DUNEDIN SHIPPING.

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

DUNEDIN SHIPPING.

AItUIVI'D. April 2G—William fttUkiu from Hokitikn. SAILED. April 30—Dospatoh for Hokitika. TO THE KDITOR OF TUB WEST COAST TIMES. Sin,—Although indisposed to question tho fact that the Albion, by some mysterious iluke, managed to reach Molbourno about an hour beforo the Rangitoto, on their last run up from Bluff Harbor, I must tako oxcoption to tho stylo in which the alleged exciting raco is chronicled in your shipping columns this day. From tho quotation marks it is apparent that tho composition does not oraaniito from any of your staff. It is evidently tho production of sonieono interested in extolling tho Albion j and, what is slill moro ovidcut, it is tho crude concoction of an inflated boyish intellect. What is colonially called "gas" is a very useful article in tho hands of experts, but combustible individuals should refrain from touching it. However, "fools will rush in where augels fear to tread," and if they suffer for thoir folly we can do no moro than pity what wo cannot prevent. Such rhodotnontado about an insignificant stoaraov perhaps never bofore graced tho columns of a newspaper; and tho fussy announcement of tho Albion beating tho " craok " boat is put forth in »uoh a manner as to justify tho opinion that there is a crack in the upper story of tho writer that will require very careful looking after. Tho next time that ho attempts to " chronicle small beer," let him tako a deep inspiration of facts by way of ballast, otherwiso ho will run tho risk of being ignobly turned bottom upwards. I will, in tho truo spirit of a philanthropic practitioner, admiuistor two solid facts, which, if tho patient wifl properly swallow, ho may derive much bone/it from. The Rangitoto and tho Albion had a fair raco a short time ago from Port Phillip Heads to Sandridgo. In that short run, tho Rangitoto beat tho Albion by twenty minutes. Some months prior to this, the Albion measurod her speed with tho Otago in a run from Port Chalmers to Lyttolton. In order to get hor very utmost Bpeod out of hor, tho expense of filliug her boilers with fresh wator beforo starting was incurred. Norertheless Bhe was, as a matter of courso, boaton by the superior vessel. Thoio facts should moderate tho jubilation arising from a uiero fluke. Probably tho writer referred to imagined ho did a great stroke, in anticipating what might be said as to the cause of tho accidont of tho Albion arriving at Melbourne an hour boforo tho Rangitolo. He might havo saved his ink, for the latter vessel's reputation aeeds no bolstering up by excuse-making; nor do thoso concerned consider that any good can como from tho folly of « blutherskiting." Inasmuch, Mr Editor, as you do not give the publio the source whence you derived tho published account that, 1 have boon dealing with, I know not who I havo been tilting at : but whoever ho may bo, lot him in future abstain from launching his oxtravagant nonsense in the columns of a newspaper. I am, &0., John White, Agent for tho Panama Company, Hokitika. * sth May, 1866.