SHIPPING SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 332, 16 October 1866, Page 4

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

A fair amount of shipping business has been transacted during the month, as the number of vessels which nave arrived and departed from the port is quite up to the general average. Compared with the preced"ing month, there is a decided increase — the flourishing condition of the goldfields having given a great impetus to commerce. Our relations with Melbourne continue in a most satisfactory condition, as no Jess than fourteen vessels arrived from that port, out of which number seven were heavy-bottomed sailing craft, fully laden with assorted cargos. This merchandise was landed — with one or two exceptions — in excellent condition, thus proving the vessels to be good cargo carriers, and tho care which was exercised in stowing. The remainder of the arrivals were large ocean steamers belonging to the Panama, Melbourne and Adelaide, and Otago Steam Shipping Companies. Each brought a considerable accession to the already large population of Westland, and also landed many hundreds of tons of cargo. The return trade was not so heavy,* as only ten vessels left this port for Melbourne — five of which were sailing craft in ballast trim. The steamers, however, carried away large parcels of gold in return for the heavy shipments of merchandise received here. The intercourse between Westland and Sydney continues much' on the same footing, trade with that port not being particularly brisk. Two steamqjs and two sailing vessels were the only arrivals thence. The former • were the steamers Rangitoto and Claud Hamilton, which brought between oho and two hundred passengers and a few tons of cargo ; the latter were the brigantines Jane Lockhart' and Lizzie Cohsjn, both heavily laden. In return, the steamer Claud Hamilton and schooners Jane Lockhart and J. B. Russell were despatched hence. The trade coastwise is increasing, especially with Lyttelton and Dunedin. From tho former port seven veßsels arrived here, and eleven from the latter. This return js most satisfactory, as it shows, on the part of our provincial neighbor!, a

renewal of confidence in the futuro prospects of Westland, and a sound belief in her present prosperity, which they at last seem determined to participate in by checking the monopoly hitherto enjoyed by Melbourne. That Dunedin should have despatched such a number is somewhat astonishing, as for many months the intercourse between the two ports 'has been chiefly kept up by tho steamers Keera and William Miskin. 'But the old adage, "Better late than never," is peculiarly applicable in this case, and s we trust that the trade will continue to increase. The commercial relations between Lyttelton and Hokitika have always kept on a favorable, footing, still this month's preponderance of trade over many which preceded it is most marked. The Northom Island trado isr falling off, as only two vessels arrived from Manukau, both, however, laden to the combings with produce. The passenger and mail service of tho port is well attended to by the magnificent steamers belonging to the different ocean companies. Tho Panama- boats are moßt regular in their attendance, and receive a large amount of patronage. To meet increasing requirements, the Melbourne and Adelaido Company placed two more of their fine i 1 steamers on the berth, both of 'which (the Alhambra and Omeo) made very successful trips. We always hail with pleasure the arrival' of fhe Gothenburg, and quite regard her in the light of an old friend, so long and so faitlifully has she served the port. She is again in the roadstead with a heavy freight of goods and passengers.^ Another •regular trader he s.s. Albion also put' in her periodical appearance during the month. The peculiar 1 features of the port renders an efficient tug service an indispensible necessity, and, until the commencement of the month, this want ' was well supplied by the Lioribss, Challenge, • Yarra, and Persevere. The first named was sent to Dunedin on the 25th ultimo, to be thoroughly repaired, and is expected to return again in the course of two months a new boat in every respect. This course was compulsory owing to her late mishap, and the port is thus deprived of the services of a most useful and powerful boat," peculiary fitted to work its dangerous bar. The disastrous accident to the Persevere is much regretted, as from her light draught, she has often been enabled to leave the river when the other harbor steamers were compelled' to keep inside. But the ar.rival of the p.s. Bruce, from Duuedin, after an absence of three months, lias made up the deficiency to a very great extent. This smart steamer, so long, and favorably known on the coast has just undergone a thorough overhaul at Dunedin, and returns, in first-rate working order. She will again take -up the Okarita trade, and when required to do so will be ready, as of old, to tender vessels in the .roadstead. The towage of the port is now attended to by the Challenge and Yarra alone, for although tho Bruce can manage a light bottom in moderate weather, and travel quickly besides, she is not the build for heavy work. The Yarra tows well for her power, and.is in great request by a certain class of vessels. She is a small boat, v and being well handled her efficiency is much increased. A very large proportion of the 1 passengers which arrive at this port are landed by her. For towing purposes alone the' Challenge is the main stay of the place, and has proved herself an able vessel in that respect. Her career lately has been fortunate in the extreme, and that it may continue so is wished by all, as a mishap to her would prove a real calamity to the port.

SHIPPING DISASTERS.

The month has not been free from casualties, and we much fear it ■will never be our good fortune to publish a clean sheet in the summary. In our last to chronicled the stranding of the p.s. Lioness, which vessel, when the mail left, was lying high and dry on the north spit, but within reach of the surf at high water. . Strenuous efforts were made to re-launch her, but it was not until the 16th that this was effected. Time after time she was screwed up and placed on ways, and as often washed off them again by the heavy surf. On the Bth she.was fearfully kribeke^d about, as the flood of the preceding day brokfe s through the spit, and cut a channel right under her, and for some time ■she hung by her head and . stern only, the whole of the midship section being unsupported. She afterwards settled down in the gap, nearly on a level with low water mark, and canted with her decks to the sea, a high perpendicular bank of sand being inside of her. There she lay for nearly twenty hours at the mercy of a pitiless surf, and when the agents and crew left her on the preceding evening, they fully expected to find her a total wreck the next day. But strauge to relate she, instead of breaking up, lifted' with the sea, and the following morning lay high anil dry at her original level, but much further removed from the action of the waves. No vessel could pass through such an ordeal without receiving serious damage, and the Lioness accordingly was much shaken, as her port broadside was started, and two of her bottom plates stove in. She was, however, patched up on the spit, and on the 16th re-launched into the river, her departure for Dunedin taking place on the 25th. Two mishaps attended the career of the Yarra during ,the month. The first happened on the "22nd, and was caused solely by her taking the bar somewhat late on tide. Fortunately, she floated at high water, none the worse for her close acquaintance with the sand. Her second mishap was attended by more serious results and may be attributed to the needless detention she experienced whilst attending upon the Claud Hamilton outside. This delayed her in the roadstead until the tide w«6 for gone, and on attempting to enter the river she took the ground nearly iq the place she formerly occupied, from which all attempts to move her proved vain. Three days were spent in fruitless efforts to hoave her into the channel, and at last the expensive alternative — an overland passage was determined upon. This work commenced on the Ist October, and on. the 10th the Yarra was cleverly launched into the river. * She received a- few trifling damages, which were made good whilst she lay ~ upon the spit. The stranding pf the Win. Miskin in Augus^ last is doubtless- fresh in the recollection of our readers, as we gave due notice of the occurrence in our last summary. She was released by a broadside launch into the channel from her awkward position on the North spit, on the 4th ultimo, not having suffered the slightest damage. The most serious disaster of the month is the stranding of the p.s. Persevere. On the Bth instant she returned from the Grey, and in attempting to enter the 'river very late on tide, grounded on* the South spit. Her position was very dangerous, and as "the attempts made to her off failed, it was at once decided to move her overland. But the weather was against her, as on the night of the 12th instant she was swept out to sea by a heavy flood, and for three hours was tossed " about in the surf, and then thrown upon - the beach again to all appearances a total "wreck. The ■ whole of her deck fittings having been earned away. The datnagV however, -was not«-so serious as at first supposed^ for at the survey afterwards held her hull was declared sound, and a verdict of condemnation refused. As in another column will be found full details of this catastrophe, we shall abstain from further comments here. Two serious shipping casualties happened at the port of Greymouth during the month, which resulted in the total loss of one vessel, and every probability that the second will share the same fate. On the 17th ult., the p.s. Persevere, having the schooner Excdlaiof in tow, attempted to cross the bar inwards. A heavy sea was running at the time, -which swept both vessels to the southwards of the entrance, and before the lost ground could be Trained, both were deposited on the South Beach. The steamer was afterwards . released, but " the Excelsior went to pieces, and nothing now remains of her but a "fe"w timbers. On the 21st, thai; well»known West Coast trader, the Thane, also came to grief whilst attempting to leave the Grey with a heavy cargo of coal on board. She stranded on the North Spit, j and hag riot yet boes released. We hear the

damage sustained is very serious, and that very little hope of her floating again is ontertained. ME WEATHEK AKD BAB. The weather during the month lias been magnificent, and tho rainfall much bolow tho average : bright sunny days and clear braoing nights have predominated, although tho coast was visited by passing showers, and twice heavy rain flooded tho river, and rendered the" bar impassable. The fifst freshet came down on tho 7th ult., and nearly settled tho Lionossj the' second, which was tho heaviest flood of the yoar, happened on tho 11th and 12th inst., and laid a, great portion of the town under water, and carried tho Persevere out to sen. On tho 6th and 7th ultimo a heavy "sea silled up the bar to such an extent that neither of tho harbor steamers could cross it, and in conWqueneo tho s.s. Gothenburg was detailed for forty-eight hours. From the Bth to tho ,11th idtimo the channel kept in excellent condition, and then was closed^ up by a westerly sea until the I.3th, in tholnieantime causing, serious detention to the s.s. Egmont. The ! entrance then kept open for six days, but was again blocked up by a- westerly gale and sea 'on the 19th. On the previous day tho s.s. ; Rangitoto arrived from Melbourne with 125 jpassengers on board. She was unable to land ; them,, and as thero was no appearance of a i change in the weather, she pushed on to Nel!son and transhipped into the Lord Ashley, 'which vessel arrived here on the 21st, and after a day's detention, succeeded in effecting a transhipment. From the 22nd ultimo to the 2nd iustant tho port kept open, when it was again blocked by the sea, and kept the brigantines Mary, Lizzie Coleson, Lady Darling, and Isabella, waiting outside until the end of that week. The heavy flood on the 11th and 12th, which was followed-by. the heavy sea which prevailed on Saturday and yesterday, once -more shut hi the harbor steamers, just at a time when their services were much required 4 to tow- the Alma and •Clarendon inside, and attend upon tho Gothenburg and Egmont, both of which have already suffered forty-eight hours' detention.