreck, lying entangled among the kelp which had been washed ashore, by a man named Hynds, the master of a small vessel named the Capo Pigeon, 14 tons burden, then lying at Surprise Bay, on the south side of the Island. Hynes and his mate immediately went to Mr. Henry’s camp for a spade, and an extra man to help recover tho bodies; but when they arrived? at the spot next day, the kelp and. tho remains had been washed back into the sea. Hynes’s praiseworthy attempt, however, to recover the bodies, cost him very dearly, for during tho night he was away from his vessel a heavy gale sprang up, and she broke away from her moorings and was driven ashore and became a total wreck. Her cargo consisted principally of twelve months’ provisions for the hunters who live on the island, the whole of which was lost. Fortunately for the man left in charge of her, he was on shore at the time of tho accident. It may be interesting to relatives of persons drowned in the wreck to mention that in every case where private boxes belonging to passengers have been picked up along the beach, they have been found to have been emptied of their contents and broken, whether by the action of the waves and the knocking about among the rocks it is impossible to say. Probably, however, the latter is the cause, for, in numberless instances, packages which were originally much more strongly fastened than passengers’ trunks usually aro have been found along the shore with tho edges worn round, and in some cases almost smashed to pieces. Instructions have been given to the men in charge of tho wreck to especially preserve any articles apparently belonging to passengers which may be washed ashore. It is a noteworthy fact that portions of the cargo and several bodies have been found on the beach a distance of eight miles on cither aide, north and south, of where the ship was wrecked. The Cygnet brought a full cargo of different kinds of merchandise recovered from the week, and there remains enough on the beach to fill her again twice. The ketch Royal Charlie, which arrived in the Bay early yesterday morning, also brought a large quantity of goods ; so that the investors in the wreck have already begun to receive substantial proceeds for their outlay. The cargo recovered consists of casks of rum, boxes of tobacco, barrels of beer, soft goods, oil, and other articles of merchandise. —Daily Telegraph. SUPPOSED WRECK IN BASS’ STRAIT. (From the Argus .) In consequence of a paragraph, to the effect that Captain Duncan, of the barque Palace, from Wangaroa, New Zealand, had seen lights on one ‘of the Sisters Islands, in Bass' Strait, which he supposed to have been shown by shipwrecked seamen, thehon. the Commissioner of Customs issued instructions to the chief harbor master to have full inquiries made, and if necessary, at once despatch the steamship Pharos to the spot. in order to render assistance. In the course of the afternoon, the following report was submitted to Mr. Cohen;—“Department of Ports and Harbors, Melbourne, July 15,1874.—Relative to the paragraph in to-day’s A rgus, and the conjecture that there are shipwrecked people on one -of the islands in Bass’ Strait, I would report that I have seen Captain Duncan, who says that the light seen on outermost or eastmost Sisters was not a lire to attract attention, but a bright light in a lantern, similar to a ship’s riding lantern. When Captain Duncan first saw it, the Palace was about two miles off. The people on the shore could have seen the Palace two hours previous to her passing. Captain Duncan says he' is sure that no signal whatever was made previous to his passing; if it had been, he would have lowered a boat to ascertain what was the matter. The light was not one for the purpose of attracting the attention of a passing ship. Captain Johnson, of the schooner Yarra, as well as Captain Duncan, of the Palace, saw the light, and is of opinion that If they had been castaway seamen they would, have made a smoke of some kind, which would have attracted attention two hours previously, or they Vfould have waved the lantern ; but at the time he passed it was a steady light. The Palace passed just at dusk—six o’clock ; but the vessel could have been seen in daylight., When tho Yarra passed (two hours afterwards), no change had taken place in the light as first seen by the Palace. 1 think, under these circumstances, there seem to be no grounds for supposing they are shipwrecked men, but that they are most probably sealers, who are known to frequent the islands at this season of the year. —Charles B. Payne, Chief Harbor-Master.” To this report, the Assistant Commissioner attached the following memorandum : —“ Under the above circumstances, Captain Payne and I agree that it is not necessary to despatch the Pharos, unless the Hon. the Commissioner should specially desire it.” Tho report by the captain of the barque Palace as to the supposed existence of shipwrecked mariners on one of the Sisters Islands, has caused attention to bo directed to the fact that the ship Roderick Dhu, which left Melbourne for Newcastle twenty days ago, has not yet been heard of. The Roderick Dhu was a large new iron clipper ship of 1642 tons, built at Sunderland, for Messrs. Williamson, Morgan, and Co., of Liverpool, for their Calcutta trade, but was chartered from them for a voyage to Australia. She arrived here in command of Captain Calvert, on May 24, consigned to Messrs, Connell, Hogarth, and Co., and after discharging a large and valuable cargo at the Breakwater-pier, left this port for Newcastle, en route to San Francisco. She cleared Port Phillip Heads on June 25, and since then has not been heard of, although it was expected that she would have made as good a run round as any of the large iron clippers which left here about the same time for the same destination. Heavy gales from N.W. to S.W. prevailed in the Strait about the time she sailed, but they .were not of such violence as to have imperilled the safety of so fine a vessel. When the Harlech Castle left this port some time ago, and no tidings were heard of her at Newcastle, it was thought that the captain, taking advantage of strong fair winds, had stood right-away for San Francisco, or that the ship might have got dismasted, and would probably be heard of at some New Zealand port, and similar hopes may now be entertained concerning the Rode-. rick Dhu. THE PILOT SERVICE. - TO THE-EDITOR. Sir,—l noticed a paragraph in your paper of the 29th ultimo, containing a seeming reflection upon the capacity of Pilot Holmes, inasmuch as he did not board a vessel outside the Heads. Now, Sir, although I know nothing of the case in question, I should pot like to leave Wellington without bearing testimony to the quick and efficient manner in which my ship was boarded, and taken into the harbor. I think your harbor an excellent one, but at the same time contend that it is impossible . to board a vessel outside the Heads, in an open boat, with even a moderate S.E, gale. I, myself, arrived off the Heads, from Lyttelton, on the I3th July, and was boarded by Pilot Holmes three miles outside, notwithstanding that » strong N.W. wind ;was blowing, and the sea at the time being quite rough. The wind soon after shifted to with thick, rainy weather, in spite of which the Pilot took tho ship safely inside the Heads, in what I considered a masterly manner indeed; and this much has convinced mo that Mr. Holmes is in overv respect well qualified for the responsible position he holds. I must apoligiac for thrustin'g myself on you in this manner, but I am simply actuated by a sense of justice, not liking to see one that I have every reason to know to be a good man. referred to unfairly. If I should return to this port again, I only hope my ship may be boarded by a man as efficient in every way as he has proved himself to be.—Yours, &c., - < Edward A. Chapel, Capfc. American barque Eureka. Wellington, August 1.