SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7270, 12 September 1884, Page 8

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVAL OF THE BRIGANTINE NETTIE, FROM NEW YORK.

The brigantine Nettie, chartered by York firm of R. W, Cameron, and consigned to Messrs Bannatyne and Co., arrived in port at G. 30 pm on Monday, after a passage of 123 days from New York. Captain Lowry reports having left that port on April 18th, and meeting with light variable weather and very slight NB trades to the Equator, which was crossed in long. 32 W on the fortieth day out. From the Equator to lat 35 S light SE, thence to the Cape NE and NW gales were encountered. The meridian of Greenwich was passed on June 23 in lat 34deg lOmin S, and that of the Cape of. Good Hope four days later. The easting was run down between the 33th and 40th parallel, heavy gales from N to NW and S\V prevailing. The meridian of Cape Leuwin was passed on the 4th July, and Tasmania ten days later, and after tfiat the weather became fine, with very low barometer. Last Friday’s gale was met with about 150 miles from Cape Farewell, which was sighted at 8 on Sunday morning. She arrived off the Heads at 4.30 am, and was boarded by the signalman at 9, and beat into port as above, anchoring off the Railway Wharf. She brings a large general cirgo, including over 2000 cases of kerosene. One-half of her cargo is for Auckland, where she will go on to after discharging here.

ARRIVAL OF THE PETER STUART WITH TWO TORPEDO BOATS. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s chartered ship Peter Stuart was towed into port by the ss Wanaka at 4 pm on Monday. She is a fino full-rigged ship of 1447 tons measurement, and comes out under the command of Captain J. H. Vanstone, who, although a stranger here with his ship, is well known in Otago, having made frequent trips to Port Chalmers. The Peter Stuart is built of iron, and is owned by Messrs Stuart and Douglas, of Liverpool. Captain Vanstone reports of the voyage as follows ; —Sailed from SW India Docks, London, on May 3rd, and came to anchor off the North Foreland the same day as it was blowing a gale from WNW. On May 5, hove up anchor, and proceeded down Channel, casting off the tug boat the following day, Beachy Head bearing N, and the wind veering and hauling between WNW and SW strong. On May 10 the Channel pilot was landed off Plymouth, wind SW, with fine weather. Thence to lat 41deg 49min N long lldeg 20min W, light variable weather was met, with the exception of a gale from the W, On May 28 got N3S Trader which were light throughout, and lost them in lOdegN. From here to Sdeg N light variable winds were experienced, followed by the SE Trades, which were fresh. The Equator was crossed on June 14, in long 28deg W, time 42 days from dock, and 38 days from off Plymouth. The SE Trades were lost in lat 23deg 35mln S, and long 36deg 40min W, on June 22. On June 26, when she was in lat 31deg 23min S and long 28deg 64min W, a very heavy gale was encountered from SSW with squalls lasting 30 hours with hurricane force, the barometer falling as low as 29'X0in. The ship rolled heavily, and shipped large quantities of water, the main deck being continually full. Tristan d’Acunha Island was passed on July 1, in a heavy gala with squalls from SSW. The meridian of Greenwich was crossed on July sth, in lat 38deg 62min S. At the time a heavy gale was blowing from WNW, lasting 36 hours. The Cape of Good Hope was passed in lat 41deg Son July 9th, in the midst of a heavy SSE gale with thick rain. The easting was run down on the 46th and 47th parallels, the winds being mostly strong SW, The Crozets were passed on July 15th, and thence to Cape Leuwin, which was passed on the 2nd instant, heavy gales from the SE aud ESB were met with ; these galea continued after passing Capo Leuwin, and it took until August 16 to reach the South Cape of Tasmania. Thence moderate weather prevailed up to Friday last, when a very heavy SW gale was met with, during which the ship had to be brought to for twenty-four hours for the safety of the torpedo boats «n deck. On Saturday, at noon, Cape Farewell was sighted and Sunday being calm, she was off the Heads at 4 am on Monday, aud showed a blue light. Pilot Holmes came off, but when about halfway had to put back on account of a sudden attack of illness. Ultimately Assistant-Pilot Shilling boarded her at 10 am, and she was towed into port at 4 pm on Monday, anchoring in the outer anchorage. The Peter Stuart has, besides a large general cargo, two torpedo boats on board for the New Zealand Government. These torpedo boats are covered steam launches, built of steel, 66ft long, 7ft 9in beam, and 6ft Bin deep, excepting under the steambox, where the depth is Bft. They were built by tho renowned maker, Thorneycroft, and cost LSOOO a-piece, weighing eleven tons each. On the trial trip on the Thames they averaged 17’9 knots. The torpedo is pub out over the bow at the end of a long spar, somewhat like a bowsprit. There are 17 oases of fittings belonging to the torpedo boats on hoard, but no torpedoes, nor are there, we believe, any in the colony. As we have already stated, the torpedo boats will be launched at once, and will be hauled up by Mr Bowie, of To Aro, who will take charge of them for six months, pending the completion of Major Cautley’a scheme of defence for the colony. One of them is intended for Auckland and the other for this port.

DEPARTURE OF THE lONIC. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s chartered steamer lonic sailed for London direct soon after 4 pm on Saturday, taking a large number of passengers and a very full cargo of produce. This is her last voyage for the New Zealand Shipping Company, as in future she will be chartered by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company. THE RINGAROOMA INQUIRY. Christchurch, August 24. The decision in the Ringarooma inquiry was given to-day. The Court found that the Ringarooma had steered her usual course till about twenty miles off Bank’s Peninsula, but there the set off current had carried her nearer inland than was supposed. Though the lead might have been heaved oftener, yet when the vessel struck everything was done by the captain to ensure the safety of the vessel and passengers. The discipline of the crew seems admirable. They would direct that the certificates of the captain and officers be returned to them. They would not direct costs to be given against the captain.