THE DIRECT STEAMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13832, 20 February 1907, Page 4

THE DIRECT STEAMERS.

IIOBART, February 19.—Arrived: lonic, from Iflnilou. PORT ADELAIDE. February 19.—Arriviii, Ayrshire, from Liverpool. OAPI'-tOWX, February 18.—Saijed: Turakina. for Wellington. LOXDOX, February 18.—Arrived: Papanui, from Wellington. The Corinthic, wliirfi Jeff. Wellington on Janunry 1, arrived at Plymouth on Monday morning.

Tho Whangapo sailed from Port Chalmers last evening for Westport. The Koonya arrived yesterday morning from tho West Coast. Slio sails at 2 p.m. to-morrow for Westport, via the usual ports. Mr A. M'Konzie, late of llie Talunc, lias succeeded Mr Carman as chief engineer of the Waiuni, flia laiter having come to Dunedin for orders. Tho Union Comnany's steamer Rakanoa left Newcastle at 6 a.m. 011 Tuesday last for l'ieton, Wellington, and Lyttelton with a cargo of coal. The Tyser line steamer Tomoana lef.t New York on the 11th inst. for Melbourne, Sydney, and New Zealand ports. Tho Pateena apd tho Rotomahana, which arrived on Sunday from Wellington, were both delayed by a dense fog. The Rotomahana was olf Lyttelton Heads before 11 a.m., and Captain Collins slates that had thero been a fog signal at tho Heads lie could liavo made port two hours earlier. Whilst tho Pateena was steaming slowly through- tho fog off Taylor's Mistake, an A.I!, named Giles, who was heaving the lead from a sling under the bridge, fell overboard, but was picked up in a few minutes none tho worse for his mishap. Tho Queen Amelie, from New York, via Australia and northern porls, is due hero from Lyttelton about the end of the present week. Sho has about 700 tons of cargo to put. out at Dunedin, Tho Surrey is expected to arrive here about tho middle of next, week, bringing about 1700 tons of cargo for this port. Sir Day Hort Bosawpiet, K.C.8., has been appointed lo succeed Admiral Archibald Lucius Douglas, G.C.V.0., K.C.8., as commander-in-chief, Portsmouth, to <lafo February 8, 1907. Rear-Admiral Frederick Samuel Inglelield has been appointed !o sucecfld Admiral Sir Day' IT. Bosanquet as liear-Admiral commanding tho Fourth Cruiser Squadron, to dato February 8, 1907. The Queensland Government has approved of the plans and specifications of works proposed lo ho carried out by tho Cairns Harbour Board, inclining the extension of tho bar cutting to obtain 18ft at low water spring tides, extensions of wharves, and tho erection of a new wharf. Captain 11. L. Brown, master of tho steamer Devon, which arrival at. Adelaide from Liverpool a couple of weeks ago, reports that. 011 January 13, at 9.15 a.m., in latitude 46.13 south, longitndo 51.48 east, Possession Island bearing south 26dcg and 12deg west, 110 passed half a whaleboat, painted 'white, with bright gunwalo ami towing post. The boat apparently had not boon in tho water for any length of time. The current was setting to the westward at tho rato of half a knot per hour. Mr Caflin, purser of tho Warrimoo, left that vessel at Wellington this trip in order (0 return to Dunedin, whero ho will be engaged at the head ofTieo for about a month. Meanwhiio Mr H. P. Houghton is purser on tlio Warrimoo. The damaged plates have been replaced in position 011 tho Atua, and tho riveting will bo completed to-day. Slio will probably come out of dock to-morrow morning, and sail? about tho end of tho week to load coal at Westport before resuming her interisland service. Mr Brown, chief officer of the Manuka, was appointed acting-master of the Squall in Auckland, 011 Monday, relieving Captain James, who proceeded to Wellington to tako command of tho Corinna pro tern. Mr Ritchie, chief officer of tho Wanaka, has transferred temporarily to the Manuka to fill Mr Brown's placo, and Mr Gregory has been appointed chief officer of the Wanaka, pro tern. Tho Moora'ki arrived at Dunedin at 7.30 a.m. yesterday from Melbourne, via Hobart and. tho Bluff. She left Melbourne on tho 13th inst. and Ilobart on the 15th, arriving at Uie Bluff at 9 a.m. 011 Monday, sailing again for Dunedin at 6 p.m. Strong S.W. winds and head seas were met with between Melbourne and Hobart, but from tho latter port to the Bluff the weather ivas exceptionally fine, with smooth seas. Tho Moeraki'sails from Port Chalmers at 3 p.m. today for Sydney, via Cook Strait. A pathetic incident is narrated by Captain M'Gibbon, of tho s.s. Kent, which during her last passage from South Africa to Australia made a diligent but unsuccessful search for the missing dredgo Walrus. Tho grief-striclcen mother of ono of the unfortunate members of tho crew of the Walrus never loft tho side of tlio Kent after tho receipt of tho cable message instructing tlio vessel to mako a search. Tho steamship which she lioped miriit find tidings of her only son appeared to liavo a remarkable fascination for her, and she was tho only person on the wliarf at Durban when tho Kent at daylight on January 8 cast off her lines. Tho Kent is now loading Homeward cargo at northern p y jrts, and is under charter to tho Now Zealand Shipping Company.