SHIPPING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9916, 8 December 1893, Page 1

SHIPPING.

POBI OHALMEES,

TiHS Ball at Poet Chalmers. sis^t Zealand mean time, at noon, calculated for the meridian of longitude, in time 11 hourß 30 jsinuts3 east of Qreajavlch, will be sigsalled ones a week-by a tims ball dropping at the iasisfit of

PiIASBS OP SHE MOOK. JOaloukted for New Zealand meat ti£i9). DKCEMBEa. ». H. H. New M00n... ~, .., ~,8 7 16 a.m. Firat Quarter ... ... •.. 18 10 0 a.m. Full Moon ... ... .„ ... 23 4 fl a.m. Last Quarter ... 29 10 53 p.m. Apogee, Bth, 11 p.m. Perigee, 22nd, 3 p.m. THE WEATHER Deoember7.—WindS.W. Weather fine. 8 a.m. Noon. 5 p.m. Barometer ... 2956 '29 90 29 0 Thermometer ... 50, 60 60 HIGH WATBK. { a.m. p.m. T)np R jAttheHeada ... 231 2.49 .uoe. s -J At Port Chalmera 3.11 3.29 lAt Dunedin ... 3.5« Hi

ARRIVALS.

Tarawera, s.s,, 1269 tons,.Sinclair, from Sydney via Wellington and Lyttelton. J. Mills, agent. Passengers: Misses Wakefield, Peacock (2), Kirton, Harding, Messrs Todd, Swan, Blacke; and 20 steerage. Hudson, barque, 797 tons, Kemp, from Glasgow (August 1). Murray, Roberts, and Co.; agents.

DEPARTURES.

Napier, s.s., 43 tons, Hansen, for Fortrose. K. Ramsay, agent., . . ■ ~. Tarawera, s.s., 1289 tons, Sinclair, for Sydney via Cook Strait. J. Mills, agent. Passengers: Saloon—Mesdames Ixen (and two children), Mayor, Hayes, Burgess (two children and nurse), Scott, Misses Vinceni,: Hughes, Major Robinson, R.A., Messrs J. Sutherland, Hamwell, ?" Ness Keith," Johnston, M'Carthy, Scott; and 13 steerage. . . ■ ' " .-.-

IMPORTS.

[Special Notice.—Consignees desirous of having their names appear in this part of our columns, together with their consignments, may have the same inserted on payment of a small charge. : Per Tarawera, from Sydney, via the north :— 30 pfcgs arrowroot, 2SO bags bonedust, 26 cases tongues, 160 bags sugar, 13 boxes opium, 100 pkgs tea, 169: pkgs Chinese goods, 55 bags tapioca, 500 cases fruit. ....... :

. Per Hudson, from Glasgow -.1025 cases 463 casks Bpirits, 3 pipes fruit, 65 tons pig iron, 2422 pkgs hardware, 1554 do merchandise, 209 tons coal, 19 plates "steel, 347 bdlaj tubes, 96 pieces sheet iron, 6408 bars do, large -quantity transhipments for cpaatalpotts;v..-:;.,i{ ; ' : ,,.:.-:.v,:,; ■■■..,-....-.. ■ :

SHIPPING TELEGRAMS,

"•- Auckland, December:. 7.—Arrived (6 ? a.m.) : iTaluno,fromSydney. Passengers for .Dunediri: Mrs Scanlan; arid five in the steerage. - '' -V Gisborne, JDe'cember 7.—Sailed: Helen Denny, barque, for London, with a cargo of wool valued at £14,216. :■' ■■:■'■ i . ..< ■ "Wellington, December 7.—Arrived .-Graf ton, from the West Coast. Sailed; Tasmania, for Lyttelton. Passengers:.: Misses Allen and Fletcher, Mesdames Allen and M'lntosh,' Messrs Sugar, Gorman, Lockie, Arthur; arid 11 steerage. Kotomahana, for, Lyttelton.. Passengers :: Messrs Hatten and! Eussell, Mrs Johnston^ Messrs Mitchell, Parsons, Keader,' Griffen; Goldie, Zachariah, Duckworth, Jones, Halliday; ■ and 10 steerage. Flora, for the south. Passengers :Miss Logan, Mesdames Henderson and Elliot, Messrs Poole, Henderson, Elliot, Allan, Marshall, Masters, Watson, Maloney, Flanaghan, Mackay, Martin, Brady, Bbach, Mitchell; arid nine steerage. . ■ ' : ■■:. ■-'■.." >r: ' ;■ Bluff, December 7.—Arrived : Orowaiti, from Greymouth.: Wairarapa, from Melbourne, at 5.30 p.m. ; She"left Melbourne on the 2nd at 4p.m., arriving at Hobart early on the 4th; sailed again at 5.30 p.m., and had Puysegur Point-abeam at. 11.15 ; a.m. Yon the; 7th: -passed the Solanders ,_at -.8.30 p.m.,r arriving as ; above, bhe experienced light' easterly winds and' fine weather throughout. Passengers: Por' the Bluff —Mrs Preston,:-Misses Matthews, Scollay, Messrs Irving, Preston, Guy, M'Donald, Lain, and FilJis's Circus (88); Tor Dunediri— Mesdames Good, Watt (and 2 children), Jameson, M'Kie (and 2 daughters); Koetin (arid 2 children), M'Glashan, Keith, Lohr (and infant), ■ Misses Fynmore,- Klaff, Messrs Price, Patterson, Way, Kilpatrick, Wildoe, Henderson, Armitage, Lohr, M'Glashan.'Dr Koetin. l?pr ■ Lyttelton — Mrs Kead, Misses Smith, -Nice, Messrs Williams, Andrews, Cusden, Crawford, '. Bey. Read. ]?or Wellington—Mesdame3 Blundell, Bond, Misses Pearce, Mcc, Messrs Blundell, Bond, Pell) Hood, Pearce, Bendall, Colonel Pearce, Di- Coates: For Auckland—Kav. Mr Spooner-j arid 62 steerage for "alljjorts.. ; ■■ ': :-':->;■./':'-' ■■.■■..•.■.; ■■:-:.■■.■."■■: rMEtBOURNE,■ December,6.—Arrived : Waihora.: from the Bluff. ■ . • . r :

MOVEMENTS OF THE UNTON STEA3S SHIP COMPANY'S JFLEET. Thursday, December 7. Lyttelton.—Takapuna arrived 9 a.m. from Wellington, returns 6 p.m.; Rotorua sails 5 p.m. for Wellington. Wellington. — Flora arrived 7 a.m. from Lyttelton. Napier.—Te Anau sails 8 p.m. for Gisborne. Auckland.—Talune arrived 6.30 a.m. from Sydney.

The s.s. Penguin is being fitted with the installation for her electric lights at the Rattray street wharf, under'the supervision of Hr Jones, "the ITnioa S S. Company's electrician. The schooner Isabella Anderson was shifted over to the Jetty street wharf yesterday morning to complete loading. The barque Wairoa is landing her cargo in splendid order at the Rattray street wharf. Ihe s.s. Mararoa' steamed up from Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon and landed cargo at the tongue wharf. The new gunboat Speedy has been designed to steam faster than any similar vessel in the Royal Navy. An official trial proved that although the bouera showed a tendency to prime, it was otherwise regarded as very successful. The engines worKed with perfect smoothness, and a speed of 21 knots was attained with ease. The s.s. Tarawera, from Sydney, via Wellington and Lyttelton, arrived alongside the George street pier at 10 a.m. yesterday. She left Sydney at 5 p.m. on the 30thulb., and arrived at Wellington at Ba.m. on thesthinst.; leftgaain at 5.30 p.m. same day, and reached Lyttelton at 1 p.m. on the 6th; pushed on againat 3.40 p.m.,.and arrived as above-having experienced a strong S.E. gale with heavy sea; down the coast. She left Port Chalmers at 5 p.m. yesterday for Sydney, via Cook .Strait. ' ;■>/:".-;- '~.■ ■ . . -.. .-.• . -~ ~,

The barque. Petrus commented discharging her cargo of timber at the George street pier, Port Chalmers, yesterday; ■': . ; ' The barque William Fairbairn, which arrived at Adelaide recently from Skntßkar, had a perilous experience among the ice in the Southern Ocean. On the 26th September the vessel passed through several severe storms, and next day fell intoa field of ice. The perils of sailing were so intense that the chief officer only now and then relieved the master from a position on the topgallant yard, whence a good view of the dangers could beobtained, as the vessel, under easy sail, threaded a path through the field of icy fragments. At 4 a.m. on September 29 a very large berg lay about two miles on the port beam. It was estimated f?°ai 300 to 400 feet high. Another berg was sighted shortly after right ahead by the lookout, _and. the course was altered a couple of points, the vessel escaping by passing within a stones throw. .

News reached Sydney on the 26th ult. by the Cnm^tu of the wreck of the mail steamer City of New York, a/vessel which for many years was engaged.in the mail service between San Francisco, Auckland, and Sydney under the auspices of the Pacific Mail Company. The vessel, according to, a telegram received in Hongkong, went ashore in a fog on North Head, near San Francisco, and her position at latest advices was so critical that it was feared *he would become a total wreck. The City of New York was bound from ban ± rancisco to Japan and Hongkong All the passenger, crew, mails, and specie (of which, there was a large amount on board) were saved

ARRIVAL OF THE HUDSON.

The barque Hudson arrived off Taiaroa Heads yesterday evening and was tendered by the tug Plucky, which towed her up to the anchorage in Deborah Bay. Here she was met by the customs boat, and the health of all on board being reported good she was passed by Dr Cunninghame, the health officer, and immediately cleared in by Captain Gray, the surveyor of customs. The Hudson brings some 1000 tons of cargo from Glasgow, the greater part of which is for Dunedin, while shehas also a quantity for transhipments for coastal ports. She is consigned to. Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co., of this city. The Hudson comes into port in splendid order, ' and reflects great credit on our old friend Captain A. Kemp and his officers, of whom Mr Nightingale is still first, while Mr Blordue, the third son of our old friend Captain Mordue, of the Elizabeth Graham and Auckland, comes as second officer. She left Glasgow on August 1, and Greeuock on the following day, taking her final departure from Waterford three days later. Tacked ship off Capo Knisterre on August 13, and took the first of the N.E. trades on August 21, in lat. 25 N.; lost them on September 5, in lat. 12 N. They were very light throughout. The island of Madeira was passed ea3t 80 miles on August 23. She crossed the equator on September 20 in long. 21 W. Took the first of the S.E. trades in 2N. on September 17. They were very light, and gave out m lat. 19 S. She passed a few miles east of the Montiri Vas islets on September 30, and sighted the island of Tristan d'Acunha on October 15 at 11 p.m.; crossed the meridian of Greenwich on October 30. in lat. 42 S., and during the passage from long. 4 W. to long. 14 E. passed through and between abundance of ice, some of the berg 3 being fully 300 ft high. The steady westerlies set in about long. 2 E., and some, good stiff breezes were experienced between the meridian of Greenwich and that: of the Crozets, although these were of short duration. She passed the Crozet group on November 4, and had light winds all across the Southern Ocean; passed the meridian of Cape Leuwin on November 19, in lat. 48 S., and that of the island of Tasmania on November 27, having experienced S.E. winds and heavy seas between those two points; made the Snares at midnight of December 1, and rounded Cape Saunders on the sth inst.; met a strong southerly gale, and was driven down to Point Moeraki; beat back, and arrived off Otago Heads at 7 p.m. yesterday, being towed up to Deborah Bay at 9.30 p.m. One death occurred during the voyage—that of Alexander M'Kenzie, the sailmaker, who was l^st here in the ship Jessie Keadman. He expired from general debility on November 9, and was buried in lat. 45 S., long. 77.3 E.

MARINE EXAMINATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND,

The Nautical Magazine" is very severe on tha subject of marine examinations in this colony. It says :— When the efforts of well-wishers at Home are being directed, with some effoct, towards the higher education of our merchant aeamen, it la rather disheartening to learn that As colonies are initiating a retrograde policy. Here, at Home, we have nautical schools starting, board Bclioola being pressed .to give navigation a psaco in their curriculum, officers being persuaded io taka advantage of naval colleges, and so on J whilst New Zealand is, apparently, doing her best to put on the skid.' A Dunedin correspondent sends us the following Government announcement, with certain terse remarks attached thereto;-' Wellington, March 22. The Minister for Marino has made fresh arrangements for conducting examinations for masters' and mates' certificates. The collectors of customs will in future conduct written examinations at all ports. For the viva v'oee examinations Captain Robinson (harbourmaster at Onehunga) will act at the port': of Auckland, the present officers at Wellington, •Major-general Sir Arthur Douglas at Lyttelton, and the collector of customs at Dnnedin. A saving of £350 per annum will be effected by this arrangement.' As far as the ' written' papers are concerned-the scheme might work, so long as the collector of customs was provided with the answers. But even then, would It not nave been as well to employ,-say, a carver and gilder as examiner ? His spare time, whilst waiting for the candidates to bring up their papers, might have been utilised in making neat little irames for the extremely valuable certificates when granted. At the very important port of Dunedin, however, matters seem worse. Here it appears the collector of customs is the viva voce examiner as well! Picture the scene, ye seaaogs of the old school, who laugh to scorn the gniger-beer man' who goes in for being a naval ] volunteer. What a splendid chance there would j be for a nautical wag not troubled with nerves! I Collector (togjetaw): 'Describe the operation of making a "bowlynot?' Candidate: 'A —?1 Collector (referring to 'guide for examiners'): Oh, I—er—a bow-Zine-knot.' Candidate:' When -itzs.necessary to perform this important evolution all hands should be called in good time. A 'sheep-shank should first be taken in tho mizzenniast, then —.' Collector: ' A—stop a minute' (consults his book). And so on. In days gone by, when a man failed in London he used to post off for ascertain northern port where it was notorious certificates could ba got with ease; but we had fancied that all this was a thing of the past. That it. is not so, this New Zealand business clearly shows, and there seems to be still a refuge left for the plucked'one. That it is not so in all the colonies the writer can testify, having gone in for a master's certificate at Halifax, Nova Scotia, ana, though this was some 18 years ago, he can state that the examinations then,'in that port, were quite up to the London standard, for he passed in London afterwards, and that the examiner was a smart thorough-going seaman. Uf course, this action on the part of the New Zealand Minister for Marine has. called forth much adverse criticism, one gentleman suggesting tnat a little knowledge of navigation and nautical astronomy might perhaps b*e of assistance to tho lJunedin collector during the 'paper' work, and though he certainly would be 'at sea' whilst examining for seamanship, it would scarcely be in a professional capacity. It may be said this stupidity on the part of colonial Ministers cannot possibly.affect us. But it can, and will. If a colonial certificate can clear a British ship, so much: the worse for the British (English) ship-, master, if it is more easily obtained than, say, a London one.' Presently we will be having German and Scandinavian 'tickets' admitted if we do not look out. It a: matter, worth'the while of the shipmasters' societies to take up; and whilst a colonial certificate is authontively of the same value as a Home one, it ought to be impressed upon the powers that be that_it is absolutely necessary to keep up the standard. We are, if anything, a maritime nation; and yet the reckless amount of carelessness on the part of our authorities in these and kindred matters is inexplicable. If the college of surgeons were to depute a theologian to examine •the = candidates for their diplomas they would never hear the end of it. Yet, surely, here is a parallel case, which we commend to the notice of seamen in general and the shipmasters' societies in particular;'We wonder how underwriters like the idea pf their .risks being entrusted to an officer who has been, 'passed' by a collector of customs?.",,"'; ... • -.'.. -~- ; ; : , ......-..'