PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 522, 30 November 1861, Page 4

PORT CHALMERS.

ARRIVALS. Nov. 29 — Lorenzo Sabina, Devini, master, from Melbourne 18th Nov., with 50 horses and 20 drays. Captain agent. Nov. 29. — Ellen Simpson, Poole, master, from Melbourne 13th, with 52 passengers and genera! cargo. Nov. 29. — Excelsior, cutter, from Port Cooper, with 5 passengers. DEPARTURES. Nov. 29. — Ship Astrea, to Melbourne, in ballast, towed out. No. 29. — Brig Eliza Goddard, to Newcastle, in ballast. Nov. 29. Br> "Fanny A'Gawigues, to Wellington, with 30 pa. "njrefs, towed out. Wind h o '.t E.S.E. Bar. 30-30.

The White Star liner Prince of the Seas was totally destroyed by fire alongside the railway pier in Hobson's Bay, on the night of the lath. inst. ; she had fortunately discharged her cargo. The report of the schooner Canterbury having grounded on the Taeiri bar is contradicted. The captain states he entered and left the river without the slightest accident. We believe the Kcmbla has every chance of being employed for the monthly mail service between Otago, Sydney, and Melbourne. Captain Mailler reports her as a first class steam boat, and that there would be no difficulty in making the trip to Otago in 4.^ days. The whole or" the Dcrwentwater cargo was consigned to Lyttelton ; she has brought, however, an addition of 93 souls to our population. Her passengers for Otago are as follows : — Ist Cabin — Mr. E. R. Anderson, John Murdoch, David Garrick, Mr. and Mrs. Birch, James Ogilvie. 2nd Cabin — R. Worthington, J. Worthington, D. Glasgow, wife, and 4 children, 11. C. Burns, W. E. D. Bijfsley, David Girdwoocl, J. B. Carlisle. Steerage — Mary Norton, B. Johnstone, wife, and 5 children, A. Thompson and wife, M. Winter, G. Green, anil 75 assisted passengers. The Derwent■watcr, owing to a succession of contrary winds, has made a long passage, being 115 days from land to land. The passengers speak highly of the ship and Captain Thomson, her commander, to whom they have presented a flattering testimonial. The brig Tyra, from Melbourne, lost 1300 sheep out of 1700, her original cargo ; also, 4 horses out of 5 shipped. The cause alleged for this great mortality is that the vessel shipped a great quantity of water, which the sheep had drunk. On one occasion 280 died during the night. The sheep belonged principally to Messrs. Jones, Bird & Co. The Hermine, from Wellington, has only lost 11 head of cattle out of 120, which, considering the state of the weather during the past week, speaks well for captain and vessel. On Tuesday night it blew very strong from the N.E., and the s.s. Ruby not being properly secured by her anchor, drifted up the lnvrhour, and she now lies almost high and dry on the beach. It was hoped she would have been got off on Friday, but although the aid of a steamer was called in requisition, the Huby still remains in stulu quo. We have already received an instalment of the second rush that may be anticipated from Melbourne. The Eureka, which arrived on the 26th, brought 264, and the Alcyone, on the 27th, 263 passengers.