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Star (Christchurch), Issue 698, 18 August 1870, Page 2

The schooner Swordfish, which arrived in port yesterday, comes from Oatnaru, N.Z., ' with a cargo of oats for Messrs J. L. and C. Burke. She left on the 18th ult., and experienced variable winds along the east coast, and fresh easterly breezes through Foveaux Straits, which were cleared on tbe 23rd ult. Easterly winds and fine weather also prevailed on the remainder of the passage. Swan Island was passed on the 30th ult., and Port Phillip Heads were entered on the following day. — Argus, Aug 3. The schooner Lismore left Timaru, New Zealand, on the sth ult., with a cargo of grain for Melbourne, with light variable winds, but meeting with a heavy gale from E.N.E., in which she carried away her topmasts, she put into Felorus Sound to refit, leaving there again on the 14th ult. She then had light variable winds and calms until the 2 1st ult., when the wind freshened, and on the following day a heavy gale from W.N.W., shifting to E. and 5.8., Bet in, and lasted for 48 hours, during which time the schooner was hove-to. Heavy S. and S.E. gales were afterwards experienced, and the vessel had to lie-to on several occasions; The cargo of the Lismore is consigned to Messrs Pigott Brothers and Co. — Argus, Aug. 3. The barque Cantero, which vessel, it will be remembered, was abandoned off Hokianga a short time since, arrived yesterday morning early, under the charge of Captain Beveridge, Pilot of Hokianga. From the following report of the passage, kindly supplied to us by Captain Beveridge, it will be seen that the barque has had to contend against one long continuance of strong gales, and, there being only two Maoris, one halfcaste, and one European sailor to work a vessel of the size of the Cantero, the -men have had a very severe time of it. Captain Beveridge left Hokianga and crossed the bar on July 17 at noon, in a small whaleboat about 16ft. long and 20in deep, with the four men, for the purpose of rendering assistance to the barque Cantero, which had been abandoned outside. At this time there was a very heavy sea on. On reaching the barque Captain Beveridge found Captain Stewart, of the ketch Mary Ann, oa board ; he however handed the barque over to the pilot to do the best he could with lier. Before starting the pumps were sounded and 20 inches of water were found in her. It being ebb tide at the time, and the S.E breeze then blowing freshening, Captain Beveridge stood off the land ; being short-handed he deemed it prudent to stand on for the Bay of Islands or Auckland. Next day the weather increased to a gale from the E.S.E., with every appearance of bad weather. At 4 a.m. double-reefed the topsails and stowed the mainsail ; tho ship labouring heavily At 7 a.m. sighted the Three Kings, the gale increasing, with . heavy squalls of rain. At noon stowed the -foresail and double-reefed the topsail, and head-reached off the land. From 2 p.m. the Cantero was hove to under close-reefed top-, sails for four days, during which the g4e continued to blow with great violence, the vessel labouring heavily, she made however little or no water. At 6 p.m. on the 22nd, the weather having moderated, sail was made, and, with light N. and N.W. winds, she proceeded on her course. Made Cape Maria. Van Diemen next day. On Sunday, the 24th, it again came on to blow ; closer reefed the topsails ; and at 6 p.m., hove the vessel to on the starboard tack for some hours. From tlien till Thursday strong N.W: winds. At 5.30 a.m., set all sail, with fine, N.E. breeze. At 11 a.m. passed between' Cape Maria Van Diemen and the Threej Kings. At 4 p.m. was abreast of the North! Cape. On Tuesday, wind S.E. by E. half E.j leading along the land to Cape Brett. At 1 p.m. was within five miles of the Poor Knights ; tacked ship and stood to the; northward, wind increasing, with rain.; At midnight it blew a perfect gale, and Cap-: tain Beveridge was forced to keep topsails, jib, and mizzens to keep the vessel's head off the land. Next day still headreaching off the land ; at midnight the wind moderated ; and at 3 next morning the wind hauled to the N.W. wore ship, and stood on course ; sighted the Little Barrier at daylight ; made Tiritiri light at 8 p.m. On Friday, owing to the thick squally weather, was forced to anchor about seven miles inside Tiritiri. Captain Stewart and one man then proceeded down to the vessel, and assisted in working the vessel into port; she anchored off the wharf at 1 o'clock on Saturday night last. Captain Beveridge deserves great credit for the admirable manner in which he has brought the Cantero into port — having neither nautical instruments nor charts on boar*, except-

i ing one of the whole of New Zealand, given to him by Captain Stewart. Captain Beveridge reports the Cantero to be an excellent sea vessel, and in good order, ahe hardly making sufficient water for the pumps to draw during the whole of the very heavy weather experienced during the passage down the coast. The Cantero's cargo consists of 380 tons timber, and 7 to»s gum. — Southern Cross, Aug. 1.