PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 178, 14 April 1866, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

' ' HIGH WATEK. *

ABRIVKD. April 13— Gothenburg, s.s., Mackic, fromGreymouth. Persovero, s.s., M'Moikan, from Groymouth. • " bailed. Nil. . ■ ■ ENTEIIED IN. Nil. OLEABED OUT. Nil. EXPECTED ABRIVAI.3. Isabolla, from Dunedin. Pearl, from Dunedin. . Diuiedin.from Dunedin, early. '" Lizzie Coleson, from Sydney, early. Star of tho Evening, from Melbourne daily Maria, from Molbourne, early. Mary, from Melbourne, early. Olaud Hamilton, from Dunedin, 18th Inst. PBOJECTED DEPARTURES, Australian Maid, for Bruco Bay, to-day. Mary Anne, for Bruco Bay, to-day. lona, for Bruco Bay, to-day. Lapwing, for Okarita, to-day. Gothenburg, for Melbourne, to-day. Star of tho Evoning, for Melbourne, early. Claud Hamilton, for Nelson, 19th iust. VESSELS IN TORT. Brigantino Harriett Schooners— Carolino, Meteor, Tambo, Elfin, Ifary Jano, Moyno, Matilda, lona, Aparima. Cutters — Mary Anne, Lapwing. Steamers — Yarra, Persevere

The brigautino Lizzie Coleson, from Sydney, arrived off tho port yesterday movning at daylight. Sho at once signalled for a steamer, but as all the tugs wore absont the demand could not bo complied with. At mid-day she tripped her anchor and stood out to sea again, evidently not liking the appearanco of tho weather.' In the courso of the afternoon a report was circulated, and fora time received general credence, that sho was in a sinking condition, and had attempted to take tho bar under canvas. This, howover, turned out to be a puro fabrication, and how it originated is a profound mystery. Tho s.s. Gothenburg returned to tho roadstead yesterday from her trip to Groymouth, at which port she shipped 7000 ozs of gold and 17 passengers for Melbourne Wo hear that tho Challenge, p.s., has during the last day or two found ample employment at the Grey, towing vessols in and ont. By her aid, the Falcon schooner was yesterday removed from her perilous position on the North, Beach, a launch through the surf boiug successfully effected. To accomplish this feat, tho steamer backed as closo as sho dared to the edge of tho surf, and then buoyed a line, and allowed it to drift on shore. Thus a hawser was attached to the schooner ; and tho nignal being made, "turn ahead" was tho word, and onco inoro tho Falcon found herself in deep water. This result is certainly more wo onco anticipated ; for it was at first she must become a total wreck. Wo glad to find wo wero deceived, fine schooner's career of usefulTho schooner Goldsomo timo been waiting was also towed to sea by morning wo over-estimated the the Gothenburg would carry although tho absolute take is very considerable. 14,484 ounces will bo dctho Grey contributes 7&00 wo add to these amounts 4000 shipped al Nelson, and which is tho produce of Wcslland fields, it l^^will mako a grand total of 25,984 ounces— a larger freight by nearly 8000 ounces than tho Barwon carried with heron her last doparturo to Sydney. NoTer havo wo seen the entranco to tho Hokitika river in such a state as it was yesterday afternoon at low water, for two channels wero clearly to be seen, and both of them running to tho northward. Such a phenomenon was ncvor observed before, and tho quicker tho sea blocks up tho new outlet ag.iin or silts up the old ono tho bettor, Our friend, tho signal man, pointed out this new opening to us, and with a doleful expression of countenance, accompanied by a shako of tho head, declared it was a pily to see tho old channel thus destroyed " for it had been a good servant;" but immediately brightened up again upon the reflection " that it could'nt last long as the next tidy breezo from the S.W. would be sure to block it." In this we quite concur with him, but in tho mean fear that much inconvenience will be experienced by vessels Grossing tho bar. During tho past few weeks the south spit has extended considerably to the northward, thereby rendering tho channel somewhat tortuous, although there has always been at high tido abundance of water for vessels of ordinary draught, and no groat difficulty has been experienced in oithor entering or doparting. But the late " freßhet " has broken through, this tonguo of sand, and now a great portion of the river water finds its way to the sea in that direction. It would, perhaps, be supposed that this change is a preludo to a "stiaight run out" again, and such was our own idea, but one glance at the seething Burf and tho low sand patch between tho two channels most effectually dispelled it, for it ■was painfully apparent that tho S.W. Bea was more than a match- for tho river, as it had thrown up another bank outside the old one, and right in front of the advancing stream, thus compelled it to shape a courso directly parallel to the old passage. In obtaining this victory the surf has been considerably aided by a quantity of driftwood and scrub, which has lodged on the seaward side of the South Spit, forming a kind of dam, about which tho eand and shingle thrown up by tho Burf lodges, and thus the outer spit has bson formed and what might have been a good channel spoilt. We fear that nothing but a very heavy fresh will clear the way again. Yesterday the Persevere returned from the Grey, and as the sea was tolerably smooth pushed across the bar at low water, trusting that her light draught would ensure an entrance. She, however, suffered a disappointment, for although the bar was crossed she stack fast in tho channel, and for about an hour laid there waiting until the tide made, and then steamed to the wharf. It was anticipated that sho would go out again with passengers and gold to the Gothenburg, but her agents decided against it as she would be oompelled to cross the bar ie the dark, andfthe state of the channel forbade such an attempt.