Australia.—East Coast.

West Coast Times, Issue 354, 10 November 1866, Page 2

Australia.—East Coast.

temporary light on gatcombe dead, port curtis. The Government of Queensland has given notice that a temporary light, fifty feet above the sea, has recently been established on that part of Gatcombe Head north-west of the Oyster l?ock, entrance to Port Curtis. Vessels entering Port Curtis at night by the north channel, nhouLl bring the light to bear about S.W. by W. £ W., being careful to keep it well opun of Settlement Point, in order to avoid the rocks extending from that point. LIGHT VESSEL AT UPPER FLATS, FTTZROY BIVEIt. A Light Vessel has also been moored head and stern, in the position of the large black buoy, at tho crossing place in the Upper Flat 3 in Fit/.roy River.

The p.s. Nelson, Captain Whitwell, left Nelson at 9 p.m. on the 6th insf., with light variable weather. After clearing the Sand Spit she encountered a heavy westerly swell, which prevailed during her run to the Buller. Arrived thereon the evening of the 7 th, and after discharging 30tous of cargo and landing 16 pasfiengeifs, left agaiu at 9 p.m. on the Bth. Was abreast of Greymouth early next morning, and steamed over the bar at 8 a.m. Landed a few passengers and discharged cargo, and left at 9 a.m., and arrived at Hokitika by noon. The Nelson brought a few tons of mixed cargo and 30 passeiigers for Hokitika. She sails again for Greymouth, Buller and Nelson 10-day. The A.S.N.Company's s.s. Tiuonee, Captain Fitzsimmons, left Sydney at noon on October 26ih, bound to this port. During the first fifty hours she experienced strong south and southeast winds, and a high cross sea ; the remainder of the ]jassage being mai'ked by light easterly weather. She was thus unable to use her canvas, and made the greatest part of the run under steam only, notwithstanding which the New Zealand coast was sighted on the morning of the 2nd instant, and the roadstead reached tho same afternoon The heavy flood of that date prevented any communication with her, save by signal, and the following day she in company with the s.s. Alhambra was driven to sea by a tremendous N.W. gale. She remained off' the coast battling- with the gale until the 4th, when fearing from the appearance of the weather that tho river would be inaccessible for some days she bore up for Nelson to fill up water, and arrived there at 5 p.m. on sth. Remained in port the next day, leaving again at 6 a m. on the 7th, with light variable winds, and on arriving outside the Sandapit found a heavy S.W. swell rolling up, which continued until her arrival oh" Hokitika at noon on the Bth. Captain Tumbull, the harbormaster, then boarded hurin the p.s. Yurra, and remained on board that night, and next morning undertook the rather ticklish job of piloting her across the bar. Favored, however, by a splendid entrance and .smooth water, tliib lie ckverly accomplished, and the Tinonec steamed in capital style up the river, and moored at the wharf immediately above the old waterman's stairs. She brings 45 tons of general cargo un.i 65 pa-scngers. The arrival of this fine steamer may be as quite an era in the annals of Hokitika, as she is the largest vessel that ever entered the river. Her groat length excited considerable apprehension that bhe would be unable to run the gauntlet between the spits, where the channel is narrow and intricate, and a very sharp turn must be made to gain the fairway. But she proved quite equal to the emergency, and passed the dangerous point without so much as touching ground, although once it seemed to us that her bow would take the South Spit and her stern the North. It was then that the immense advantages- possessed by twin screws were made manifest, as by reversing her engines she slued smartly on lurheel, and once head to current her saiety was assured, and the credit of the port maintained. TheTinouee is an iron vessel, of colonial build, having been constructed in Sydney, at the A.S.N. Company's yard, where every part, machinery included, was put together. She is a handsome iraft, long, well lined, and easily handled, and has on more than once occasion, proved herself a good sea boat in bad weather, and a fast traveller to boot. She is a new vessel, having only left the stocks some eight months ago, and has since been employed trading between Rockhampton and northern ports. Her dimensions are as follow: — Length over all, 193 feet, beam 21 feet, deptli of hold 10 feet, her gross burden being 297 tons, and. 265 tons register. She is propelled by twin screws, which are driven by a pair of 20-horse power direct-acting engines, provided with racing gear and all the latest improvements. The passenger accommodation fore and aft is very fair, the saloon beii.g well fitted aud exceedingly comlortable, with a ladies' room abaft all, whilst the second class passengers are well cared for in a capacious and wed ventilated cabin forward. The officers are berthed in houscvi on deck, the crew in v. . forecastle below, Amongst her deck fittings we noticed a couple of powerful steam winches and a patent capstan for getting the anchor and doing other heavy work. It is \wy evident that no expense wiis spared in her construction, and, ro guard against the danger winch it is supposed caused the wreck of the London, her engineroom and cabin hatchways are fitted with a contrivance which, in the etent of a heavy sea smashing in the skylights, prevents the water from finding its way below. The plan is very simple, merely consisting of a couple of angle irons, which are bolted to and along the com bingo inside, exactly opposite each other. Two ledges of iron are thus formed, perforated with holes, some six or eight inches ap i t, to which in ba«l weather aro bolted strong planks that extend across the aperture of the hatchway, and completely close it. Whilst we admit that the Tinonee is a unartf and sightly veisol, and

ono that would do credit to tho port, we yet are fain to confess that blio is not the build for vVentland wa crs, being too long by 10 feet. Notwithstanding that eho made a good entry yesterday, which we trust will be followed by as successful an exit, we strongly adviso the company not to risk her again in attempting so hazardous an experiment. Sho ia too valuable a vessel to be made ducks and drakes of, and cortainly would prove rather an awkwaru customer to convey overland.

The fears which were entertained for the safety of schooner Isabella Jack sou were hajipih removed by her arrival in the river yesterday. She has made a remarkably long passage, having left Christchurch on October 12th. A succession of gales and head winds was tho ciinse of her detention, and once she was driven to seek shelter 'in Port UndorwooJ, where she remained for six *days. The Isabella was towed across the bar by the Yarra. She brings a full general cargo. We retrret that we have to announce the

striiuding ofthe. (iue schooner Maid of Erin at Grevinouth. She arrived off this port from Melbourne, on Tuesday last, and was dispatched by Iter owners (Messrs Spence Bros.) to Greymouth, under orders to wait in the roads' cad until the Challenge was sent up to low her in. Her. captain, however, apparently anxious to stive time, attempted to run in under canvas yesterday morning, and unfortunately plumped his vessel ashore on the North Spit, close to the wreck of the s.s Thane. At the same time, it appears, her position is not desperate, as Oapt. Coleson, the Grey Harbor Muster, telegraphed to Captain Turnbull that, providing the weather kept flue, there w s every probability she would be released at high water this morning.

Mr Gille3, the purser, and ten of the shipwrecked crew belonging to the ill-fated Keera. arrived in Hokitika yesterday by the p.s. Nelson, and we are requested by them to convey to Captain Whitwell their earnest and heartfelt thanks for the sympathy and kindness they received at his hands. Ou hearing that they intended proceeding to Hokitika, he immediately ottered them a free passage from the Buller, which was most thankfully accepted ; and during the trip their unfortunate position was ameliorated by many acts of kindness on the part of the worthy captain, who, during his lo~n«; and successful career on this coast, has won for himself golden opinions from all who have been brought in contact with him. From Mr Gilles we have obtained the following particulars relating \6 the loss of tho Keera: — She left this port bound to the Buller via Greymouth on October 31st, and arrived at the latter j,ort the next morning, leaving again with a number of passengers, and a fair freight the same evening. Weather permitting she purposed calling at the Pakihi to land passengers and cargo, but on breasting the Cove, found so heavy a sea running that the idea was abandoned, aud she accordingly steamed on for the Buller. At 1.30 p.m. on the 2nd inst. she was off the river, and stood in to look at the entrance, but fearing that the tide was too young she returned to the roadstead, and waited for half an hour. At 2 p.m. she ran in again, and essayed to cross the bar ; but through keeping rather far to the south she grounded on the Spit close to the edge of Lhe channel. A pilot then boarded her and took charge, and shortly afterwards she floated. In backing off the bauk her wheel-chains parted which mishap placed her at the mercy of the current for a few moments. She was, however, soon got under command again, and would have gained the river safely had not some misunderstanding existed respecting the la} of the channel. The pilot insisted it was to the northwar.l, and headed her accordingly the result being that she went ashore on the North Spit, s"ine distance from the river mouth, aud tho heavy sea there running sent her high up on the beach. She remained hard and fast during the following day, but on the next an usually high tide floated her, and preparations to heave her off were made, when it wa»fouud that she was leaking desperately, and in a short time there was no less than four feet of water in the hold. This, of course, was decisive, and left but one course open to prevent her sinking, and accordingly warps were run out ahead, and the Keera was hove up as high as possible on the beach, and there she lies very much injured, tho chance of her ever floating again being very faint indeed. She was at once dismantled, after which the majority of the crew were discharged, and arrived 1 ere tis above stated, the captain, chief oiticer, and first and second steward remaining by the wreck. The stranding of this useful vessel ia a serious loss to the Westland trade, for which he was peculiarly fitted. For many months she has been on the berth between this port and Dunedin, and under the skillful command of Captain Joyce her career was eminently successful, and to that gentleman and her owners, Messrs Carc\ and Giiles, wo tender our sincerest regrets that so serious a loss has befallen them. The barque Bella Vista sailed from lfobart Town at 5 am. October 27th, with hghl northerly v>nuls aud Hue w<.-urhi-r. Up to the l.st instant carried moderate breezes from N.N.E. to N., but on that date a heavy gale ajtrung up from lhe N.K. afterwards shifting rouml to N W., and finally settled into S.W., and blew furiously, cau.-iug a trenienduouß sea, which compelled the, barque to heave- to for neiu'ly ten days. At noon on the 4th, the gale having moderated, sail was made, and the New Zeahuid coast sighted about Greymouth in the afternoon : on the following day came to an anchor off Hokitika. Through the bar being impassable to vessels of her burden and draught she was kept outside until the 9(h,-when the Challenge towed her to the wharf. The Bella Vista is laden with a mixed cargo consisting chiefly of produce, and thirteen horses stalled in the mainhold. She also brought three passengers. The p s. Persevere made a trial trip ro the Lagoon and back again jesterday, and we were glad to notice the little boat once more under steam. She works as well or indeed better than ever, and her repairs being completed, is prepared to resume her usual duties to-day. We trust that a long career of prosperity is before her.

The brigantine Jane Lockhart left Sydney on the 20th ult., with light northerly "winds and fine weather. When clear of the land, the wind fell scant, and continued variable up to the 24th, when it settled into the westward, and kept steady from S.W. by W. to W.N.W. until the 27th, and then chopped to S. and S.E , and for a few hours blew a hard gale, with a very high sea, which kept the brigautiue's decks awash. On the following day the gale lulled, and during the remainder of the run across moderate westerly weather prevailed. Bold Head was sighted on the 3rd iust., aud the roadstead reached the same day, but rhe heavy N. VV. gale of that date drove her to sea again, where she lay-to for the night under storm-canyas in a tremendous sea, which maJe a dean breach over her. .On the 4th, a change for the better took place, but the next day Hie gale lreshened •up agaiu once more, bringing her down to small sail. On the 6th, the tveather cleared up, and fell very light, and as the Jane Lockhart had been s»vept far 10 tho northward, it was not until the Bth that ahe Miccucded in gaining the roadstead, ,uucl towed over the bar next morning astern of the Challenge. She bungs a full general cargo. The brigantiue Northern Light sailed from Hobson's Bay on October 25th with light N.W. winds and line weather. Passed through Port Philip Heads the following day, and on -the 28th cleared the straits, taking her last departure from the Sisters at noon. Steady j westerly breezes prevailed until the 3rd iust., on which day at. noon the wind suddenly freshened, and in an hour or two was blowing a whole gale, compelling the brigantine to reduce canvas to double reef topsad aud foresail. That night and the following day she drove before it, followed by a tremendous sea, which so much increased, that to save her from being pooped, she was brought to the wind on the evening of the sth. Towards midnight, the weather moderating, she was kept away, and the next morning made tho land about Bold Head, and anchored off tht> bar in the afternoon. A heavy surf and shallow

channel forbade her entering the river unti tho 9th, when she towed in astern of the Challenge. The Northern Light brings a full gene-nl cargo. She reports speaking the barque Alma, bound Wot, in lot. 50deg. llmin. S. longitude 16adeg. E, all well on board. Articles Recovered from the Cawarra. — On Saturday last, several more articles were recovered from the wreck of the Cawarra, among which wns a steam winch worth about LIDO. The remaining articles were chiefly copper pipes, brass cocks, &c. Mr Nicliol, the diver,- w-i8 down fully six hours on Saturday. Yesterday, he went down again, but owing to the strong wind blowing and tide running he was not. able to remain under water so long us on Saturday by a couple of hours or so. The principal articles, recovered yesterday were some waggon and cart wheels. A number of other small things were got up, which, however, it would be only tedious to particularise. There was no ono article of any considerable value recovered yesterday. An impression, we understand, prevails abroad that Mr Nicliol has either seen into or actually entered the steamer's cabin. The impression is entirely an erroneous one, the cabin being too much silted up with sand to admit of anything of the kind being done, at all events for the present. The engine-room of the vessel has been entered by the diver, who informs us that every part of the machinery visible is in just as good order us when the steamer was alloat. As we have before stated, lhe two boilers are quite detached from the main portion of the wreck, and, in the opinion of Mr Nichol, can be raised when the requisite appliances aro in readiness with, comparatively speaking, little trouble. One boiler rests on its side, and the other is standing on its end. It is the former one that has already been slung, and is now quite ready for lifting. Advantage is being taken of the present smooth water to get up all the small articles lying about the wreck. Should rough weather come, the company will then turn their attention to perfecting the arrangements for lifting the heavier portions of the vessel's machinery. — " Newcastle Chronicle," October 24.