SHIPPING.

West Coast Times, Issue 126, 12 February 1866, Page 2

SHIPPING.

TOST OF HOKITIKA. ii an water. Monday •• •• 6.48 a.m. „ 7.12 p.m. AURIVKP. February If— Bruce, p. 8., 88 tons, Kerley, from Okaritn, Passengers: Cabin —Messrs Binney, Madtr, Lazarus, Bruce, Baiee'- ; ami eleven in the steerage. February 11— Ballarat, p s., Qunme, from Okarita. Mary Anne, ketch, Robinson, from Grey (ashore). SAILED. Febnary 10— Bruce, p.s., 83 tms, Kerley, for Okarita. February 11— Pilot, cuter, 16 tons, Robson, for Invercargill. Phwn'x, schooner, 80 tons, Parr, for Dunedin. Elfin, schooner, Milno, for Dunedin, BNDBRED INWARDS Febisary 10— Bruce, p.s., from Oknrita. ENTERED OUT. February 10 — Bruce, p.s., for Okarita. "- Impohts. Per Bruce— About 1,010 ozs told, in the hands of passmgers. EXPORTS. PerPhcenix: Ei w.uehou*,?, under boi.d— .l9 cases brandy, 1 cat? tobacco, Ido ciga.a 19 qr-casks whisky, 8 qr-ticrces tobacco, Order. I)u ( y mid and free — 1 1 hhds lime, 17 cases hatchets, 13 do picl •, 190 baas sugar, Order ; 1 boat, John Smith ; 6 empty ciates, Martin an Co. EXBEOTEU ARIUVAM. Slnr of the Evening, s.s , from Dnnc-riin. Kcora, s.s., from Dunedin, early Lloyd's Herald, kotch, from Dunedin. Claud Hamilton, s.s., fiom Melbourne, early. Auckland, 8.5., from Pyduey Kennedy, s.s., from Nelson. ■Wongu Wonga, s s., from Kelson . , PROJEOTBD DEPARTURES. Star of the Evening, s s, for Bluff and Dunedin. John Mitchell, for Grey River, to-day. I Claud Hamilton, ss , for Nckon, early. Mary Jane for Napier Trader, for Newcastle, NSW Maria, for Melbourne, early. VESSELS IN PORT. ■ Schooners— Caroline. Meteor, Matilda, Emma, Eliza, Mary Jane, Trader, John Mitchell, Sarah, lona. Cutters— Eagle, Lapwiog, ' Steamers— Yarra, Lioness, Bullarat. The Ballarat, p.s., left Hokitika at 4.40 a.m. on the 9lh instant, with light winds and thick weather, bound for Okarita At 10 a.m. the weather cleared up, and at, 1.30 p.m. she came to an anchor in the roadstead off" that port. The tide serving at 4 p.m., sho lifted hor anchor, ran in ov«r tho bar, and steamed up to the town, where she moored,' and at once proceeded to discharge cargo, of whioh there was fifty tons on board, and such good speed wns made that by tide-time on the morning of the Bth she was again ready for sea. At 5.30 p.m. she loft the river and stefered for Hokitika, arriving off this port at 3.80 a.m. on the 11th. The heavy sea . in the roadstead prevented her anohoring, so she rounded to, waiting for tide-time ; but as the morning broke, the weather came in so exceedingly thick that it was found impossible to make out the entrance to the river, fco she stood off and on under steam, in company with tbo Mary A»ne, kotcli, and Tiger, schooner, bound in from the Grey, trusting it would clear up toward* the afternoon. As tho day advanced the fog dispersed, but the weather looked exwedingly threatening, and the long lino of breakers on the beach gays uhinißtakeablo notice that crossing the bar would he a work of no small difficulty and danger. The barometer,however, bad been steadily sinking since tho preceding evening, and by 4 p.m. had fallen to 29 deg 8 tenths and as there seemed every probability that heavy weather was at hand, it was considered advisable on shore to hoist the red flag, and let her make the attempt. As soon as ibe signal was made out by thoso on board, her bead was turned for the beach, and the outor line of breakers shortly reached, and in a few moments tho Ballarat was engaged in as desperate a Gtrugglo for existence as was ever witnesßed from the^ North Spit. Obeying the directions of the signal man, she took the south ehannol, although it was ovidontly the iv ten tion of her captain to have tried the uorth one instead. Had he perubted in this course, the result in all probability would have boen fatal, as the heavy broadside sea to which she must have been exposed for two or three cables' lengths would in all likelihood have sent, her high and dry on the North Spit. As it was, her work was cut out, for through keeping a little too far to tbe southward, she was obliged to ■taud across the sea t) bring tho beacons in a line, and whilst doing so was caught by one or two combers that nearly hove her on hor beamends, almost hiding her from the sight of the crowd who by this time had assembled on the Spil to watch her emer. She. however, struggled bravely on until she felt the curreut from the river, which,' catching her on the starboard bow, slued her bead out to sea again, and a succession of heavy rollers breaking on board her at tbe same time, she lost her steerage way. and was swept in dangeious proximity to (lie South Spit. Everybody on shore now gave her up as lost, for fears were entertained that tbo volumes of water pouring on her deck would reach her engine-room, and xwatup the fires. Care, however, had been taken to batten close down, which precaution doubtless saved her, and fortunately at this critical moment a smooth occurring she once more regained her lost ground, and reached the fairway But again she was driven out by the freshet and m«t by tho seo,and once more found herself far to the south, her way deadened, and through some cargo shifting with a heavy list "to starboard which rendered her port paddle wheel — when she was heeled over by the surf— next to useless. She, however, succeeded 'in getting into the channel onco more, and tho rising tide having cheeked the curient, sho managed to stem it fairly, although it was evident her safety was anytbing&jbut assured, and thai a heavy sea or two wouliPplace her iv the same awkw aid position again. But her good fortune came to the lescue, for after about live minutes hard steaming she gathered headway, and slowly made her way into the river, and icached the whaif in safety. Wo huvo never seen a narrower escape than that of the Ballarat yesterday, or a vessel better handled when in a most critical situation than sho was, for a splendid head of steam was kept up tho wholo time, and not once did wo observe anything like confusion on board. At tho same timo tho bar was in anything but a fit state to cross, and had it not beau for tho indications of bad weather to which wo have alluded, it would have been a most imprudent apt to have made the attempt. As it was, tho signalman acted judiciously in giving hor tho signal, and the captain did right in obeying it, although he nearly vCaruo to grief in consequence The Ballarat, on her passugo up, spoko tho Traveller's Bride and Bruce, p.s., oil* Abbott's Head, both bound to Okarita.

Tho Bruce, p.s., taado a smart t.-ip to Okarita and back last week, leaving this port on Thursday evening and returning in timo to enter the rivor at high water on Saturday morning. Sho brought up a fow passengers, •who amongst them hold about lOOOoz. of gold duet.

On Saturday last Mr J. R. Anderson received a telegram from Christchuroh,. to tho •fleet that the Keera, b.s., had arrived there, and was to sail again tho samo day for Nolson. She may bo expooted to reach this port on Tuesday next

i&y .. ..

A special mossonger to Mv Molntyro of tho firm of Morison, Law, and Co, arrived in town from tho Grey Into on last Saturday night, with tho information that Uio s.s Star of, tho Evening hod gono ashoro on tho South .''pit. Mr Mclutyro at onco started for tho Grey, and all day on Sunday extraordinary rumours wcro in circulation respecting her position, amount of damngo dono, &c. Towards evening, however, a party arrived fi'oin tho Grey with the intelligence that (ho Star of the Evening was high and dry upon tho boach olobo to tho BtOßinor Nelaon. If this should provo correct her position is most porilous, but wo hopo it will prove as fulso us many other reports which have latoly reachod us from tho Grey. Wo shim doubtless hear tho truth of tho matter to day. It was but tho other day wo ventured to indulge in the hope that as our beach was at last clear of wrock, and tho port provided with an efficient tug servico, there would bo no more sensational scenes enacted by any unfortunate craft, obliged to sail in, or rouiain for an indefinite poriod outside. Wo much regret that in this wo havo boon deceived, and that wo havo onco more to record tho stranding of a vossel which might havo now been riding safely at her anchor outside, instead of lying high and dry upon tho bench. The Mary Anno, ketch, in company with tho Tiger, BChoonor,< arrived from tho Grey yestorday morning, but. was unable to crons tho bar on account of tho thick weather. In tho afternoon the signal that steamers might cross tho bar, was hoisted, which tho Bnllnvnt at once responded to by entering, and as wo have related, very narrowly escaped shipwreck in so doing. Tho moniom) the steamer was insido tho flog was hnulod down, but in spito of this warning the Mary Anno persisted in taking tho bar under canvas, and although the attempt was madness, just a3 she brought a lending wind up with hoi 1 , entering the break under " goose wings," hopos were entertained sho would succeed, As usrfal, however, when the " break " is heavy the brcezo failed just/ at tho time it was most heeded, and consequently sho found it impossible to stem tho freshet, and for nearly an hour Hie poor lijtfo " hooker " received a fearful buffeting, for sho no sooner' succeeded in escaping from tho furious surf limn the current from tho rivor swept, her out again, and her strugglo to regain tho lost ground again commenced. Her fato, however, wn3 sealed, alboit all that good seamanship could do was praetisod to savo her ; and if Captain Robinson got his vessel into dilHcultics ho did all that man could do to got her out of them, and finding at last thero was no cfiancoof bringing her in, he, a? a last resource, headed for tho roadstead. But there was no coutonding with tho surf, which at times completely buried her, washing right over tho masthead, and onco striking hor so heavily as to throw her ou her boam ends. Sho, however, righted, but gradually drifted to tho south until abreast of Lagoon Town, whero sho took tho ground, and very shortly was hovo up high and dry. on tho beach. On witnessing 'tho catastrophe, Captain Turnbull and his crow at onco proceeded to what assistauco tlioy could, and happily succocdod in rescuing tho orow from their porilous position, and from him wo roceived information that sho is not at all damaged, and would be at onco discharged and dismantled. Tho Mary Anno is a tight little ketch of about thirty tons burden, and bolongs to Messrs. Ileudorflon and Bonnr, of this town, and until tho mishap, has proved horeolf a most fortuuato vessel, mnlnng her trips with punctuality and dispatch. Wo trust to see hor afloat again, although tho work of launching lur will bo an oxponsivo O)io, tho distance to tho river being so great. Tondors havo boon called for already, and wo doubt not will bo promptly responded to, as we have plenty of skilled labourors lying idle that think but little of transporting a vessel a few hundred yards on ways. Shortly after tho Mary Anno struck, tho Tiger appeared on tho edgo of tho break, but seeing tho stato of affairs, very prudently luuilod hor wind and stood out to soa again. Tho Mary Anno luis a full cargo Of coal on board.

TO THK EDITOR OP TUB WEST COAST TISIKS.

Sir, — Wo, the undersigned passengeis think it our duty to expose the fr»ud practised upon passengers from Sydnoy to Hokitika in the fitout of vessels, and the treatment received on board them. When tho Sarah Pilo pa&sod survey in Sydney, the forco pump, fire hose, buckets, boats, sails, oars, anchors,* &c , wcro paraded before the surveyor, and vonlilators were ordered to ho cut in tho deck But when he left nil these things were put in tbo boat nnd sent on shore, and the vessel proceeded to sea with hut one boat, whioh hud no sails, and only broken oars. There were forty souls on board, thirtythree of whom were passengers, tho lnttor being cooped up iv a space 1 33 ft. x 18ft., provided with no ventilation save that of the hatchway forward, in size only 4ft. x 3ft (i in. The provisions supplied us weie very had indeed, and-ns a specimen of the Captain's tyianny wo may mention that ou ono of tho passengeis complaining to him of tho quality of the food, ho threatened to put him in irons, and afterwards o'.orcd to fight it out with him, and that if wo did not like Iho provisions provided, wo might go without. As regards tho fit-out of tho vessel, it was equally ai bad, for when sho lost her topmasts thoro was iy&t a tool on board belonging to Her, but fortunately tho piusongore had an axe nmongst them and a spokcs'iavo, an old piano iron doing duty as a chisel, and by their aid we managed to rig a jury topmast. Trusting you will insort tho3O fow lines for the public good, We remain, &c, » W. Q-AMB, And 31 othor passengers. ,GREY RIVER/ HIOTI WATER. Monday .. .. 0,2(3 a.m. .. 0.50 p.m. — » At the Sandridge Police Court, on January 25, the mayor, Mr Call, and Mr Thomas, on tbo bench — Richard Hardy, the commander of tho ship Goldeu Sea, was charged, at the instance of Mr Gossett, tho immigration officer — firs'/, wish having between certain of his steerage berths a less interval thau two feet six inches, the prescribed distanco ; and second, with having an insufficient number of berths for the accommodation of all tho passengers. Mr. Burke objected to both of these charges being dealt with under one summons. The Bench sustained tho objection, and would only deal with the first charge, but at tho samo time would hear evidence on both. Alexander Rose, surveyor, said he boarded the Golden Sea on her arrival from London. She had eighteen cabin and thirtyseven stoerago passongers. Tho steerago paßsonger3 woro placed in tho foro-parfc of tho vessel, wito a division between thoir cabin and that of the general crow. Tho passongers complainod of tho dirty stato of tho vessel, ' and ho had seldom scon so dirty a ship. Tho stench from tho water-olosot— close to tho forecastle berths — was frightful. This witness, and also Wardiinain, tho coxswain, provod that tho measurement of tho borths was not in accordauco with tho requirements of tho Aot. W. Leo, Jacob Humin, W. H. Clarko, and W. Lowis, all steerago passengers, wero callod, and gavo evidenco us thd deficiencies of tho berths, tho lilthy stato of tho forooastlo, and the stench arising from the elosot. Mr James'Bartlolt, described as tho surgeon of tho vessol, was callod for tho dofonce } but, ou boing placed in tho wHiicss-box, ho stated

that ho was not tho articled doctor of tho ship. On tho ai tides and tho passongor-list being referred to, his name was not found iv citlior. Ho statod that his attention had been called to tho dirty stato of tho forecnstlo, but ho did not recolloct stating that it was not fit for pigs. Mr. Qall said thnt this was ono of tho most disgraceful cases that over had boon brought hoforo him in his whole oxporienco as a magistrate, and strongly animadverted on tho conduct of tho owner? in attempting to ovado tho law. Tho defondant was lined £5 for each of ton deficient berths', boing £50 in all, with £1 16s. costs. Ono half of tho lino was ordered to bo given as compensation to tho fourteon complaining passcngors. Captain Ferguson, who hns boon ongnged with Captain Fullarton, of tho Government b.s. Pharos, in searching for tho rock on which tho ship Sain Oearns struck, has found a rock with twonty-fivo foot of water over it at low tide. The surfaco of tho voclc is small, and tho sides very stoop, as on sounding, ono lead touohed at four and a quartor fathoms, and another from tho othor sido of tho boat at six or sovon fathoms. Tlw marks for tho rock,, until tho boarings aro published officially, aro the chimney on tho tolograph station at Point Lonsdalo in lino With tho high beacon behind it \ tho east side of tho lower Lighthouse at Quoenscliu" in lino with tho west sido of tho boatman's look-out house, on tho odgoof Shorthiud's Blutt'j and tho beacon on tho Nepoan Reef on with tho sharp low peak on Point Nepean. While the boat party woro away sounding and surveying the bottom with their water-glass, a luigo shark suddenly sheered up alongside, and startled them not a liltlo j but ns ho was allowed to inspect thorn without being saluted with a boat-hook, ho w<»nt away as quietly as ho canio. Tho hack fin was seen from the steamer as ho was approaching tho boat. — Argui.