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West Coast Times, Issue 197, 7 May 1866, Page 2

The Persevere landed yesterday tho passengers of tho Rangitoto, which steamer arrived in tho roadstead from Melbourne at 3 p.m. After landing luggage and passengers, returned to the Rangitoto to tako on board tho cargo for HoTntika. The p.s. Yarra left here for tho Grey on Saturday to attend on the Lord Ashley. She arrived at the Grey after a two hours run, and immediately receiving the passengers, loft again for the roadstead, whon she transhipped passengers to tho Sydney steamer, and started for Hokitika, arriving in the roadstoad at 8 p.m. She went alongside tho Gothenburg and took in tho remainder of that vessel's cargo for Hokitika, and returned into port. Tho Kate, a very useful schooner, tho property of Mr Greer, which left here with a full cargo, in tow of the steamer Bruce, was, whilst being towed into Okarita, driven high and dry on the north beach, and becume a total wreck. The cargo was nearly all saved in good order, but tho vessel, after being surveyed, was sold by auction us she lay for £60. Wo understand she was fully insured. Daring last month, not loss than 53 vcbscls crossed the Grey bar, of which 26 were inward, ond 27 outward bound. Considerable alteration if taking placo tho entrance of

the rivor, as the north beach from tho flagstuff is washing rapidly away. Navigation is not diflleult, provided duo attention in given. { ITho Keora arrived, from Dunedin, in tho roadstead, on Friday ovoning at about oight o'clock, after a very rough passage, having experienced hard gnles nnd fearful seas almost from tho time of loaving tho Olago Heads, which she cleared about 5 p.m. on Monday last. Waa abreast Aknroa Head next morning at 8 o'clock, but was compelled to bringup Pigeon Bay during tho same day j «nilod ten hours afterwards, nnd again on Thursday, at 3 a.m., anchored in Guard's Sound, remaining thero for six hours, awaiting for tho weather to moderate. NovertheIcsb, she has mado an excollcut run, having mado tho passage in four days aud a half. Tho Maria may now bo considered a total wreck. On going on board yesterday, wo found hor lying ovor with hor starboard side exposed to tho full force of the sea. Her waterways woro tlartcd, tho deok butts opened out in some places several inches, and tho water in tho hold lovel with tho deck beams on tho lee side. Sinco sho came ashore, the discharging of cuvgo has been proceeded with at low tide, and carted to high wator mark, with all possible despatch. She has at present, however, about fifty tons of cargo on board, which th© contractor confidently oxpeotcd to land last evening. It is a great pity moro active stops woro not taken on the ovoning sho camo ashoro, to secure her listing towards tho beach, instead of seaward. Tho work of dismantling is going on afc tho same time, with extra hunds ; and thoro is ovory probability tho wreck of such a fino vossel will not prove so diastrous to the ownors as at first anticipated, being, we aro led to beliove, partially insured. The unfortunate ownors of uninsured cargo wo must sympathise with, as we believe, had suggestions been carried out, which we understand wero lofforod by competent persons, the majority of tho cargo would have been landed in good order. It will bo seen from our advertising colums that Mr Binnoy is to sell, on tho beach, this day, a portion of tho cargo of tho Maria. Tho Panama, Now Zealand, and Australian, Royal Mail Company's steamship Rangitoto, H. Harris, commander, arrived yesterday punctual to date, at 3.30 p.m. Sho left Port Phillip Heads at 4.30 p.m. On tho Ist experienced strong hoad winds with foggy weather tho first day, the remainder of tho passage light and moderate N.lfl. winds. The passage, allowing for difference of timo, lias thus occupied but four days twenty-ono and a-half hours. A strong southerly current oxporioneod on this coast added at least two hours to her passage. She" will leave for Dunedin and Melbourno, via Nelson, Picton, Wellington, nnd Lyttollon, this day, at olevon o'clock sharp, The Bruce arrived in tho roads during tho night from Okarita with a vessel in tow, supposed to bo tho lona.