SHIPPING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2055, 5 September 1868, Page 4

SHIPPING.

PORT iCHALMERS.-SEPTEMBER 4. Wind S.E., light breeze. Weather dull, cloudy. High water on 5tU September : At the Heads, 4.56 ; Port Chalmers, 5.26 ; Dunedin, 6.1. ARRIVALS. Onward,_ schooner, 69 tons, Beck, from Kaipara, with timber. Master, agent. Tararua; sYs.;'s22 tons, Hagley, from Melbourne, via Bluff Harbour, with cargo and passengers. G. S. Brodrick, agent. Severn, barque, SOS tons, Eastings, from Mauritius, via Geelong, with sugars. Dalgety, Rattray, and Co. agents. Bengal, barque, 479 tons, Jamieson, from Newcastle, with cattle and horses. J, L. and C. Burko, agents. Hangitoto, s.s, 449 toes, Bax, from Melbourne, via West Coast and! Northern Ports, with cargo and passengers. G. tf. Brodrick, agent. Wellington, s.s, 261 tons Holmes, from Northern Ports, with cargo and passengers W. Sly, agent. DEPARTURES. Swordfish, schooner, 155 tons, Johnson, for Lyttelton, in ballast. Dalgety, Rattray, and Co, agents. Wallace, ps, 58 tons, Malcolm, for Oamaru, with cargo aud passengers. J. Jones and Co, agents. Ajmeer, ship, 1163 tons, Pugh, for Callao, in ballast. Caigills and M'Lean, agents. PASSENGER. LTSTS. Per Wellington, from Northern Ports: Mr and Mrs GiUies. Messrs Gray, Carr, Weir, Campbell, Halliday; arid 13 in the steerage. Per Tararua, from Mf Ibourae, via Bluff Harbor.: Mr and Mrs Healey and family (2), Mra Watt and family (3), Messrs Biytb; Marshall, Julius, Adamson, Lindsay, Stewart, Murchie; 51 in the. steerage; nd 37 for other ports. ; Per Rangitoto, from Melbourne, via West Coast and Northern Ports : Mr and Mrs Carruthers, Mr and Mrs Strong, Misses Flemings Hon. Dillon Bell, Messrs Gunn, Harding, Stephenson, Blacklock, Thompson; and 16 in the steerage. Per Rangatira, for Northern Ports : Mrs ; Windmill,* Messrs Nichol, Davidson, Gea- ! son ; and two in the steerage. I .EXPECTED ARRIVALS. From London.—Caller-ou, June 16. From Glasgow.—Schieswig Bride, June From New York.—Tarquin. From Liverpool.—Mystery, June 24 ; Ada. From Foo-chow-eooY—Ella Gladstone. r From Boston, U.S.—Agate. From Melbourne.—Otago. From Valparaiso.— Prospector. projected departures. Wallace, for Oamaru, Bth inst. Lloyd's Herald, for Invercargill, early. Margaret, for Fiji Islands, early. Rangitoto, for Melbourne, this day. - Tararua, for Northern Ports, this day. Banshee, for Fijis, 15th inst. Dancing Wave, for Auckland, early. Wellington, for Northern Ports, 7th inst. VESSELS IN PORT. Bruce, p.s., from West Coast. Queen* schooner, from Lyttelton. -f ■- . Keera, s.s., from Lyttelton. ~' : - ■_•; ■ Elizabeth Curie, schooner, from Qkarita. Clutha, schooner, from-Catlin's River. Lovet Peacock, schooner, - from Newcastle. Mary Van Every, schr., from Invercargill. Helenslee, ship, from Glasgow. Pioneer, schooner, from Oamaru. Salamander, s.s., from London. Margaret, schooner, from Stewart's Island. Collrngwood, barque, from Newcastle. Banshee, schooner, from Fiji Islands. Dancing Wave, schooner, from Lyttelton. Huon Belle, ketch, windbound. Tararua. s.s, from Melbourne., .. , Onward, schooner, from Kaipara. Bengal, barque, from Newcastle. Severn, barque, from Mauritius. Rangitoto, s.s, from Melbourne, &c. WeUmgtoh, s.s, from Northern Ports. .- CHSTOMS ENTRIES. INWARDS—COASTWISE. September 4—Onward, 69 tons, Beck, master, from Kaipara, with cargo. Master, agent. '. OUTWARDS-^COASTWISE. j September 4r—Jane, 25 tons, M'Phee, maeter, for ; Catlin's River, in ballast. Master, agent. IMPORTS. Per Tararua, from Melbourne: 28 packages, E Jones ; 675 do, Whittingham Bros ; 39 cases, Wilson and Co; 23 packages, Feldheim Brothers; 2 cases Hayman and-Co ; 29 packages, Marks; 100 cases geneva, Griffen; 15 half chests tea, Paterson and Co ; 8 packages, -* Macquarie; 282.d0, M'Callum, Neill, and Co; 3 cases, Livingstone; 200 bags bark, Flexmanßrothers ; lOYbales flocks, North and Scoular; 23 packages, Blyth ; 672 do, Lange and Thoneman; 150 bagß sugar, - Marshall; 3 cases cigari,. 2 bales, Marks; 409 bags sugar, Whittingham Brothers ; 1 case, Matthews ; 1 case, order ; I parcel, A Ken*; 1 do, West; 1 do, M'Phee; 1 do, Braithwaite ; 1- package, Morris; 65 boards, J Gray ; 30 cases fruit, Dunning Brothers ; 1 horse, Cox; 1 box, Payman; 1 do, J Reid. From the Bluff—2 bags oysters, Cross. - Per Wellington, from Northern Ports: 1 box, G W Elliott; 1 case,; Bank of New Zealand; 30 bags pepper,, Gregg and Co ; 1 Albert car, Strang; 43 sack? grass seed, order; 1 case, Roberts ; 20 empty hhds, J L and C Burke; I case, Wise; 1 box, Miss Cutten; 3 cases. Telegraph Office; 1 case, Turnbull; 1 parcel. HaymasL; 18 horses, Dickson; 1 do^ Graham; 16:Seases tobacco, . order. '■ A:7--: Per Severn, from Mauritius : 6681 bags sugar, 400 empty bags, Dalgety, Rattray, and Co. Per;Rangitoto: From Melbourne—2packages merchandise, Dowse; 2do leather, Falconer; 3 do do, Pay; 4bags cocoanuts, Don-Y ning Bros; 8 cases clockware, Beck and Co; 3 cases toilet soap, Sargood, King, and Sargood; 20 quarter casks brandy^ W Stavely; 2 machines, 7 packages, Robihsin and Co; 2 bags seed. Law, Somner and Co;Y 11 casks tobacco, order; 1 bale merchandise, Blakeley; 20 kegs butter, 70 bags sugar, 15 barrels cur • cants, 4 cases raisins, G Blyth; 2 do do, Galvert andCampbell; 2 do saddlery. G Dowse; 1 do plants, Purdie; I package, Pratt; 1 box, Robinson; 1 parcel, Bright Bros; 40,000 sovereigns, Bank of Otago. Transhipped at Wellington, ex Egmont, from Sydney—6 bales leather, Farquhar; 8 baskets China cabbage, 2 boxes China, flour, 1 bag ground nuts, 9 packages China goods, 60 bags rice, 1 box tobacco, order ;* 1 bundle, Moreaii. Transhipped ex Airedale—Bs sacks seeds, Piele. Shipped at Wellington—3 cases, Armstrong; 5 do, 2 coils wire, Telegraph Department. Per Bengal, from Newcastle : 141 head of cattle, 18 horses, Wright, Robertson and Co. - Per Onward, from Kaipara: 57,000 feet timber, order. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS-~Yesterdat. Lyttelton : September 3—Beautiful Star, rom Dunedin, at 7.30 p.m. Wellisgton : September 4—Ahuriri, from Napier, at 5.40 p.m; Gothenburg, - from Lyttelton, at 7.30 a.m. GREYfMouTH: September 3—John Perm, from Nelson. Hokitika : September 4—Egmont, for at 1.30 p.m. The P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Co.'s s.s. Tararua, from Melbourne via Bluff Harbour, arrived Sn port yesterday forenoon. Her mails and ! passengers were conveyed to Dunedin at midday by the Golden Age. The Tararua left flobson's Bay at 2.15 p.m.' on the 28th alt., and passed Port Phillip Heads at 5.30 p.m. Swan Island was passed on the following day, at 1 p.m. After clearing the Swan she encountered strong southerly and S.W. gales with high cbnfußed sea, necessitating the

engines to be worked at a low rate of speed. At 3 a.m. on.the 31st she shipped a tremendous sea, which completely flooded the decks, smashed one of her starboard waist boats, topgallant bulwarks, and side of deckhouse. The Solander was passed at 9.10 a.m. on 2nd inst, and Bluff Harbor reached at 3 30 p.m. same day; discharged a large cargo, and left on the afternoon of the 3rd, in the teeth of a heavy southeast gale. Captain Thomson, the Harbor master at the Bluff, pilotedher to sea. but in consequence of the heavy gale, he was unable to get on shore, and came on with the steamer. He will probably return to his quarters to-day in the company's steamer Rangitoto, The Tararua sails this afternoon for Wellington with the Panama mails. Mr Clayton, tha purser, has, with his usual courtesy, supplied us with files of Melbourne papers. The barque reported at the Heads was towed up yesterday forenoon to a discharging berth, and proved to be the Severn, from the Mauritius, via Geelong, with sugars consigned to Messrs Dalgety, Rattray, and Co, her agents. The barque left Geelong on the 18th ult, and did not clear Port Phillip Heads until the 21st, and experienced strong S.W. winds until coming in with the land, when she met with strong N.E. breezes and unsettled weather. She made the passage to the southward of the Snares. On the 2nd instant she experienced a fresh S.W. wind, which continued until arrival at the Eeads. The barque Bengal, from Newcastle, with stock, arrived at the Heads in the forenoon, and signalled for a tug. The Geelong proceeded outside, and towed her up to a berth alongside the hulk Cincinati. -The Bengal has not been so fortunate with her cattle on this trip as on.- previous ones, consequent on a week's heavy weather at starting. She left Newcastle on the 18th.: and encountered strong southerly and S.E! gales with heavy sea for the first seven days, causing the vessel to labor heavily. Northerly winds were then experienced to longitude 162 degrees E. Ori approaching the West Cape, she was caught in a terrific gale from S.S.E., which luckily proved of short duration and hauled round westerly, enabling her to run through Foveaux Straits. At 2 p.m. on Thursday there was every appearance of a S.E. gale, and Captain Jamieson stood off to the eastward, under low canvas, for the night. She was then oft the Nuggets; at 2 Ya.ni. yesterday, she bore away for the Heads, and at daylight observed Cape Saunders, bearing W.S.W. about ten miles, and squared away for the Heads. On nearing them, a pilot boarded her, and informed Captain Jamieson (who is exempt) that there was a slight alteration in [ the Channel, When the captain deemed it prudent to accept the pilot's services. The schooner reported in the cross channel proved to, be the Onward, from Kaipara, with timber. Her passage has occupied three weeks, and was r characterised by strong southerly and south-easterly winds. The P.N.Z. and AIM Co's s.s. Rangitoto arrived from Melbourne, via West Coast and Northern Ports, at 4.15 p.m. She left Sandridge Pier at 330 p.m. on the 21st inst, and passed through the Heads at 6.30; made Swan Island on the 22nd at 3.30 p.m ; from thence until the 24th she encountered fresh 'southerly winds-and fine weather; winds I veering from S.E. to N.E. were then expeirienced to arrival off Hokitika at 7 30 p.m. on the 23th; discharged cargo and left at 6 30 p.m. on the 28th for the Grey, arriving offthereatß.3o; sailed again at 9.30 for Nelson, where she arrived at 7 am. on the 29th ; left Nelson on the following day at 6.30 a.m., arid arrived at Wellington same afternoon. Left .again at- 4 p.m. on the Ist, and encountered very heavy southerly gale 3 with head seas to Lyttelton, where she arrived at lip. m. on the 2nd ; left at 3.50 pm. on the 3rd, and had" strong head gales to arrival. Mr Clayton, the purser, has furnished" us' with Northern files. The Rangitoto sails this aEternoon for Melbourne, taking the ! Suez mails.

_ TheN;Z.S.N. Co.'s s.s. Wellington arrived in Port late last evening, from the North. She left Auckland at 2.30 p.m. oh'the 28th ultimo, and after calling at Kawau for Sir George Grey and suite, arrived*at Tauranga at 7 a.in. on. the 29th; landed passengers, including Lord Burghley and Mr Selwyh;" sailed again at 9 a in., and arrived at Napier at noon on the 30th ; left at 3.12 p.m. on the 31 st}; and arrived at Wellington at 10.45 a. m.; on the Ist inst., where Sir George Grey landed.V The vessels in the harbor were decorated with their bunting in honor, of Sir George. The Wellington left at 2.30 pirn, on the 2nd, and arrived at Lyttelton at 10 a.m. oh the 3rd. Left same evening at 6, and had strong head winds to arrival. The schooner Swordfish sailed out yester-. day morning, bound for Lyttelton, .where she will load again for the Australian Colonies. A telegram has been received by Mr Keith Ramsay to the effect that the schooner Jane Anderson has been off the. Hokitika Bar for the last six days, and that there appears no chance of her getting in. The Jane Anderson made the passage from Port Chalmers, to Hokitika roadstead in six days. SHIPPING SUMMARY. " \ Since the despatch of the Panama mail on the sth.ult, the shipping business has been ot its usual briskness; 39 vessels have, arrived, and 47 have taken their departures. The inward registered tonnage was 9224, and the outward 10^852. The arrivals include the Home ships—the Helenslee, from Glasgow,, on the 23rd ult.,' and the steamship- Sftlamander, from London, on the 25th uli The three-masted schooner Rifleman, which has gained some notoriety in having conveyed the escaped prisoners from the Chatham Islands to Poverty Bay, arrived with cattle from the Islands on the 27th ult. The clipper schooner Banshee arrived from the Fijis on the SOth. The departures include the Caribou, for Callao, on the 19th ult.; the American Lloyd's, for Canterbury, on the 22nd ult., with part of her original cargo from Boston; the Elmstone for Newcastle, on the 26tb, to load coal for Shanghai; the American fore and aft' schooner cleared out for Guam, and saled oh the 28th ; the ship Ajmeer sailed for Callao yesterday forenoon, clearing the Heads with a fight wind. ; The vessels expected to arrive daily are the Tarquin, from New York, with American commodities ; the Ella Gladstone, from Foo Chow Foo, with teas; and the Prospector, from the west coast of South America, with bread stuffs.

The Helenslee and Salamander have made good progress in the discharging of their cargoes since their arrival in Port. ' The Salamander proceeds to Melbourne with grain; and it is understood that the Helenslee will proceed east. The barque Eleanor has been chartered to load grain at Oamaru for Melbourne ; and a vessel is also required to load stone for the same port.

The passenger traffic for the past month shows a total arrival of 797 souls, of whom 589 landed and remained in the Province. The departures for the same period show a total of 553, of whom 398 left the Province. Amongst the a,rrivals are 149 from Britain, who may be considered permanent settlers. A large number of the departures have proceeded to the Auckland Goldfields.

Since the launch on the 7th ult. the new floating dookbuut by the proprietors Messrs Murray and Co., has been brought into practical use. Last week the barque Eleanor, 411 tons register, was taken in, drawing ten feet 7 inches, over-hauled and repaired. Captain Ritchie, of the barque, expressed his. entire satisfaction for the manner his vessel was docked, repaired, and put out. Several vessels are on the fist for repairs in the dock—the first being the schooner Banshee and steamer Peninsula, both being taken in at the same time. The dock is 171 ft long, and 42ft beam. It is to be regretted that an accident lately occurred to the barque Collingwood, while lying inside the Heads, awaiting a favorable opportunity to proceed to Oamaru. She broke her shear, and drifted out on the ebb tide, against a strong N.N. E. wind, and notwith--1 standing another anchor being let go she

drift, d ashore on the sanuspit, bumped heavily, but was afterwards got off through lightering, and was towed to the Port, where & survey was held. fche is now being discharged, and will go into dock for repairs.' She will probably be stripped, caulked, and recoppered.

The great shipping disaster of the month has been the loss of the -New. Zealand Com-' pany's steamer Taranaki, in Tory Channel, I caused by eddies in which she would not steer, and was carried en to a rock, knocking a hole in her bottom. The passengers and crew were all saved, and endeavours were made to tow the vessel to a beach, without avail, as she sank, in ten fathoms of water, half a cable's length from shore. An official inquiry into the cause of the wreck has taken place, and her captam (Francis) and officers are exonerated from all blame. The catastrophe is looked on as a pure accident. The capfcaihhad gone through the same channel hundreds of times, and always steered the same course. The tidal waves which visited our coast from the 15th ult to the 19th are believed to have caused the-strong eddies. The following are the reports of Home i ships:—The ship Helenslee, one of Messrs Patrick Henderson and Co's Line of Clyde Packets, i arrived off the Heads from Glasgow, at dusk on Saturday, the 22nd ult., and came to an anchor. Of her passage, Capt. T, Brown, who I was formerly her chief officer,reported that the j Helenslee sailed from the Tail of the Bank on the 16th of May, and proceeded to sea in tow of the steamer Plying Mist. On the following day the pilot left her off Innistrahuil. fctrong S. W. winds detained her in the Channel. On the ninth day out she was off Cape* Pihisterre. N. E. [Jwinds were then met with, which carried her "to the Trades. The Equator was crossed on the 24th of June, in long. 24deg. 15rnin. W. Good S.E. Trades, were carried to lat. 28deg. S. The meridian I of Greenwich was crossed on the 14th July, and of the Cape on the 19th. In running down her easting, heavy westerly weather was encountered, during which she shipped large quantities of water, which flooded, the decks, stove in the boats, and carried away portion of her starboard bulwarks. The Snares were sighted at 8.30 a.m.\on the 21sb, and passed at noon. Variable winds were then experienced to arrival. Previous to the termination of the voyage testimonials were presented from the passengers to Captain Brown, Mr M'Donald, chief ojficer, and Dr F. A. Freer, for their kindness and courtesy during a ■;- pleasant voyage of 97 days. On the 31st of July, Arthur Reid, aged seven months, died of "Tabes Mesenterial Dr Freer reported the general health as being good throughout; no infectious disease whatever having occurred. The auxiliary screw steamship Salamander, previously reported at the Heads from London, was towed in by the Geelong late on Tuesday evening, the 25th ult. Having powder on board, she was brought up in the Quarantine Ground, where she remained until it was discharged, when she moved up to., a more convenient berth. Captain Clark, long and favorably known as master of the Marco Polo and Lightning, commands the Salamander. He reports that the steamer left Gravesend on the 18th of May ; discharged the I^ilot off Start Point on the 22nd; strong S.W. winds were then encountered for eight days, and were followed by fight northerly breezes to the Equator, which was crossed on the 22nd of June, in long. 25 20 W. The S.E. Trades were very indifferent, being fight and variable. The Meridian of the Cape was crossed on the 17th of July, and for the following seven days, she encountered a succession of strong easterly gales, accompanied with rain, thunder, and lightning. From long. 36 E. to the meridian of Melbourne, which was passed on the eightyfirst day out, a continuance of strong gales a.nd very unsettled weather was experienced, light easterly winds afterwards prevailed until within 200 miles of the coast. Stewart's Island was passed on Sunday, and a strong S.W. wind, with snow, brought her to the Heads on Monday as reported. Being only 60 horse-power, she could not - steam in against the gale, and anchoredfbr the night. During the passage, she only steamed four days. She brings a large-cairgo, a few passengers, and 39 pure Spanish Merino rams, which have all arrived/safely, and withstood the rough passage... in the most surprising manner. The , general health of the crew and passengers was good throughout the voyage ; no.sickness of an infectious character having occurred.

WRECK OF THE BRIG RELIANCE.

(From the 8. M. Herald, Aug. 4.)

Two of the survivors of the abovenamed vessel arrived yesterday morning by the steamer Boomerang, from Port Denison. The following are the fuU particulars.of the wreck and sufferings of the crew, which are furnished by Captain Austin, who was owner as well as captain of the ill-fated brig. Her cargo consisted often tons cocoanut oil, one ton tortoisesheU, three tons pearl-shell, and a quantity of other sheUs and curiosities, and she was from the* South Sea Islands, bound to Sydney. The captain's account is as foUows :—On the 2nd of April, 1868, the brig Reliance struck on a reef—supposed to be the Indispensable Reef—in lat. 12deg. S., and long. 166deg, 25min. E„ at three o'clock a.m.; the weather being with heavy squalls and heavy' seas, the ship struck, bilged, and immediately began to fill with water; succeeded in launching the whaleboat, put two hands into her, and sent her off from the ship to wait for dayUght. At daylight got out the longboat, and put into her provisions and water for eight days, taking with us the ship's chronometer, two compasses and chart, and two quadrants. When the vessel was filled with water and all hands took to the boats, got them over the reef, and there lay to to watch the last of the vessel. Night came on with heavy squalls, rain, thunder, and lightning, both boats leaking very much. The boats hung to the reef until the second day ; the Bhip was on the reef pretty much as before. The weather becoming moderate the boats made sail, and steered for Cape Deliverance. On the 2nd, no water in either boat. On the morning of the next day made Satisfaction Island, went ashore, and tried to get some water, landing at a small grove of cocoanut trees, where we found several natives. We gave them some bread, and they gave us water and some cocoanuts in return. The natives appeared to be friendly, so much so that, it being a very good place to repair our boats, we took everything out of the whale-boat into the long-boat, intending to repair one boat at a time. We anchored the long-boat at some distance from the land, leaving two hands in her. Took the whaleboat on shore, and the natives understanding what we wanted to do, they seemed to be very glad at our proposal, but wanted the other .boat brought on shore also. They helped us to drag the boat on the beach, and turned her over. We set to work at once on the boat, for the natives kept insisting that the other boat should be brought on shore. We tried to make them understand that as soon as one boat was repaired, the other one would change places with it. Nevertheless, they wanted both boats on shore together. As the boat was not ready at night, we slept on shore, keeping watch all night. The natives stiU persisted in wanting the second boat in the morning, and as they kept mustering stronger and stronger, and their behaviour showing signs of hostilities, we hastened to put the things in her, and found they had robbed us of an axe arid a knife, and one native just in the. act of walking off with a pistol, whchwe got back; they also ran away with a piece of meat that we were boUing for breakfast. As we got the boat in about twenty or thirty yards from the beach, there came a heavy shower of spears, one going through the starboard side of the boat, atid another piercing the steward's left hip to the depth of five or Bix inches, so that "we had to pull hard to get it out. A pistol was fired, which sent the natives running to the bush, giving us time to get out of reach of their spears ; a second shower came, but feU short; the long boat weighed anchor, and we sailed along the land, keeping a proper distance from it. In half an hour after, a large canoe started from another place on

the island, and gave us nearly two hours' chase, but as we kept distancing them they gave.up. At night we anchored under the lee of a small island or reck ; in the morning repaired.ihe spare boat and the longboat. It raining and , blowing very fresh, :.we stayed all night. In the . morningjfwe started again—the longboat with the captain, the second mate, the steward, and one sailor ; the whaleboat with the mate and three sailors. At night we anchored again on a reef ;in the morning started again. In the afternoon came to a small island some distance from a large one. Found no natives there, but there were houses, and we saw human bleached bones and skulls about among the houses. Got come water, cocoanuts, and sugar cane, and more repairs done to the boats, and stopped all night. In the morning saw four canoes coming from the main island towards us : we made sail, and started on our way. In the afternoon it blew a gale of wind, with a very heavy sea. The whale boat being the best sailer was running away from us, but took in sail to wait ; and as she could not heaveto very well oh account of the heavy sea, she kept distancing us all the time. As it grew dark, we kept a good look-out for the whale boat, and three small islands coming m sight, both boats steered for them, but darkness came, and we could see the whaleboat no more. , Steering the same *s the whaleboat, and expecting her to follow, under the lee of the middle island at nine p.m. In the morning, no boat could be seen, and as it was raining, and blowing a gale of wind, we dared noli go out to look for her,; knowing they wou d do the same wherever they might be. At dusk, the wind began to moderate. In the morning weighed anchor, and started to look for the boat, tut as soon as we, cleared the point of the island, behold there was a very large canoe, manned by fifteen or twenty men, bo that; if we had been half an hour later in getting under way, we should have been caught unawares. As soon as they cleared the point.of the island, they up sail, and gave us a hot chase; aud as we omy had the main and stay sail, they kept gaming on us, so that we had to turn to our oars andf paddles, ahd in an hour , afterwards, they gave up the chase. We went to 'work to rig a squaresail, and, whilst so engaged, did not perceive five canoes that were trying to cut us off until they were nearer to us than was agreeable. We hoisted the square sail, and again had recourse to the oars and padd.tß until they gave up the chase. Seeing that we should have no peace with the savages, we gave up looking for the: boat, as she did not come in sight of us until noon, when we took a farewell of the Savage Islands, and steered S.S. W.. for Cleveland Bay. On the next day the wind increased to a heavy gale, with such heavy seas that we could not keep our course, and, had to run before it, the captain steering the boat for three nights and three days without relief or Bleep. On the 23rd, made the Barrier Reef in the morning. On the morning of the 25th no water ih the boat; made Claremount group of islands and main land. Landed on the island No. 2 ; found no water on the island. All hands covered with sores,' and suffering from swelled feet. No water or food ; dug a hole in the sand and got some water, half salt. On the afternoon of the 28th started for the mainland, for we were getting very sick and weak, and by kind Providence met the schooner JM aid of Riverton. Captain Fraser kindly took us on board, after having left a track of 1100 miles in a small open boat, and endured 27 days'suffering., :

Narrow Escape from Pirates.—On the 14th of July last, we (Newcastle Chronicle) published a short extract from a letter received from Captain Urquhart, of the Flying Cloud, which left this port some four or five months ago. By the English, mail, which was'delivered in Newcastle yesterday, the RevW. Bain received another letter from Captain Urquhart, fronrwhich he has kindly permitted us to 'make the following extract. Speaking of his voyage from Hong Kong to Saigon, he says:—"l am very thankful to say that we all returned safe and well, and when I say I am thaukful, I have far greater cause to be so than is commonly conveyed in that expression. ; In order to explain my meaning, I must relate, a,circumstance which must have occurred not far distatt from my. own position at'sea.; A barque, called the Sismonia, left here for Saigon either the same, .or the- following day that I did, arid was freighted with the same kind of cargo, consisting of an assortment of general Chinese merchandise. The Sismonia had only proceeded about 300 miles when she was attacked and,boarded by pirates, who, after having rifled thevessel and taken out of her all they wanted, put the;crew in the forecabin, and battened down the hatches. They . then scuttled the ship, and left her to the mercy of the waves, the crew having refused to fight. The captain managed to cut his way out through the bulkhead with a knife, and got on shore, with the rest of the crew, in the boats. After walking a considerable distance, they were picked up by a British gunboat, and brought to Hong-KJong." Cape Leuwjn and Swan . River.—We have been favored by Commander Hutchinson with the following hydrographic notice, extracted from the •'Australia Directory," vol. 3 .-—"The following information on the current in the neighborhood of Cape Leuwin and Swan River, on the west coast of Australia, during the summer months (January and February), is extracted from the remarkbook of Capt. Charles W. Hope, of H.M.S. Brisk, 1868 :—* After rounding Capo Leuwin a strong set to the K.N.E., was experienced. At eight p.m., abreast of Cape NaturaUste, fifteen miles.distant, a course was steered to pass eight nules to the westward of Rottnest Island ; but at daylight Garden Island was observed on starboard bow, and Rottnest Island on the port bow, the ship having been set twenty miles to the E.N.E. during the night. Had the weather been thick, so that the land at Rottneßt light could hot be distinguished, the ship would have been in a very dangerous position, as the course steered would have led directly on to the reefs north of Garden island.' Also, from the same source, the following notice of reported shoal water, sixteen or eighteen leagues westward of Swan River:—'A bank with twenty fathoms water on it, has been discovered some fifty miles to the Westward of Rottnest Island, and breakers were said to have been seen in 1864 from the Beaver, merchant vessel, W. by S., fifty-two miles from Cape Viaming, the west extreme of Rottnest Island.' Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, .London, May 25, 1868.^-S.A. Register, Aug., 5.