ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP WARRIOR QUEEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 902, 13 March 1869, Page 16

ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP WARRIOR QUEEN.

The frigate built ship Warrior Queen, arrived at the Heads from London on Monday, and wastowed up to a discharging and loading berth by the ateamtug Geelon? at noon on Tuesday. Her passengers and luggage were brought to Dunedin by the local steamer Golden Age on her afternoon trip. The Warrior Queen has made a longer passage than usual, which is owing principally to three weeks' detention in the Bay of Biscay by heavy S.W. and westerly winds. The ship left Gravesend on the 23rd of November, and took her final departure from Start Point on the 27tb, w.th the wind from the eastward, which on'y lasted for a short time. Westerly and sou h rly gales were then experienced, with n-sore or less violence, accompanied by a heavy sea, until the 24th of December, when the N.E trades were caught, inlat. 27.35, long. 19.4S W. The island of Sfc. Antonio was passed on the 28th, about 1U miles dietant, and the Trades were lost on the Ist January in lat. 357 N. Calms aud variable wnd' then prevailed for 24 hours, and the S.E. trades were got in lat. 2 50 N. The Eq/nfor was crossed on the 4th Januiry in long. 20.30 W. Thp S 13. trades continiiecl until she reached lat. 25.27 S. when the wind hauled round to "In northward and westward. The meridian of Greenwich was crossed on the 27th of January, and that, of the Cape on the 3 1st. Her easting for the most part was run down between the parallels of lat. 4S and 49 S. , and was characterised by extgaor 'inarily heavy weather, during which she carried away her maintopsail yard and portquarter gallery, filling the cabin with water. On the Sfch and 9th of February she ran through between the Crozcts, and sighted Possession Is'aml. In long. 106 X on the 20th of February, she sighted a large iceberg, and passed other bergs on the two following day 3. On March the Ist, off Tasnianii, a very heavy breeze sprang up from N.N.E., whi'cfh gradually increased, and veered round northerly to W.S.W., when it blew a perfect hurricane with a high confused sea, causing the ship to labour and strain heavily. Hove to under a close xeefed maintopsail; the sheet however carried away, and the sail was torn to pieces. A roll of canvas was then spread and secured on the mizen rigging, by which she was kept to the wind; at 3 p.m. an attempt was made to haul the foot of the spanker out, without success, as it was blown to ribbons. On the evening of the 2nd the gale moderated, and the ship was kept away before the wind with a reefed foresail and close reefed foretopsail j more moderate weather afterwards set in and continued for the remainder of the passage. The Snares were sighted at 1 a.m. on the 6th, and Stewart's Island at 5 the same evening. Light breezeß followed her along the coast, and she arrived at the Heads at 11 a.m. on Monday, the Bth instant, as previously reported. The Warrior is still in command of Captain A. Wilson, with whom is his old chief officer, Mr Taylor, and several of his former crew, She brings about 1500 tons of cargo, aud 57passengers, the latter having enjoyed good health throughout the trip, no sickness having ocenrredof an infectious nature. On arrival, the passengers expressed themselveß as well satisfied with the ship and the treatment of her commander and officers. As a load of wool is iwaiting the ship, quick' despatch will be required to be used in her discharging to get her ready for her oufcwardjfreight.