THE VENTURA OVERDUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13831, 19 February 1907, Page 4

THE VENTURA OVERDUE.

• SYDNEY, February 18. 'As vot there is no sign of the Ventura, which left Auckland 011 Wednesday last.

To-day's movements include tho arrival of the Mooraki from Melbourne; Koonyn, from West Const ports; and tho departure of tho Wimmera for Sydnoy, via Auckland. Thfl dnto of t3io combined Port Chalmers picnio, postponed on account of tho wot weather on Saturday, has, owing to the movements of vessels for tho next fortnijrht, been fixed for Saturday, March 9. There woro no arrivals or departures to record .yesterday. Tho Slmw-Savill liner Tokomnru ia expected to arrive from Timaru on Thursday for Homeward loading. She lias a largo shipment of wool to tako in nt Port Chalmers, aboutj 6000 bales, in addition to general cargo. Tim damaged plates havo boon stripped oft tho Atua's hull, and her framing is beinff adjuslod. It is expected that tho VC6SOI will bo floated out of dock about a week lionoo, when her place will probably bo taken by tho barqno Onyx, now lying at Rattray street wha.rf. Reports from Now York received by the mail steamer Ventura from San Francisco state that tho s.s. Invcran was to leave New York about January 20 for Australian and New Zealand ports. Later reports Etate that she eailerl on February 3. and also on February 15. Tho s.s. Fmnkdaln also waa to sail about tho end of last month for the sanio ports, and tho dato of tho Tonioana's departure had been fixed for January 25. Tho Indradevi is to load for.ilia principal Australian ami New Zealand ports willi despatch about March 1. Freight rates wero firm, with no probability of a reduction. The well-known ketch Coronation lias bwu placed jn tho Auckland-East Coast trade, under tho charge of Captain A. Martin, lato of the auxiliary schooner Waiapu, who has purchased Captain Ninman's interest in tho vessel. Captain Martin lias been connnried with the trade for tho past 15 years, and intends to rim the Coronation to tho usual coast ports a.s lie did the Waiapu. She is an Australianbuilt vessel, her timbers all hoiug of hard. wood, and will no doubt prove very serviceable for tho trade in which slio is to be engaged, having large deck epaco and filled with a powerful donkey engine for lifting heavy woiffhts. Tho Coronation was formerly lilted with a centreboard, but this has been taken out and replaced with a deep keel, which is expected to make n great improvement in her failing qualities. Captain Martin has given an order to Messrs liailey and Tiowo for » 25ft oil launch, fitted with' a six lioree-pownr engine, which is to be utilised for towiut! tho Coronation during calms and nlfo for landing mid loading cargo at coas! ports. The Wellington tug Togo has been chartered from Mr J. J. K. Powell by t)io Nelson Harbour Board for tho purposo of towing punts in connection with tho dredging of the new channel.. Tlio punts

will br> filled by the dredge and lowed by tlio Togo to Iho inner harbour, whore about 26 acres will bo reclaimed with the malcrinl from tlie pniils. The Togo will be cngnpetl for a period of between six and twelve woiilhs. Tin- vessel left Wellington for Nelson under commitnd of Captain R. Jones. Mr Powell will accompany the tug (o Nelson. The steamer Iliiniifnlcn, which sailed from Wellington for London, took the. following dairy produce.:—l , 'rom Auckland— 10,565 boxes butler, 16 crates ehceso. ]>'mm New Plymouth —13.977 taxes butler. From Patea—6sß4 Iwxes butler. From Well ington—B674 boxes butter. From Oninaru--420 boxes butter. From Lyttelton—47l boxes butter, 635 crates choose.. From Dtinodin—2s taxes builer, 280 crates elieose. From Jlluli'-71 boxes butter, 2330 era 103 cheese, film also loaded the following general cargo at Wellin.trion: — 3601 bales wool, 1256 tags wool, 7455 carcases mutton, 29,242 boxes butter, 8695 cases cheese, 591 bales hemp, 500 quarters beef, 245 packages sundries. 168 casks tallow, 127 bales tow, 100 cases preserved meats, 16 casks pelts, 40 cases necks mutton, 40 bales basils, 14 bales leather, also 3 live rams for Monte Video. Tim New Zealand Times slates that Iho fire in the coal bunkers of the cargo steamer Queen Amelio was si ill smouldering on Wednesday. Owing to the unpleasant, nature of the work the stevedores refused to remove the coal at a wage of less than half a crown per hour. In consequence of tlio demand of Iho stevedores for so liiuh a rale of pay Captain Ritson drafted the fillip's crew into the bunkers, and about 50 tons of coal was removed. The hose was frequently played on the smoking coal during the day. The vessel will probably arrive here to-day from Lytlellon to complete her discharge.