Shipping.

Otago Witness, Issue 1540, 14 May 1881, Page 14

Shipping.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES FOR THE WEEK. ARRIVALS. Thursday— Star of the South, from Greymouth via the Bluff ; Te Anau, from the East Coast ; Maori, from Oamaru ; Shag, from Shag Point ; Defiance, from Wangaroa. Friday — Fray Bentos, from Boston Saturday— Waitaki, from Timaru ; Wanaka, from the North ; Shag, from Shag Point ; Maori, from Oamaru; Janet Ramsay, from Catlin's River; Kestrel, from Catlin's River ; Taiaroa, from Northern ports. Sunday —Nil. Monday — Kakanui, from Waikawa ; Maori, ! from Oamaru. Tuesday— Huon Belle, from Stewart's Island ; Shag, from Shag Point. Wednesday— Catlin, from Catlin's River ; Arawata, from Melbourne, via Hobart and tho Bluff ; Ringarooma, from Sydney, via the North ; Waitaki, from Timaru ; Maid of Otago, from Riverton ; Owake, from Havelock ; Santa Cruz, from Melbourne ; Acacia, from Hobart ; Wakatipu, from Sydney, via the Coast ; Richard and Mary, from Foxton ; Beautiful Star, from Lyttelton ; Wave, from Newcastle ; Fawn, from Newcastle ; Mary Ogilvie, from AVanganui. DEPARTURES. Thursday — Shag, for Shag Point; Waitaki, for Timaru ; Te Anau, for Melbourne, via the Bluff. Friday— Maori, for Oamaru. Saturday - Shag, for Shag Point. Sunday — Martha Reid, for Oamaru. Monday— Waitaki, for Timaru. Tuesday— Taiaroa, for Northern ports ; Kakanui, for Invercargill ; Maori, for Oamaru ; Shag, for Shag Point. Wednesday— Eliza M'Phce, for Invercargill. PASSENGERS. INWARDS. Te Anau, s.s., 1650 tons, Carey, from the East Coast. J Mills, agent. Passengers-Misses Clark, Win"- Edie, Mesdames Clark, Lawrie, Wells, Heenan, Ashcroft, Baxter and 2 children, Messrs Litchfleld, Lawrie Grconwood, Young, Chapman, Ashford, Gone, Williams, Latchmore, Morrisby, Ashcroft, Llewellyn, Hundall, and 56 bteerage. Arawata, s s., 623 tons, Sinclair, from Melbourne, via Hobart and the Bluff. J Mills, agent. Passengers—Mesdames Robertson, Sweeney, Mr and Mrs M'Queen, Masters M'Queen (2), Messrs Bridgman, M'Donald, Thornton, Farquhar. Ringarooma, s.s., 1096 tons, Chatfield, from Sydney, via the North. J Mills, agent. Passengers —Mesdames Farra, Jack, Clark, Park, Green, Jackman, Misses Innes, Chrk, Messrs Beere, Jack, Farra, Park, Wylie, Irvine, Tong, Murray, Addington, Captain Clark, and 8 steerage. Wakatipu, s.s., 1158 tons, Wheeler, from Sydney, via the Coast. J Mills, agent. Passengers : From Sydney— Messrs Knotfc, Mowatt, Bunbury, Master Knott, and 11 steerage. From the Coast—Mrs Lowes, Miss Lowes, Messrs Young, Griffiths. OUTWARDS. Te Anau, s.s., 1650 tons, Carey, fov Melbourne, via the Bluff. J Mills, agent. Passengers : For Melbourne— Mesdames Thatcher, Hodgkinson, Messrs J Thomson, A W Lothian, A R King, Bransgrove, A M'Bride, H Prince, J M'Naughfc, Holvoson, W Nuttall, Jones, Willis, J Ferguson, G Miller, D Hartley, Sargent, M'Loughlan, Jordan, Griffiths, J Williams, A Kidgell, J Davidson, R Davidson, Bissetfc, A Brunton, C Rainton. „ „ Taiaroa, s.s., 228 tons, M'Gee, for Northern ports. J Mills, agent. Passengers : For Lyttelton— Airs Thomson. For Wellington— Messrs M'Dermott, J M'Gregor ; and 10 steerage for all ports. THE STEAMER INDIA. The Scotsman of Feb. 19th gives the following regarding the steamer India, or to call her by her proper name, the Ferret :— About the middle of October Fast a gentleman giving the name of Walker called on a leading firm of ship-store merchants in Glasgow, represented that he was acting as broker for a gentleman of means who was going on a long yachting cruise, and desired to favour the firm with the contract for the provisioning of the vessel. References were asked, and found to be satisfactory. It was stated that the vessel had been chartered from the Highland Railway Company. It was also given out, more by ambiguous allusion than by direct assertion, that the person for whom Mr Walker appeared was named Smith, and a relative of the late First Lord of the Admiralty. The goods were therefore supplied, including, it is rumoured, a large stock of the highest class wines from London. The vessel was then lying at Greenock undergoing an overhaul, at tho hands of Messrs Steele and Co., to make her more suitable for the new work and waters in which she was to be engaged for the next six months. The name of the vessel is (or was) the Ferret; and, to give an idea of her appearance, it may be mentioned that she is a screw steamer, 170J feet long, 23 feet broad, and 12} feet deep, having a gross measurement of 347 tons. She ia fitted with compound inverted engines of 90 h.p., having two cylinders of 23 inches and 40 inches diameter. Both vessel and engines were constructed by Messrs J. and G. Thomson, of Glasgow, in 1871. Having completed their task of providing for the six months' hungers ■ and thirsts of the yachtsmen, the merchants presented their bill, amounting to £1490. To liquidate this account, Mr Walker gave his acceptance at three months' date, but the firm asked Mr Smith also to sign the bill, which was done. As a further precaution, they communicated with the bank on which the bill was domiciled in London, and in reply to their queries were informed that the parties referred to had an account there. But ere the bill was matured, on 16th January last, some information came to the ears of the merchants tending to make them a little uneasy about their claim. .When the acceptance became due it was presented in regular course, but, as was by this time anticipated, it was returned dishonouredMr Walker's balance having been lifted and the account closed after the bill was granted. The gentlemen whose names were furnished as references were next communicated with, but no response came. Inquiries were now set on foot as to the whereabouts of the Ferret, but these proved equally fruitless. When she left the Clyde she was taken round to Cardiff by a crew of runners, who then left her, the only ones standing by being the captain and engineers. At this port she shipped a new crew, and having coaled, started on her cruise. ! Not being able to ascertain where the vessel had sailed for, the merchants applied to the Highland Railway Company, from whom the vessel had been chartered. At the beginning of the present week the secretary of the Company, in replying to the Glasgow firm, said :— " We have already done all in our power to trace the Ferret, having got no charter-money from the parties since they sailed from Glaßgow. We have boen in communication with Lloyd's and the Board of Trade, and through Lloyd's agents and the British Consuls inquiries have been made all over the world. About ten days ago we heard that she wag at Malta, but on telegraphing there we had a reply that she had not arrived yet. We have ordered her to be stopped at Malta if she puts in there, and if we get any information regarding her we will be glad to let you know. Altogether it has been a very mysterious affair." Various have been the surmises set afloat as to the ■ course steered by the Ferret. It seems to be pretty well established, however, that she passed through the Straits of Gibraltar, though she did not touch at Marseilles, as the Messrs were informed it was Mr Smith's intention to do, in order to take a party of friends on board. Her return is anxiously watched for, not alone by the Railway Company and Messrs , , but also by a number of other traders and shopkeepers in Glasgow, who, by the promise of cash in 14 days, and so forth, were led into furnishing Mr ' Smith and Mr Walker, some with silver plate and cutlery, others with napcry, and others, again, with china, crystal, &c. Altogether the accounts left unpaid in Glasgow may be estimated at over £2000.

A lighthouse is being erected on Cape Egrnont. It is anticipated that the light will be ready for exhibition during the month of August next. The following is a description of tho light that will be exhibited :— Cape Egmont Lighthouse is situated on a knoll, about 240 yards from high-water mark, on tho Cape of that name, on the west coast of the Noijth Island of New Zealand. The light will be a fixed white light of the second order dioptric, visible all around seaward as far as the land will allow. It will be elevated about 97 feet above high-water mark, and will be visible about 15$ nautical miles in clear weather, allowing 15 feet for the height of the observer's eye. Captain Hay ward, harbourmaster, Catlin's River, reports under date 3rd May, 1881 :— The number of vessels arrived during the past month was seven, equal to 355 tons register, and eight sailed, equal to 415 tons register. Six were sent to Dunedin, and two to Lyttelton. Six loaded at the Company's Mill, and two at tho Owake Mill. The Kalranui arrived here fmni the Bluff last, Sunday, loaded at the Company's Mill, and bailed at dusk last night for Dunedin. The weather has liu-ii very changeable, more especially during the latter parb of the month, in consequence of which the contractors for the removal of tho rocks has made but little piogiess with his work, which is. a pity, as but a short spoil of fine weather and smooth water would enable him to complete it. The Janet

Ramsay, Catlin, and Isabella are loading at tha Company's Mill ; the Kestrel at the Owake Mill.

THE S.S. TAUPO LOST.

TheTauposankin thirty-eight fathoms of water near Mayer Island, and has taken the result of two years' expenditure of capital and energy with her. On Friday, when she left Tauranga in tow of the s.s. Staffa at 1.30 p.m., high hopes were entertained, says the New Zealand Herald, that by the evening of the next day she would have made a triumphal entry into Auckland Harbour, that all fears would have been set at rest, and that perseverance would have received its reward. But it was fated to be otherwise. The Wellington picked her up at Karewha, where the Taranaki was lost, about 5.15 p.m., and, having made fast with four warps, she steamed away at the rate of three and a-half knots per hour. There was a light easterly wind, and the water was smooth. A man stood by the tow-line on board the Wellington, armed with an axe the whole time, ready to cut them asunder should it have been deemed necessary at any time. On the Taupo all went on smoothly enough until between 8 and 9 o'clock, one pump being kept going about half-time. The first warning they had of a leak was a few minutes after 8, when it was ascertained that the water was gaining in the hold. Then both pumps were set going, but eventually it was found that all efforts were ineffectual in decreasing the water. At last matters became so serious that a signal was given to stop towing, the lines were thrown off by the people on board the Taupo, and preparations were made for leaving. The men beat a precipitate retreat to the boat, leaving Mr Gouk, Mr Greenleaf, and Mr Charles Clark on board. When the Taupo ceased moving through the sea, the water in her hold remained stationary for some time, but after a while began again. When the Taupo signalled to cease towing Mayer Island bore N.E. £ N. This was the first warning the Wellington had that anything was wrong, and Captain Farquhar was astonished to be told within a quarter of an hour afterwards that the ship was sinking, and to send a boat for the crew. A boat was at once lowered, but hardly had she touched the water when the boat from the Taupo came alongside, containing the crew and engineers. The Taupo having let go tho warps, the Wellington could not back up until these wore hauled in, otherwise they might have become entangled with her propeller. Then she steamed alongside, first to windward, next to leeward, but eventually kept off about 200 yards, and remained there till the Taupo sank. Mr Gouk saved some tarpaulins, screwjacks, and clothes, being the last to leave. Tho Taupe was abandoned at 8.20, but did not sink until 9.40. This was an appalling 6ight, and made the blood of the spectators run cold, Men who have spent; a lifetime on the sea say they wish never to witness such a sight again. She went down stern first. She began settling slowly down aft, very slowly, increasing gradually, and finally rapidly, until she stood right on end, and 40 feet above water, and the keel was plainly visible. '!hen there was a frightful screaming of wind through the ventilators and hatches, and crashing of timber, as if the decks were breaking up. The hursting of tho boilers, extinguishment of fires, and escape of steam also added to the ghastliness of the occasion. When bolt upright she remained stationary for a moment, rose, then sank, never to float again. When going down there was heard a most unearthly sound, like a shriek, which struck terror into the hearts of those who heard it. It has been aptly compared to the roar of a dying whale, .-'ome consternation existed on board the Wellington at this time. A cry was raised, "The ship is sinking!" and ladies awakened thereby rushed on deck in great trepidation, thinking that the Wellington was meant. She floated safely a short distance from the whirlpool created by the disappearance of the Taupo.