BLUFF HARBOR.

Southland Times, Issue 4942, 19 May 1884, Page 2

BLUFF HARBOR.

* AKRTVBD. May 17 —Dauntless, cutter, Scollay, from Stewart Island, BXPBOTED ARRIVALS. From Melbourne— Te Anau Prom Northern Ports— Ringarooma From Dnnedin— Coorong, barque VSSSBLB IH FOBT. Barques— Elizabeth Graham, Armistice Cutters— So3a, Nautilus, Rapid, Susan, Dauntless

The baique Conference made a start on Saturday to take in her outward carga of oate. The barque Armistice is getting quick dispatch in.loading her outward cargo. She will till up to-day, and sai^, to-morrow if the weather proves favorable. Some anxiety is felt for the safety of the barque Coorong. She left Port Chalmers for Bluff Harbor 22 days ago in ballast, intending to load grain, Since that time' the Conference and Armistice have both come in from the eastward, and there was up to last night no sign nf the Coorong. " Both the vessels named experienced a terrific squall during the passage. Ths Coorong is a wooden barque, owned by Mr W. Hamilton, of Adelaide, and has been principally employed in the South African trade. She is £ome 18 years old, and was built at Rhode Island, New York. Her dimensions are: — Length, 130 f t; breadth of beam, 25ft ; depth of hold, 13ft. She is, cays the Otago Daily Times, a remarkably weatherly vessel, and carries no less than 500 tons of dead-weight cargo on the lig'at draught of 13ft lOin. She is in magnificent order both alow and aloft, and notwithstanding her ace was classed some 12 months ago A I for another seven years. The barque Latona, refeired to in a Port Chalmers telegram, was from Timaru, bound to Queenstown with a cargo of grain, and haying met very heavy weather, which has strained her, she has been compelled to put in to Port Chalmers for sighting. • The Latona is a barque of 282 tons register, built in Wales in 1866, and owned by Mr J. Carr, of Orange Court, Liverpool. Captoin Jeffreys reported leaving Timaru on the Bth inst., had S S E winds, with very heavy weather and fearful seas, which culminated in a terrific gale on the llih inst., causing the vessel to labor very heavily, and after some time it was discovered her pumps were choked. This determined the captain to make for the nearest port, and accordingly, in longitude 175 E, latitude 45 S, he squared away far Port Chalmers. The barque Conference, Captain Lusher, reports, left Wellington about midnight of 3rd inst., with light northerly winds, and passed Banks Peninsula at 8a m, on the. sth. On 7th Last, at 6 pjn. the barque was caught in a terrific squall which gave little warning and took her fiat aback ; bearing her over till she was nearly on her beam ends. The staunch old clipper, however, shoveed her good qualities by speedily righting, none the wonse. The squall was the precursor of a strong gale which lasted till the 12lh, When fresh northerly and nor'west winds set in, and were carried till arrival on Friday. On the 12th, the barque passed close to a Urge plank, about 30 feet long and apparently newly cut. Captain Lusher pays Pilot McDonald the compliment of Baying that he used great care and good sound judgment in handling the barque on Wednesday afternoon after taking charge. A few days back we published some information respecting the supposed loss of the schooner Afrry King, which left Lyttelton early in Jmuary list, for Queensland, and which had not since been heard of. The vesiel had hitherto been under the charge of Captain Bowton ; but just before the sailinp of the vessel he had some important work to attend to, and therefore sent ; the vessel away under the command of another master. In addition to tae crew the schooner took some four or. five passengers — a party of young gentlemen from Ohristcharch. Captain Bowton recently_proceeded to Queensland in search of his missing schooner, and with what result we now know. It is almost beyond, doubt now that the schooner has foundered with all hands.— N.Z. Herald. (By. Telegraph.) " . Poet Chal&ees, May 18. At the Heads— Ship Waimate, Capt. Mosey, from" London,; The- barque Latona, from Timaru for Cork, •will diicharge cargo and dock for surrey. T>ie captain, on arrival, fail- d to report the grounding of his vessel while coming in. A searchine enquiry will take place.