SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5325, 14 March 1879, Page 3

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

\ This summary is made up to the lit! 0 March, and contains shipping event 9 from the 14fch February to that dat 0 inclusive, and is further supplemented in fchi 6 present issue. Since the publication of ou: 4 Jast monthly summary, business has beei s brisk, both with the shipping and with tin j several handicrafts ia connection therewith Wcol is still coming in, and great quantitiei 1 of grain reach the Port almost daily foi I shipment Home; and although at preseni ,1 there is but scanty wharf accommodation, & yet before next season we may confulentlj expect to see another large pier erected anc ready for use. The bar at the entrance oi the harbour is still a vexed question, but wt hope that ere loDg measures will be adoptee to render it more suitable for large vessels tc cross, and thus the only fear which ship--1 masters have in eutering our pert will [I effectually be dispelled. A FOREIGN, STATISTICAL, &C. Summarising to date of March. 11th, we find that S9 vessels, representing 22,041 tons, have arrived at, and 83 vessels, with a total of 22,291 tons, have sailed from, the Port of Otago. This, upon snalysis, shows that seven vessels, representing G2S2 tous, have entered iv fom oversea ports, while 12 vessels, aggregating 6745 tons, have reached us from the neighbouring colonies ; and 70 vessels, with a total of 1014 tons, represent the coastal trade of New Zealand. The number of vesaels which have left the port duiing the same period has been six, with an aggregate tntal of 4536 tons, for oversea ptrts ; 11, representing 6S76tous, for the sister colonies and G6 vessels of all clasjts, with a total of 10.559 tons, for the several ports of tht Colony. Taking the arrivals from Home and other oversea ports, we find the first ship of the month to arrive was the Albion Company's Wellington, 1247 tons, Captain Cowan, with 1200 tons of cargo and 3SI immigrants, frcni Glasgow, all of whom arrived in excellent health; she reached Port Chalmers after a passage of 79 days, on February 17th. The next day saw the advent of tbe ship Niagara, of 13G0 tons, Captain Pickard, with a cargo of railway plant from Newport, Monmoutl shire, and unfortunately, in crossing tho bar, she dragged for about tbrse minutes (her draught of water on an even keel bsing 20 feet 6 inches). She was followed, on tho 19th oE February, by the American barque California, of 79-i tins, Captain Henry, from Burrard's Inlet, British Columbia. The G<rman barque Marie, 465 tons, Captain Barmeistor, came into port on the following day from the Mauritius via Lyttt.ltou, and wai followed eight days afterwards by the British baiqtie ButttrQuiv, of 1010 tons, Ciptain Ogilvie, from Calcutta, Next to arrive was tho clipper barque llialto of 1166 tone, Captaia Williamson, from London ; she came into port on March 4th, after a passage of 87 days, and was followed ou the 10th by the barquentine Floral Star froai the Mauritius. Three vessels have left the port for London during the month, the first being the New Zealand Company' 3 splendid ship Waipa, with a cargo valued £89,700, together with a large number of passengers. She cleared tlio Heads on the 18th February, and will no doubt make a gojd ruu Home. Captain Gorn aud his ciiief officer, Mr Bone, take with them the good wishes of a large circle of friends. Tha ship Norval, Captain Ilalli day, left;the Port on February 21st,in ballast forOaleutt*. The 22ad of F^biuary saw tho departure of Ihc cl'ppar ship Calypso, Capj taia John Leslie, v?ith a full cargo of wool and grain, aud a large number of p.isssngei'S, for LondoD, while the smaii little barque Auszi, Captaiu Hill, loft on the 24th for L>ndon, with a full cargo of grain and wool, valued at £24 ; 450. Tho whole of tha wool taken by this vessel was unduinped. The French barque Araelie, Captain Bertho, sailed on the Ist instant for Callao iv ballast, and the German barquentine Hongkong, Captain Oonj, sailed for Hongkong on March. sth. INTKBCOLOjS'IAL. The trade between Oiago and ihe other ports of New Zealand, with those of Victoria j,t.A..AT*«.- c M .ik W n 1,.«.1..,_k»—-«.;ti-(.,1i.. carried out by the boats o£ the Union Steam Ship Company, who thia month, have, in addition to their other ve3sels, chartered the Spanish steamer Zimboanga. Mr F. Fulton'a s.s. Easby has been employed between Otago, Melbourne, and Sydney. Jn addition ti the several staam vessels, a number of sailing »hips have reached us frcni intercolonial poi ts. COASTAL TRADE. The coastal trade of the month has been brisk, and well attended to by our numerous handy little coasting vessel?, which come and go with, a never-failng regularity, and ten! grcally to increase the prosperity the port. DOCKS, SLIPS, ETC. The several docko and blips in the port have been wtll and fully employed during the past month, and there is tvery probability of brisk limes for some time to come. CASUALTIES. We regret to announce the lots of the Union Company's fine steamer Taupo, which was wrecked at the entrance of Tauranga Heads en February 18'.h, at 6.45 a.m. She had rounded Mount Maungori, and her engines were put at half-speed as a courss ■was shaped for the red tuoy on the starboard side of the entrance, and shortly after she had passed the black buoy on the port side of the entrance, the tide or an eddy, caught her, carrying her broadside on to the shore, and causing her to strike on the port side. She made first three bumps, then two more, as though she were going over a sharp psint and being ripped up, and then stopped dead and began to fill, the water rushing into the stokeholes and engine-room. Tha engines were pub full speed astern, but this was without effect, ss the fires were out almost immediately, and in threa minutes tha engine-room had four feet of water in it. In Icsj thin half an au hour all the passengers were landed, some few, however, remaining of their own accord to assist the crew. At Ms time the engine compartment was quite full, the fore coaipwtment being quite dry, and the after one having seven inches ot water. A gun was fired aa soon after striking as was pcs sible, and a reversed ensign hois bed as a signal of distress. When the passengers were safely landed, the pump was shipped, and kept going all the ruo-ning, aud tha mails and luggjfte were got out aud placed in the lifeboats alongside, in older that they should be safe in case of a capsize, or if, as was at one time feared, she broke her back, At 5 a.m. the s.s. Katikati came alorjgside, and the contents of the lifeboats, as well aa remainder of the luggage, were placed on beard of her, aud the passengers l:i\u.>b.t from off the Bhora. Evary endeavour has since been made to float the vessel, and great hopes are entertained that this will ultimately be effected. A Court of Inquiry bas also been held, at which the whole of the circumstances were fully investigated, and the following decision arrived at:— This is an inquiry in accordance with "The Shipiiapratid Seamens Act, 1877," before a retident magistrate and two masts-r mariners, ai nauiical asses es, into thewivck or stranding of the s s Tauj;.o on the rocks near Stony Point, at the Heads of Tauran.saHaibour. The Court hai hearl all the eiidence which bas been brought before it by the Collector of Cus'oms, ar,d lv-s £iven evtry opportunity to tbe ma<ter of the Taupo to exculpate himself by adjourning from time to time t j enible him to obtain the attendance of such witnesses as he desired to call. lam of oritiion that the ac:ident was caused by care'oas navigation, and I state my opinion that the accident was owing to tbe negligent navigation on the part of the master of the ship in the following particulars : 1. That he did not properly and closely watch the cours3 of his ship from the red buoy to the heacan. 2. That he did notheave the lead. 3. Tbat he erred in judging the ds'ance of his ship from shore, and, consequently, did not keep her in proper couise. 4. That the slow Sj eed at which the vessel was driven probably conduced to the accident. I am further of opinion that I should not bo doiug my duty to the public if I again allowed an accident to shipping, which appears to have been caused by ca-e'es ness or incapacity, to pass without exeras'n? the power which is given to a magistrate of the Court of Inquiry in such cas-s. I therefore order that the master's certificate be suspended fcr three months from tbe date of the Btrand>'ng, and that the master a'so my the costs of this inquiry, amounting to Ll7. The certificates of the other officers are returned. Great sympathy has been expressed for Captain Cromarty, aud a movement is going on to petition the Governor to review the evidence and quash the proceedings.

THE EASTKBHILL AFFAIR. The loss of the boy William Taylor o: board the barque Easterhill during her pas sage from Loudon to Ofcago, and whicl formed the subject of a Court of Inquiry was remitted to the Government, am criminal proceedings have been instituted. ARRIVALS. We subjoin the reports of the aevera vessels which have reached us from oversei ports during the month, in the order of thei; arrival:— ARRIVAL OF THE WELLINGTON. The Albion Companj's ship Wellin/ton, under tl command of our old fiiend Captain C>wan, amvec on Monday. She brings 14 cabin passengers, Witt 381 Government immigrants, irora Glasgow, togetnti with 1280 tons of c»rgo, of which 700 tons consis so measurement poods and the rest dead weight. &n< was brought up to the Quarantinegrouuci, anc anchored at 10 a.m. on that d»y, and thortiy after wards was boarded by Mr Colin Allan, th< immigration officer ;Dr D'ysilale, medical officer ol the Immigration Board; Captain ■ihomton, healtt officer, and Mr Thomson, Cmtoms boarding officer, Tlie viesd having been intpected, and the immigrants mutered, Cap'aiu Cowan was at liberty to render the Press representatives a report of the vessel's postage from Glasgow, which on this occasion has occupied 7£ daj s from anchor to anchor—four days in exctsa of hei lsst voyage out. This is e»9ily to be accoume i for 1 j the fact that she experienced nothing but light adverse windaaudcalinsonenteriiHandle.vingthetropics. Tiit surneon-supeiiutcndent is Vc Kogera, who »a3 last here in the ship Marlbirough, and from the appearance of the immigrants it is most evident thtt every care has been bestowed upon them by both the medical otlicer and Captain Cow-in. )n all there aro 381 immigrants, composed of 45 msrrie.l couples, 79 single females ; 121 single men, 10 infants, and 7A children. The who c of the passengers are of a veiy superior class, and b >ih the surjreoivs iperii.tendent and commander sjjo >k in terms of the highest commendai ion of tliem. There has been a wise >nd constant employment of the people during the i.awago ; boat and fire drill, inspection of the children on Thursdays, aiu-ter and iuspecli >v of tho adults on Sundays, and the practica of D.vine worship were duly observed the Rev. David Gordon being the olli.iaiing clergyman. Tho singl > females wo a berthed in the fore compiitment of the saloon aad after-p irt of the 'tween decks, aud were under the charge of Jli-s FerKUB3on, who evidently kept her charges up to their work, thia compiirlment being clean and in beautiful oiver: the married people, with their fiiinilicu, were located in the midship part of the 'twoun-decks, and we have seldom seen this part of an kum'urant tliip (rthicli is necessarily tho moat ustii, in consequence *.f the children) in ;o cleanly a >tate. Thesincle men wor« bertheil forward, and alilMUgh there were Vi\ persons ill the compartment it was in perfect order. '1 here have been no bir;hj th oughout th's pass me, and but three deaths, all bting < f children of lender age. The first was that of Almy Piters, aged IS rn.mth?, of lndroce lulus, on 30 h December ; tho next, ibai of Fravcis Jl Gill r-ged four months, of congestion of tho Jungs, on Ist February (this child was a twin, and came on b •ard in a very delicate staie of heuiili) ; while the third, thai of Robeit Foßttr, aged two joirs, took plvco on 13th February, of ir,flu«matory dropsy. Of the ship's passage out it may bo said to equal any nude thia season, and had it not be> n that sac wai retarded by li<jlit advo'ece winds and calms on entering ami lcaviusr the tropi-s, she would certainly have borne away the palm from any vessel that has leached ua this beasou. Ab it is, the run out has been made iv 79 days from anchor to anchor (just four days nioiethan her last ycai'd passage), and has been to all intents and l.urfjosea a Uue weather one througliout, the vessel cn'y having been hoy -to off the 3uar<s, and that iv consequence of thick wi-ather. She left the l'ailof theli.uik at 2 pin. on November 29th, experienced light sou heily winds and calms, and i agt off the tug steamer ht 8 a.m. on the 30th, proceeded as far as Bathlin Island, and 'aided the pilAbti p.m.; went down the north channel, when the wind suddeuly veertd to N.W. and freshened to a strong gale, which comieiled her to take the south channel, down which she ictidJed at the r*to of 11 knoti an hour. Tuskar Island was sigoalltvl at i p.m. cm ihe Ist i.f JJccsmbir, and the wind veering into N. and N E., she crosse-i the fay of Biscay an 1 j assed Cape Fip isterre on the 6th December; p»S:eJ the Js and of Mad ira on the eighth day out, and thence en a fr«h easterly gAs, scudding tlnough which s'lecarried away her jibnoom; thence she had li^ht variatjle and southerly winds for five d^jß, and thin light sjuth;rly breezes until Dectm!ier 13.h, when the t. ok th • N.fi. trades in Jat. 22 N. (at this time she was close on tho Afr.cm shore). Oil December 15th she sifnalUd the ship WuiwicK. f'om London to Nelson wilh inimi,rants, "ill v»u!l," and passing in>ii]e th > Capo d« Verde cr^up. in company with a larnc flaet of vessels. Lost tho N.E. trades in latitude 14 N. ; light airs and calms prevailed fn.m latitude ]4 N. to 1-titude 3 N., where the first of the S.E. trades wore picked up on December 26'.h; they took her across the Equator on the following day. in j longitude 20.E0 W ,27 clays uui, and throe 'iays behind herlitt ptswge ou\ Ou Decrmoer 31st nlie spoke the ship Gleudaruel, from San Francisco to Liveip^ol, in latitude 15 »., longLitudo 31 AY. The wuth-oist trades were good, asid_ ciav>l>d her to lay n good course; they give out in latiturfo 20 S., nnd were followed by ibh'.- nmtherly windu until the Sip reached ln'iturie'33 S on January 12lh ; und in Utitude 40 S , longitude 21 W., she fell in with a perfect 9'Jhool i f Whiles. The westerly winds wero ta; eu \i;> on the sitine day, mil the nuridian of GrtemvLh w.ia crosfud on J.umiry lflth in lititu le 41 S, *ud she r.mnded tlu Cape of Uood Hope four days Inter, in latitude 4'J $-, 02 days out from Glasgow, and six cUys b. hind lier last passage. Thence the ■ xperieticed l'jrht we-ileily winds at:d line weather until J<nusry 25th, when a stronir N.W. breezo and thick weather nt in. she pissud to the sjuthward of Prince Edw.vrd's and Jlarion UUtt'l on January 27, and thenco had light N \V. winds and fogiry weather, which took her t'> the southward of the Croz :t Uroup on J.inuary 30th; strong M.W. winds followed, and she parcel to tho not th ward of Kerguelen's Land with ihick f ggy weather, and crcsseJ the meridian of Capa i euw n on February 6:1), in latituJe 50 S , thence hhe had favourable and strong weiteriy winds, and averogeJ 300 miles por day for several days, the best daj's work being 1 gged at 340 rnihs. The I-laud of Ta^maiia was passed on the 74;h day out, in lutitude 51 S., on February 11th; strong westerly winds carried her up to the land, and she passed to the southward of the Snarct on ihe 15h, meeting a strong non herly gale, which veered from N.W. to S.Vy^aloiii; the coast, and brought her past Mr Pilofkelly on board at 4 P m." tame'dayranchbreil outride for tho night, and waj towed up to the Quarant 113-ground at 10 a.m. yesterday. ARRIVAL OF THE NIAGARA. This ship, which brings a cirgo of railway material of 1243 tins weight, arrived off 'lie Heads on thcrfth insta»t, and waa towed into port yesterday at the top of high w.tof by the ps. Kopu'ai Unfortunately she dragged on tie bar for nearly three minutes (although only drawing 20 feet 6 inches on an even kee1), but eventually reached the anchorage below Dsborah Biy. 'J'no Magara U a wooden ship of 13C0 tons register, and was built at Quebec in 1859 for Messrs Moss and Co., of that ciiy. t-he hai bton commanded for the last nine years mid a-half by Captain Pick rd, and has been principally empl >yed in trading to the last Indies anl < oast of Spain and South America Her posiage from Newport, South Wales, his occupied 108 days, but this s i asily aceountpd for by the fact that she lay tight days ai anchor eff that port, in the teeth of a strong N.W. gile, and in addition to this neither experienced N.E. or S.E. trade winds till she reached Ja'ituio 6.31 S. bhe is a wholesome lotkiiu, high-wooded, oldfashioned ship of gre^t ctTying cnpicity, aud has proved her Baling capabilities mi :evi-ral rccision«. Captain PickarJ, who received the r.presentmtativea of the Presj in the most courteous manner, reoor s leaving Newport on October 25th ; met a string N.W. galu, and anchored outside uatil November It, wh"H she ti ok her departure; cleared Lut.dy luand on November 3rd, and experienced vW. winds across the Bay of iiiicay: thence she had the w nd from E. N. K. to E. S.K. ri(jht across the north-east tra'le belt, and crrssed the cq ator on 2nd December, in lon2[ituJe 32.88 W. Itio a 1 versa winds continued until she had beat up to Cap) St. Hoquf, ml on th 9th December the took the first <f the S.B. trades, in latitude GcS S, eff Panibalioi The trad-s were mode; ato. and gave out in lititude 21 S on 16th December ; thence fihe had light and variable winds, and crossed ihe meu'dUn of (Jree .wich in latitude 38 34 il. on 3rd January, that of the Cape of Good Hope beirg p3S?ed on January 11th, in Utitude 42 50 S- The wes'.uly winds were fallen in with <ff the island of Tristan d'Acunha, and carried her aero: a the Sou hern Ocean in the piralltl of 46 S. latitude Tho meriditn of Cape Leuwin was crossed on February sth, and the ißl<vi<i of Taermnia pa sed o i the 10th in latitude 47 J7 S.; tbence she had nnderate westerly winds, and made the Snares at 4 a.n\ on ihe Kith. Fresh westerly breiz^s brought her off the ctago He^ds on the f llowing day, and Pilot Kelly waa Uk> n on board at 2.30 p.m. Ihe tide being unfavourable, she stcoi off and on all night, and crosied the bar at noon yesterday. ARRIVAL OF TEE CALIFORNIA. Ths barque California, laden with a full cargo of timbtr from Burrard's Inlo , arrived off ihe Head* on the 19th uU , and sailed up to the anchorage off Pulling Point. She ia a wholesome-looking wooden vessel of 794 tons ngister, and was formerly a paddle steamor trading on the coast of Calif irnia. She was converted inlo a soiling ship about four years fiiicc, and has been employed trading from San Francisco to Sydney and Auckland. On her pres- nt trip she brings 645,000 feet ti timbir, of which 395,000 feet a;e for this port and the remainder for Sydney. She is consigned h re to Messrß H. Houahton and Co. Captain Henry and his chief officer, Vr Murphy, are to be comjlimented on the prrfect order in which the fhip comes into oort. She left Barrard's Inlet on December 23rd, and c:eired tho lind on the following day ; experienced northerly and nort'l-west wiuda, and took the north-east trades on January 2< d in latitude 24 N, They ware moderate, and gave out in latitude 10 N., and were succeeded by li.'ht variables down to the equator, which she crossed on January 10th in longitude 158 W. Nothing in the siape of S.JS. trades were f»llen in with ; but on (he contrary, she met with a succession of variable windi, principal y from 9. to .V.N.E. On the 21gtJaiunry she bighted Klerson's Island in Utitule 10.0 S., and passed Humphrey's Inland at r'aivn next day. Southerly and variable wind* were experienced up to the meridun of 180 W. longitude, which was crrsstd on tho 10th Februaiy, when the wind veiled from E. to S.E., Mid carried her off Mahia PeninsuU on the 11th, when a Strom: southerly breeze ensued, lasting fir 24 hours ; then c it backed to N.E., and afterwards came out from S.E., tatina; her to lati ule 44 3g S. on the 18-h, when a fre h N.E. bretzo again sprang up and brought her into port. ARRIVAL OF THE BUTTERSIEBE. A very handsome barque is the Bultermere, which arrived at P rt Chalmers on the morning of the 28th February, bringing a cargo of cornsacka anl castor oil from Calcutta, of which 600 tons are for Dunedin, and 650 tais for the natfr port of Lyttelton. She is an iron vessel, one tf the Mere line, and waß bni't at Whitehiven in U77. Her owners are Messrs Fisher, Spratt, and Co., Captain Ogilvie, her commander, also owning a share of her. Hitherto she has been employed in the trada between Liverpool. San Francisco, Portland (Orego ■), and the East Indies, and now comes from Calcutta. She is fitted with all the most recent labour-saving appliances, and few (hips have ever entered this port with the excellent accommodation for pearnen which the Buttermere presses. Cuptaln Ogilvie is a stranger to the port, but his chief officer, Mr Shaw, is an old friend, and was list here s me four years since as second mate of the ship Sophia Joishirn; and he is deserving of great commend vtion for the very excellent condition in which tho Buttermere comes into port. Sho left Calcutta on Decomber 17th, and has therefore made raiher a long tas ago down here ; this ip, hiwever, very easily accounted for by the fact that nothin? hut light and adverse wi ds were experienced by her until she took the passage winds. After cisting off the tug steamer at tho Sandhials, she stood out to sen with a light north ensterlv breeze, which heM until December 24 h, mid then h f ed to 8.E., taklrg her i *io latitude 36 N., longitude 91.44 E., on January 3rd. No NW. monsoons were fallen in with.and thotquatorwas crossrdonthonextdiy.in loii)!itude92.2lE ; thenceshecxferiencedS.W. breezes until JariuaiyO h.when it veered t) N.W. at c ded by stiong squalli and a heavy sea; on January 11th tho spoke the Biitish ship NalaD, from Calcutta for San Francisco, and kept her on sni off in -iijut for 22 days. The first of the S.E trade wiud< was taken up in latitude 10 S. on January 16th, and carriej to latitude 30.30 S. on January 25th; they were succeeded by aouthsrly and S.S.W. winds for six day, and on January SOth she took toe first cf the passage winds, which veered from N.W. to B.W. with ordinary weather; the

meridian of Cape Louwin was crossed in latitude Hi on February Bth, and the laUnd of. Tasmania passe in seven days later; moderate breezes were experience S- until February 22ud, when a strong and increaslii h gale set in fom the N. 8., attouded by frequei aquiils and a h;gh coufuaed sea, which brol '< aboaxl ai.d completely (tiled her dcc Us. SI v headreached through tho Kale, which moderate after a severe burst of 48 hours, and then hauled t the westwaid; the Snares were passed at 2p.m. 0 February 26th, and Nugget Poiut on the ne> 1 day; thencn she experienced variab'e wind1, an 11 made the Oc an Beach on tbe following day, was 0 a tho Headb at 7 p.m., dodged off and on alt nighl x and was towed into port next morning by tho p.i Koputai. ABRIVATj OF THE ZA.MBOANGA. The advent of a vessel under Spanish colours i U rather an unusual oc urrciice at Port Chalmers, rd d thearrivalottbeuteamtrZimboangaonFob. 28 create h no little stir in the place. She comes hero untie r ch.rter to the Urjion Steam Ship Company, bring >f 11 considerable amount of cargo, and i», wo loara, to b c- employed in keej iug up tho constant communicatio: d with tno Colony of New S mth Walos frr which th > couipuny is f.nious. The Zimbcianga was formerl; c knonn as tho Fvrmnim, and was built for a Frencl >f company in the year 1874, by Mt s»r« G. Lang and Co. h of Sunderland; and, although not a passenger-cury •. ing vessel, like the fine boats of tho Union Company s is a handsome and commodious ship. She ha c been well and faithfully built, and wo cai c safely aver that but few steamers come hero pos 9 sestiiug greater currying capabilities than Bin r eloes; her model is perfect, and it is evident ne y expense has been spared in her construction, her iron a wo:k biinirof the most solid description, whilo th< c decks are all of teak. She is fitted to carry a liuaitec t ntimber of pa'sengeis, who are well accommodated ii - a very neat though unpretentious saloon, to which is f attached a special room for ladies. Tho commandei t and officers have splendid accommodation provided - for them in the dock-luuscs, while iho petty oliicert 3 and fienmtn are berthed furward. Her commnm'e] .is Captain V. Amngarcn, a gentleman who has foi r aevuial yea-s past leen trading in the Eastern Hernia- - phere, aud ivho, with tho courtesy for which Spanish f gentltmea sre noted, give our reporter every infori inatinn relative1 to the ihp. His chief < Inccr, SOllOl ;F. Barandica, has also seen considerable service in the 1 China trade ; while the chief engineer is Mr Guy, who lis to be complimented on tho tt&te of his engine-room and ' machinery, this, like every other part of tiro ve^tol, ; being of the rnsst, substtwtut description. Ho la ! aj-is ed by Mesirs £ Latub and Cummings as secondand ! third cng neero, while tho inual ODgine-rcom crew is ■ comp's<d of Chines'. The mariners attached •to the ship are natives of tbo Philippine JsI lands, from one of which Group she derives ! her preEeiit name. Few vesscli lave ever come I iuto port with fiui r machinery than that of the Zam- ) Iwsiig.i. Hor engines—the construction of Iho Wortlii Eastir.i tiigiieoring Company at tunderland-are models of strength and beauty. They are of the kind i known as compound suif ice condens'nsr, tho diameter lof the high pressure cylinder being 28 inches, tint of the low prcskUfe being 5i inches, wiih a stroke of 30 1 indies, f-bo hm two uiultitubular I oileri), and, :in addition to this, ])os.-e3ses a very |.ower- : ful donkey-engine ami its necessary appliances for di.-chtrg:iii' cargo. Ilmdsome and comm<idious deck houses, as we have already stated, have been provided, and in the forward one is a room specially set apart for tho useot tho captain and navigating wtlicers ; charts, barometer.*, and all the appliances ut-ccs-ary for thdruie I eiujr provided. Untlornoath Ibis d'ckhouse is tho .'hip'd galley, togothor with a iow of 8, k'lidiu bath-re-ms; indeed nothing haa been left undoae which would conduce to ihe comfort of thoee occupying positions on to ;rd. Shu was originally brig rigged, ami cn'ties her gear for that iiirpose em tiotk, it tiaving b'cn thought desirable that she should not be ov r hampered <n the Australian coast, the is well f..uiid, with a number r.f excellent boats, and is, wo need hard y say, tilted with the latest labour-saving appliances, as she has not at present a purser on beard, Cap'aiu Aranguicn '.'indly suppli(-d the rDpresentitivea o( the Pres.-s with the following eietni'H uf hor passage:—Sho left Sydney on the 19.h insiant, ard expenonccd fresh N.W. breezes, attended by very hiyh ses, during tbo passage s>cro33; entered Wellington Harbour at 2 p.m. m the 26th instant, ami lift itain at i p.m. on the fo lowing day, met (eh y.S.W. winds until (a sit g Lytteltorj, and thence hud light variable nirs and ci ills to urrival. We must not iiin-t to mention that Mr Anderson, the chief oflieertf Ihe s.s liotuiua, his accomp mcd the Zamboanga fr va S>m.ey in the Capacity of costing m-^tt-r, rind Uiere is very little doubt that iiis experience ) a-s pri^vtd < t c Jii'iiie/able service to taj tUn A ruiijaren. ARRIVAL OF THE FKIEN'DSUII'. The whaling schooner Friendship returned to Port Chalmets yuaerday afternoon, :-.fter a cnise to the bonthwar J. Utptiin Jol.n VVil-on leports \lut slie left Purt Wiiluro, stowari'd Island, on Ociobtr 18, 1878, end piiesed Uie South Capo of the Auckland is'ands | twodiysiat r; the eiitruce of Perseverance Ilrrbeur, Campbell's lilanel, was mado on the cwniiiir of the 21st, and sh: bore up ti the a-uhoragj the next me ruing. Si c remained off and 0.1 the island looking lor whales until January 3rd, but without nieces-;; tlie-.i,ci she proceeded ti iea'ch for the supposed Emerald Island, and experienced very variable vveithT goii.g soiith; it wai however, genially clear, and netily alw. yd elajTght. Si« r ached ts far us httii'le 57.3 a. mi Uie cth January, without, however, soi-ing a vc tigeof hnd, but pa-tei numerous bodies of kelp ant many sea - b rjs, k>ul on January 9th reached latitude 57 33 t\, latitude 102 t(i .*'. ;st 11 thtre werj 1 0 signs of la'iJ, anel the ve.-s Aby this time ha t becotno very eiir;y, un 1 u;)lc-s them w. is afresh breezu she would lisivlly move. A b-ro:i)r ouli ttrly current was also found, nlrch, toi;ethi;r wall strong wcsLiny winUs, prevented her getting to the westward. A good trial w^s i>ivcn hrr on the sanii; taraiUlas that laid down on iho clurt; and a* la-t ye. r Captain Wi son fancitd he saw land to the N W. or the position she ■ copied on January llth. which opini'-n wa? strtmtiiened by th« appearance of kelp and sta-bircs, on the prtsent voyage ho Is svi'l inciiiieet tjinaiutain ilia opinion. After knocking about for souiu tiu.o, she reached tho Uac^carrle Isiatiels 011 JanuiTy 23fd, and communicited with the e!eplia-it-hunters there ; all the men were in good health, with tho exception of one named WelJsiroeiu, who w*is suffering fr in rheumatics'. She loft the islands on January 24th, wiih a fresh JS'.W. breez), and passed a large shoal e>f blaclifiah going- to the northward; a fivsh gale was encounteied on January 26th from theN. W., attended by a Hiick fog, which feroed lur to heave-to ; during the gale she drifted to the Carupbell Islands, and at 11 p.m. ou January 28th brougiit up in 11 liithoms of w*tor half-way up the harbour. At d-.-yl'glit on tbo 2Uth she beat up Friendship Cove |" tie men',Tiatheu ri iJj;iJl£ilie_..tiru« she lay tlierr, one of I and cut his leg se»ccly, which has'"livd'Tiira "up ever since. &he left Campbell Islands on Fobrmry 20 h, and experienced strong S.F.F.. and easterly wiuds and calms ; patsed H'aikaw* on the 4th March, and thence experienced E. and .N.E. winds to armal at Otago lle»ds at. ia m. yester 'ay; cro33td ilia b.'.r and Tvcrked up in tho afternoon. ARRIVAL OF THE Fi-OKAt, STAR The c'.ipper barquentine Florat St r a-Jived at Port Chalmers and came to ancr.o • off I'ui.-ins; Point »t 9.; 0 p.m. 011 tho 9ih inat,nt, af era smait passage of 39 days fn.m the Mauritius, sha brifg) 3iO tons of tug r, and is consigned t) Hawj Scoulur ITjfiers, ot Duned n. Sihco htr last visit here the command of thevesail his been given to Captain Divifon, the c'licf ifflcerieiig1 MrLanglois. That gentl linn rtpoits : —Tlu vossei 1 h the Mauritius on the 29th of January with tho ordinary P. B. trade, which earned her to latitude 39 S. On February sth it were followed by tf.E. anel northerly winds for two days, and then backed to tie southvard, holding in that e;U!rtcr until Februiry 9;h, win 11 ihe first of the passage winds was t«ktn. They pr.ved steady, and were pritc'pilly westerly, attended by tine weather, and sjine wry good ruiiaiosr wai made, tho best, day's work being se; clown at 230 mi os. The eastin;' was run down in thn p-irillel of H?,O S. Ut tv le, and the meiviism of Ca c Leuwin p..s,ed on Fibr-uary 18th in latitude 41 X, still keeping tho westeTiiej Slu paiseJ Uie is!a ii of TOB--nnnia on F.bruary 25t.1i, auu r^clidd tbe mjrioiau of 161.30 E. Joagitule and 47 20 S. latitude on March lot; thence she eucountired a furious gale from the S.E , which held f r fair days, and compelled her to heave-to under tlosc-reefcd munsai'. Tho weather was thick and cirty, ai d attended by a furiuus fea, «h:ch broke on beard several tiu-.0. The gilu nii-de-rjted on tho 6th instant, and thence she had lig it, Tarmble winds, l'as-sed ths SoUndeis on the 7th iintant, and cloired Fuveaux S rats liex r. day ; thence she experienced light westerly ai s at' ng the coa»t, and took her pilot on h ard ai. 4 p.m. em the 9th instant ; worked into pot, and came up as above. ARRIVAL OF THE RIALTO The barjuo Kialto, from London, arr'.vod rffottuo Heads at 6 a.m. en tbe 4ih Ms r.h, and Higoul ed for a tut. The p.s. Ko,utai proceeded out to her, im taking hir in tow, I rought her serins the bra 1 p.m., and left her safely anoli red in the I'jwe.tr gmuni). Tho Kiilto, we »rj glaito learn, did 11 t t iuch on the I ar, although it w.»s fully an hour anel a-ha'.f on the ebbtide when sho crossed, her draught ot Wi.t.r aft being 18 feet 0 inches while t hiv was a nast> roll <nat t c ti-ue. Sno is a uholi-soine-louiciiig vessel of 11C0 tons ivg eter, was formt rly bliip r gsfs.i, avt wan built by T. Oswald in 1 Co., c f Suurli rlai el, in 1569. Hith. Rio sho has | r.nclpaliy bean tra ling batw.tn London and Comtay, but her last voyage was t.s Wellingt >n and bick 10 I,ovJon. Mis now comes under cluitter to Messrs Sl^aw, Savill, sjiid Co., and is cmigned ti Messrs Daigety, Nicho s, and «'o. Her carj;o cousi ts of 1900 tjnsof general good*. 400 tous of dend weight, aid 10 tons uf poivelejr (whtih han been stowed in a proptriy-enstructed niagaz ne). After putting out the powder it is probable she will come up 11 tlie wharf ana1 discharge. We are obliged to Captain Williamson f >r tiis courtesy in supplying us wit 1 the following repojt of the vessel's passage, which haß occupied 87 d*y-i f om bind to land, and »5 days from anchor t) anchor:—Left London November 2S.h, and experienced Trsli north-east wilds down the EngH»h Ctiannel; t >ok her departure on December 2nd from the Lizard light; had JS.N.E. and north i/ly winds across, tile Bay of iiiseay, arid ther.co norther y and r*.N.W. winds ; breast d the island of Madeira on tie 10th, and tien encountered a strong gale, ci-.m-mtnJag at souih and hauling t) S.sW.; it Itutcd for 24 hours, and firuoctn c vtS'U tjhaive-t ■> a'.iti height; i thegal« wasacc m anied by a very heavy sen, which a.i times broke o 1 heard; it moder t9J on Uejemln r t-2t!i, and was eu ceeded by light- tafiliivi winds f 10 m E. to ■>. F. a 1 acrnSH the nea-tti-tast t ade bat, and which cairied her riuht into the south-east tra.led in latit sde 5 N., lon gitude 20 W., on DecemUer 20th. She crossed tlio eg' ator ou Decombrr 2!) th. in lat tude 29 W., md exp r euced moderate S E. trides; thi-y wt-M true, a»d heut ber fret of the Kraz-.lian coast; thi ira less died a«ay o;i January Oth, iß79,iu Ut tade2 4S.,auu thence she hid E. to N.(2. brdczas and light weather, until 13th January, in l»tiiudu 20 is., longitude 2L W.,\vhen whbt may be cjisido ed tho first, of the westeilics was fall ;n in with, which took her a;roes ihe meridian of Greenwich in latitude 43 S 011 i!oih January, that <f the Cape • f Good Hope boiiit; pa'S.-U on 24th Jim, in latitu e44 rf. After pissii -g the Cape she met 1 ght noittiery wmdi and fogury weather, aid upon pusssiri" tho im rid.a 1 of the Crozet Group she encountered some frtsh pn-hage-winds from N.W. tj S.W , fallii>g in with a veiy heavy gi.le of wind fioin the souibwiiel after crossing the meridian of Cape Leu«in, on Peinuary 10 h. It set in from N.W., aud bucked t) S.W.. blowing a perfect hurricane, causing the ship ti liiboetr so Inavt y t a; it became necessary to l-eava her to for 24 Iviurs. Tnis kind of weatter cei.t'nuod until after posing ihe S.W. Cife of Tasmania when it veered roun'l to N.W. fig tin, a'ld br ugho htr up to the Snarei on tin 27th February nt 4pm.; theiace the ba-1 cam-, l'gnf. noitherly airj, md thick weather until she passed tie Nupirus, on tho 2nd iivfcmt; vtvy lurht northerly airs Btid thick wtuiher sti I prevailed uuttl shj made tha Haada, at 8 a.m. on March 4 li. ARHIVAL OF THE ARRe'GANTK. The b-Kjue seen standing ii from the northward a d eaatwar.l on tne evening tit the llth ii-st. prove 1 to be the Airoganto, a French vessel of 318 ton , built in BordoKUXSome 14 yeara bi'iicb, ani biitglng » cargo oE coal from Newcastle, conssigaed to the O/iion Compary. C^ptaiu Arna'id reports lo<vir.g Newcastle ou the 20th ut, with light northerly winds and runy weather, which continued ui.t 1 the 25th ult.; thence it hauled to 8.W., and she madt) the land at imon on Marrh lft, passing Cape Fare weil at 1 am on this following dty. Lignt variable winds wero thoi experienced, which carried lur pas-t Cape Campbell as 0 pm. This weatlier k contiuusd down the coast, and L\- talton w»b br-aited at 4 am. oa t'.io 4h inst Thercnshehad lifTtit variable winel.i ant) calm", and sight jel Otago Hotels on ths forenoon of tho llth inst.; tojk Ugx-wj-zi Milne on board at 4 p.m., and erased Ihe rari.t7 p.m. with a lignt N.E. wind, which took her as far as Hurrfrgton f oint, when tbe wmtl died aw.iy. and a strong ebb tiiie being encounter'd, she anchor d. Mr Milue f eeiicg iusecure as to the position of the vessel, lifted th« anchor with the intention of shifting hi-r, and had dona so wliea a strong puff from the N W. took her and carried her tvoadsido on to the Pilot Beach. The second anchor was then let

go', a kedgo rau out, and everythin? possible done i order to oienr her. l)urini» the night she floated, an might have been pet off had the ship's compart understood Mr Mllno (who only7poaks English); » it wai», she canted with har heart to s awurd (having taken the ground with herhwl), and femainei ham and tat on tho sandy boueh. Tno Bs. Waitikl on entering tho hiirbour early ye*t-rlay w nil p went ulo> gwdo and endeavoured to pluck her off, bu unfortunutolv, owing to tho tide being nt its ebb, shi failed, and the barque remained hard and fast. Tin harbourmaster, Captain Thomson, proceeded on botire at an early hour yesterday morning, as did Pilots Kellj and Moore, and on tha representatives of tho Pres boarding' her they found those gentlemen using tbei utmost efforts to free her from her unplea-ant posi tion Kedpes hid been run out and tackles brough to boar in order to shift her from tho sand, while i was anticipated that a« ihe tide rose, and with the ale of the tug Koputai,'sho would be eitily floa'ed <ff Somo fuw feet of ht;r false keel, which wns Mmplj spi»ed on, bad been carried away wbon ehe took thi ground, but tho vcs3tl apparently made no wator Having rrmdo tho necessary inquiries, tho retire sontiilives of the Picas pulled into the Piloi Baadi, landed, arid proceeding to tho telcgrapl station, transmitted the news to Dunedin, the oporatrr. Mi s Yorston, tukinjr the mosßago. and forwarding it with the utmost correctn-ss. The vewse', we are gli-d to say, was afterwards safely do it d off and brought u?> to the smhorago in tow (ii tho harbour launch Uojnoldt Groat prai<c if duo to tho Cl'ief Hsr.o'.irmwttr and his suboidinntM for the efficient raaunor in whi-h they released the Arrcgante from her pi rilous p wition. ARRIVAL CP THE FREDERICA AND CAROLINA. The Swedish ba yio Fredorici and Carolina, from Bo;tin, arrived at I'ort Chalmers on the evening of March nth, in tow of the ps. Koputai: £ho is a wholeßome-ioohincr wrodon veseel of 507 tun register. and was built at Lulea, in theQulf of Bothnia, in 1873. She is classed 3"-11||a Veritas, and prior to leaving Boston on her present trip was re-caulked and coppered. Hitherto she hai been t ading in almost every part of tho world, h;r l»st vojaxo being modo from Iquique with a caijr >of nitrate of soda to Boitorj. Thouco the took in ltiOa tons of cargo, consigned to Messrs Bates, Sise, and Co ,of Dunedin, ana loft Boston on November 6, 1878; westerly an I north-west breezes prey il"d for the first two dajs out, and thenco the ftad var'aMa winds all round tlio compass until Koveinbor 10 h, when it sniffed to S W., veering to N.W. across tho Gulf Stream, on the 15th November. In laMtndj 32 13 N., locgitude 52 W , she took a light N.E brc ze. whio-i on'y lasted for a diiy or two, and then tacked to the euslward, voeiirg from S.E. by K. to 5.8. E., attot ded by squally woitlnr. Thoro was no appearance if any N.K. trades, and she crossed 'ho parallel cf latHudo 10 N., longitude 47 W., on November 29th; light fast ry winds (t'll prevailed, and on December 4th, in lut'tuclo 5 JT., lorg'ituelo 41 W.. astrongcurcentwnse-c pc rienced, which si t ber 70 miles N.E. by E. by c•jmpts?, and tor sevtril days eho oxperienred doMrum wemhe-r. with a htvong N.E. current, setting her from 20 to 30 nlli'S a r"iiy. fihe equator wai crossed in longitude 28 W. oa Dcoembor 19th, tho S.E. trades having Duen previously tiken in hit tude 5 N. They l-r.)vo'l viry light and squally, and were welt to the southward, which caused htr to tick all along the nnrth coast of the Brazils, and it was not until Deo>-inb3r 3tft that sho si.-httd PernamI'uco liyht ; thence the wind to -k inorotolho eistwnr.l, and enabled her tf> lav her rourso. She lot the trades on Jinuary 12tb,"in Utitude 33 S., loneitii'Jc 24 \V. ; light northerly winds, which afterward! backed to S X., were then experienced, aid the is and of Ti\stnn d'Acunha wis sialitid on January ISth, northerly wiii'ls st 11 prevail ng. MlO crossed tho meridian of Greenwich in latitude 38 S., on Jmunry 21st; thence she had the wind from N.K. to N.N.VV. up to the Cape cf Gf>od Hope, which she rounded on January 25th. in latitude 43.30 & jso regular passage winds were experienced across the Southern Ocean, but lyht brcezo3 from N.N.E. to BN W. were ii;ct, tha weather, th 'ukli fine, being very h:.zj\ Jn latitude 44 23 8., longitude 4912 E., s'io sightidonii'ebeig a", least threa mile 3in circumference, and of great altitude ; the weather at tie time was cold, thutigh eleiir, and (-.he pissed to wiudwa dof her unwe!d)ino couipuiinn. ''lie meridian <i fapo l.ouwln was rnimiecl on IS'.h Fdbruary, in latitude 45.39 S. ; thence f-ho hid moderat'i westerly breezes, and averaged about IPO miles per das'. The Island of.Tasma-'ia was passed on 2»h IVbiuvy, and nor.hoily winds experienced untl March 2od. when it veered f--om N. t > S.E., increasing to a perect hurriciinp (the ship'si i),T-it,ion at this time by observation being tn lttituele 40 19 S , 1 njitude lOiBE.) It Wiis Attend !il by thick lainy we-ther ai«l a terrific c-roai eea, which forced her to 1 ibour heavily, and rendered it necessnry to heavo her to under lower maintci|/s.il f. r 24 hours. The ga'e moderated on ftTa oh sth, .-md the co ehc bad Tght S.E. winds up to the land ; sighte 1 the S. ff. Cape of the Middle Island on Varch S.li ;if, dayig'it, and p;is?ed the Solairitrd at noon same day. The wind belt-g Adverse sho was unub'e to run through Fovcaux Sirait, and was compelled ti pass to tie eon hward of Stewar.'s lulaii'l; suited the> Traps nt now on the 9 th, had Tght wsiterly and P.W. aira, made tho Nuggeti on tic aftor"oonof iho 10th, a"d w s Iff (iv eSa mejois onthe same night; t)ok Pilot Kolly on board ytsterd-iy, and eros-ed the tiar at 5.15 p m , Cdiirng up to the anchor"gi as above. Her lc gt'i.'n. d pasasg-iof 110 days is easily accounted for by tiio f'Ct thai no J«.E. trades v ore c-XDe-'iciiccd, while the itr>n(» currant < clio uiet j'revented her Rotting* to the wes'erlies, andad'led to this tho almost to!;i a^sencn i.f any p?.ss?gv,-winds, rre RiitlioieLt to account for her rathor lei gtiened voyage. ARRIVAL OF THE JESSIE NICCOL. llesirs ('ormacV^E der, and Company's soronner Jessie Niceol m rived at Port Cha mers on the 12th itist from tho M.'uq'ianie Islands, bringing a quantity cf sea-elephant oil, the produce of t.hn party sutioend theie. feho left Port uhalrncrs on S^h February, exp r.enc! d viriable winds, with occasional gules, and sighted Macquairte Islat.d, bearing ?.E. by S., distant 3» miles, on the 25th ult. the mada the anchor tgc in the N.K. Harbour ;.t 8 p.m., after a passage of 17 <t»yd seven hours, an I having taken on board tho cil in that pai t of the islands, left sgiin on the 3rd instait, and proceeded to the western anch viz", whsre sho arrived on the 4th inetinr. The weather not permittiig her to ran close in, s'ie rafted off tha oil, and left again at 9 p.m. for the east skle of the is-liud, whero le arrived at 3.30 p.m. on tho 6th; took in the remainder of the oil, weighed anchor, and proceeded to sea at C.30 p.m. on the Cth, with N.N W. winds and thick, drizzling weather. This lasted until tho Bth,when it hauled round to tho W.S.W.,with fine clear wiattier. Tho Auckland Is'an Is were sJKhloa.aLiO.nja^JßßllSi iiau»ltinu're-wlHcnr and fine weather along the coast and at 1 p.m. on the llth instint sighted a large four-masted vesse', barquo rigged, standing to the 11 orthward and eastward, on tho port tick, and Supposed to be the Benares, from London to Ota^o. fi ie f«u e[re » light was passed at i p.m. same day, and tneuv.. b°l' had the wind IVom the westw.ird, puffy and ho',. Jlaile Capa Suunders nt 6 a m. yesterday, and crossed the bar at 1 p.m., sailinjr up to the anchtr.igo in the afterno an. THIS MAORI'S ROUND TRIP. The Union Company's steamer Ifacri arrived at Port Cl>a niß'S at 1 a.m. yesterday from 110 West Coa>-t, va Bluff Harbour. She !e:t Port Chalmers al 11 a.m. on tho 28th ultimo, and experienced str-n g head winds to arrival at Lyttelton at 1U a.m. on Mjr. li Ist. Left again at 7pm., experienced moda"afca weather, and ranched NelS( n nt 2 a.m. on tho 3rd m?tant ; left that poit at noun same day, and arrived at Wo tpoit ut 5 p.m. on the 4<.h ; sailed aga nat Cpm. on the sth, and arrived at Greymouth at S a.m. on the O'.h ; leit hat port at 8 r.m. 111 the 7th, reiched Juckson'd Bay 1 p.m. next tiny, Mid Bailed a. a;.n at midnight; enercd Big Bay at 7 a.m. on the 0-.h, landed cargo ami mail*, and ltft again at 9 a.m ; steamed on to 4ja"tin's Biy, lanrfoi imils and car?o, and took in Uie return i«a'l for Dunedin ; left again at noon, encountered 11 strong head wind and heavy sen, and cnteied Dusky Sound at 2 a.m on the 10th ; left r-t 5 a.m. same day, arriving »t Piescrvation I ilet at 10.30 a.m. ; lift again at 2 30 p.m., fini arrived at Bluff Harbour at midnight; loft that pori at 11.15 a.m. on tie llth, experienced fivourable wrathor aloa;; tho co^st, a d arrived as above. Wo thank Mr Purser Kobeitjon for report THE LAPWIKG'3 REPAIHS. The hrigxntine Lapwing, which some months back was st ivid d on the beach at Timtra, bm received a Ihor >U2h overhaul and repair, and will be ready for sea in the course of a few days. Jt is, we believe, intended that she shall proceed t > Auckland, adCapt.i'i Falconer, formerly of iho schooner llury I'gilvui, is to lave the commu.d. Tho L piving's r :paira have been en rusted to tho well-known shipwright Mr William ilur a3T, of Port Chalmers, anu frjm a careful obsaivat on of the yes el we are enabled totavthathe h»s faithfully carr ed out Jus a ;recment wiih her owniw; indeed the lapwi. g will ie*ve his hwds a3 good a'ld staunch at c diy she was fir t launched. As msy 1 atural y be supposed, the vessel was severely tlam->ged while she lay O'i the beach at Timaivi, and afur she w. s brought round ti I\rt Ohnlimrs it v/as aijpi.ro. t the wai h'gg'ed. This renderot it necessary to back out herbolcaaiil tree-tails btfore any of the requisite tepiira could be effected Having bean pla :cd in .Mr 51 urray'.i hands, that got t email H at :d her into the Ura\ in: !)■ ck. and lifter Vtrippii g off her metnJ, put ii new fbors. 25 feet c f nen- km 1, tO feet of falan keel, aid 40 fo c t of gurbosrj ttra.tk on her pors side ; ttgsther w'.th a new keelson in Ine length of 05 feet (a masterly piooo of work), of 12-inch by 24-inch kauri pine. She was further it enjitbotied by two sii tor-keelsons of 12-inch by 10 inch kam-i pine In addition to this 10 'ess than lOOl) liaeal feet of four-inch knurl ceiling lias been put into her. Her iioi ltnee-i, which formorly were placed six on each side (jerpeudicuitrly, have hem altered an J replaced at an ang'e of 45 degrees; while the treenails, Which hal been biekoUout to s'aikon her, have been rep'acod by fully 1500 new ones of harJnojd. In a Idition to this she has received ov< r 400 now bolt-i, ana lias bjcii rc-ih'.athed with Muntz inoi> 1-in fact she is ti all it.tjnts and purposes a new vessel, and reflects no ltt'e uvdit on MrMuiny; wl.ile Captain Russell, the underwriters' agent, is a'so 11 bo complimented for taking tho matt ir in hand, and by h's act on recouping (as do doubt will be the case) pirt cf ihe heavy IOIS sj>taincd by tho yes-el's stranding. She is now in the hands «i Mr La'kius, the m:ist-jr-r'^ jr. who will, we are sure, make agood jibof his p.r.nf tho work. THE OAMAKU HAKBOUR. The following is a copy of the letter adopted by the Oamaru Harbour Board in order to bi se:it to the Secretary of the Australian and New Zealand Underwriters' Association, with reference to the untruthful statements which appeared in a letter addressed to that body from Dunedin : — OAxrAMT, February 21st, 1879. Sir,—The attention, of the Oamaru Harbour Board bas be^n drawn to the enclosed extract from the Shipping Gazette, and as it c-.insiders that if such damaging statements weie not taken notice of, injury to the oba-acter and tra^e of this port would probably ienilf, ths Board deeaaa it advisab'e to offer a few comments. It is much to be deprecated that anyone occupying the pisitiuii e.f a member of the Australian and New Zta'aml Underwrite! s' Association—a position iv which he should be well able to obtain infu-mation— sh mid cjmmithimsjlf to statements so iuconvtt aud unfounded. The Board is inc'ineel to btlieve fiat the letter has been written with the view of damaging the maritime intereits of ilia ports referred to—Oamtra, in particular—as the wiiter altogether iguores the fact that most effici'iit protective works have been constructed at Oamaruj cbns:s'ing of a breakwater 940 feet in length, oni 1247 feet of wharves. Although feverol valuable ves^eli aud cargo's wera lost during the years 1860 to 1875, yet the ind;sputable fact tbat no casualty ha 3 occurred since the construction of tbe present breakwater clearly proves the advantages tbat have bein derived f;ora ita construction, and the total change which has been effected in the character of the port. Tbe fact that such vessels as Ihe Ceylon, Celestial Queen, Aikshaiv.and William Wilson have loaded with safety, is ample evidence that the s'atemonts have been made carele3sly ; and although vessels of heavy draught (pending further improvements being made for their accommodation) may not be able to come under the protection of the breakwater, still vessels of msdium draught can be safely encouraged

to tratfe at this port. The writer of the letter altogether ignores.the fact that during the time tho Lapwing, Fanny, and Melrose were cast ashore at Timarn there were three sailing vtsseh, viz., the Eth*l, the Dunedin, and the Franklyn Belle, and tbe steamer Samson ly'n? in perfect Bafety under.the shelter of the be kwater at Oamaru. He further appears fo be ignorant of the fact that the Aikshiw did n'-t atrive at ths port of Oamaru until 18 days after the gale which caused the wreck of the three vessels at Thnaru. as othervrisa it is inconceivable how he coulel pcs3ibly say that sbe would have met with tbe eatne fate had she rem»ined here another' two days. With regard to ihe barque Oabarfeidh, tbe writer will be surpr'sed to learn that tbis ves«el has for some time past been a frequent trader to this port, and is chartered for several more trips, and regularly discharges and loads a'o^gs'de the whaives under shelter of the break-watf-r. I beg to forward a photograph of the work?, in which the Ceylon, of 546 tons register, is lying under shelter of the breakwater; and, judging by the tenor of the writer's letter, it will be disappointing to him to be informed that his progmsticitious as to accidents are entirely m-oneous. The writer's statement that none of the insurance compani-s will take risks on the cargo is alsj quite incorrect, the fact being that the insurance eojnpanies asked such a rate of premium in comparison to the inks that the shippers declined to pay (he rate, preferring to take the iHn themselves. The Board canneit help thinking (hat the reason so high a rafca is demanded by tho insurance companies «s re gards Oamaru may probably be traced to tbe fact that the directory of tho various local companies consists of merchants ond others who are interested in fostering the interests of the large ports, even at tho expense of Oamaru. —I have, &c, Geokge Sujipteu, Chairman.