IMPORTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 287, 24 August 1866, Page 2

IMPORTS.

Per Lord Ashley, from Nelson— l parcel, J. C. Paul ; 1 case drapery, order ; 1 parcel, Bishop of Christchurch.

EXPORTS,

Per Lord Ash'ey, for Bluff— lo reams paper, S pkgs, Harnett &, Co.

Shippers to Okarita will have an opportunity of forwarding goods, on Saturday next, by the s.s. Kennedy, which vessel is adverl ised to sail for that port. All the harbor steamers worked tho bar yesterday, and found a fair channel running close under the tongue of the South Spit, ■which is making up more and more daily, nnd promises soon to be quite dry at low water. Right against it, and almost under the break, is the gut way through which vessels drawing seven and eight feet water may safely venture. The Mary and Clarendon, both heavy bottoms, passed through it yesterday- — tho former towed by tlio Challenge, the latter by the Lioness, which nlso conveyed tho Volunteer outsido. There were several vessels in the roads last night, waiting for a slant to get in, and we hope they will succeed in doing so to-day.

Total Loss of the Ship Golden City. — This fine ship, the property of Messrs Honlder Brothers, London, became a total wreck on ihe 13th instant, at Lady Elliott's Island, at ■winch place she was loading guano for London. She had been about rhree months there, during which time had taken on board 800 tons, and would have completed her loading in a couple of days, She was not, however, the whol? of this time taking in cargo, as, ■when the wind began to come in shore, she had to slip her anchors aud stand out to sea. On one of these occasions it was nearly three ■wooks before she returned to the island. From her commander, Captain J. W. Jones, we learn the following particulars : — For a week previous to Thursday, the 12th instant, the ireather was beautifully fine, and the loading of the vessel was rapidly approaching completion, and on this day the atmosphere was calm, but on the following day a fresh breeze sprang up from S.S.W., with a smooth sea, the barometer indicating 30.2, with the thermometer standing at 67.50, and every appearance of fine weather. About four o'clock in tho afternoon, however, the wind suddenly chopped round to the westward, Wowing dead on. shore, which rendered it quite impossible to get the vessel under way, the royal and top-gallant yards being on deck. The second anchor vraa let go with forty-five fathom's chain, and the ship continued to ride easily, as the sea was tolerably smooth, and thero "was no apprehension of danger. Early on the morning of 13th, the wind began to increase in violence a^id the sea to rise until about 4 a.m., when a squall struck her which started the anchors, And, notwithstanding that the weather was becoming more moderate, she continued to drag towards the shore until about 7 o'clock, when she struck heavily on the reef which surrounds the island. The rudder and part of the stern-frame soon yielded to the repeated shocks, and, as the bottom planking gave wag, the vessel soon filled ; sho then heeled over, and the bows gradually sunk to the level of the water, whilst tho cabin was partially submerged. Seeing that there was no hope of preventing the ship from becoming a total loss, Captain Jones turned his attention to the safety of those on board, and by means of the lifeboat, and with the assistance of those on shore, all hands succeeded in reaching the land, nnd subsequently they managed to save most of their clothes, though Terv muoh damaged by sea water. Next day the weather was fine, which enabled the crew to secure a supply of provisions f>-om the wreck. Captain Jones, ■with his crew, arrived yesterday by the steamer Bulclutha, and he states that on leaving the ioland, the wreck ! lay in much the same position as when she ! struck ; the foremast has, however, apparently gone through the bottom, and, in all probability, the hull will break up with the first strong westerly breeze. The Golden City was a Tcssel of 779 tons, and is insured in Louden. — "Sydney Morning Herald," July 31. The B.s. Viiik de Paris.— This fine •tewnship, of 3332 tons register, and 800horae power, which sailed from the rivor on Tuesday last, reached Cherbourg, after a very stormy passage, in forty-eight hours. The •weather was very severe during the run ; nevertheless the noble vessel behaved most admirably. The Ville de Paris was, with her sister the Perrie, built and engined by Messrs Napier arc! Sons, Govan, for (he French Transatlantic line of steamers. The Ville de Paris is the sixth and last largo steamer built on the Clyde for tho above company, viz. i — Lafayette, Washington, and Europe (paddle tte»m.t»), built by Metsri Scott, Gveeuook j

Guayim (paiMlo steamer), built by Mcssim Thomson, GHnsijow ; and Iho screw steamers FeMro and Ville de Paris, built, as above stated, by Musses Napier, Govan. Messrs Scott, however, likewise built a number of similar vessels for the same company nt their works at St.. Nnzaire, iv France. We believe the French Transatlantic ileol now numbers about twenty-five vessels of tho largest tonnage. The company is heavily subsidised by tho French Government. A novel feature in connexion with the steering apparatus of the ! Perrie uad Villo do Paris is tho introduction of Viehoff and Muthicson's patent steering telegraph, by which instant and correct orders can bo transmitted from the officer Of tho watch to tho man at tho wheel, and fully apprehended on the darkest 6r jAbst stormy nights The prhicipio is stated to be a very •efficient One, and during me trip of tho Villo 'dc Paris was found \o be of tho greatest ser "vice. We may state that when any order is ;given tf?«m the bridge to the man nt'che wheel •to "port," "starboard," or "steady" the helm, a duplicate of the message sent is returned to the dial on the bridge if the order has been rightly attended to ; but if any bluic der has taken place by the steersman, tho olliccr can at once detect it by the signal not. being •a duplicate of the message sent by hhn to tho man at the wheel. Mi- Robert Leo, pilot, who has had the responsibility of piloting the above itcet from the Clyde to France, states that, for largo steamers, he believes the invention is n most invaluable one. On Wednesday night, , the weatliev being dark and stoviuy, while tho Villc de Paris was betwixt Tuskavand Land's End she got into the midst of a largo lleet of fishing craft, estimated at nearly 1000 sail. Mr Lee asserts that but for the telegraph st-iar-ing apparatus being on board, whereby the most complete command 6t t\v»> positions of the vessel was obtained, ho believes that various collisions would have taken place. — " Glasgow Herald," May 2.