SHIPPING SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 579, 2 August 1867, Page 4

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

The month jusfc passed will long be remembered by the HoMtikians, as one of great bustle and immense excitement, so far as shipping is concerned, the port having been fairly rushed by the heavy fleet of vessels which — unable to gain the river when they first arrived — had collected in the roadstead. At the date of our last summary's publication there were seven vessels at anchor off the bar, all heavy craft from Melbourne and Sydney. Towards the middle of the month this fleet had increased to a no less number than twentyfive, including steamers and small coasting craft. Amongst these were the Ceres, Frederic, Esperanza, Ocean Wave, Mary Cummings, Leonidas, Gratitude, and Sarah and Mary, all heavy vessels from Melbourne, as also the Dancing Wave, Glencoe, and Bella Vista from Hobarton, and the Bungaree and Hector from Adelaide. The detention of bo many vessels, many of them laden with perishable cargoes of produce created the utmost consternation on shore, especially as an idea became prevalent that the port would keep closed until the spring floods came down to open it. Never before was the roadstead watched and the weather studied so closely by those parties directly interested in the bar bound fleet than during this anxious period, which happily terminated on the 17th when the bar opened sufficiently to admit the Christina Thompson and Dancing Wave which were the first vessels to tow in through the North Channel since latter part of June. But during the previous fortnight a few light draught vessels favored by high tides, and a fair South Channel managed to reach the lagoon, and there discharged cargoes into lighters. The Jane Lockhart from Sydney was the first to tow in, her arrival taking place on the 2nd. The next day ' there was a capital bar and a good tide's work would have resulted but for a mishap to the Yarra, which grounded coming in with the ketch Cymraes behind her, and so blocked up the channel. The Challenge towed in the Annie Moore a few minutes beforehand, and afterwards, at great risk, got the Rambler inside. The Yarra and Cymraes hauled off the following tide, and the fair way was once more clear, but until the 6th was rendered iinpassable'by the heavy surf. On that day the bar smoothed, and the "slant" was not lost by the Challenge, which towed in the^. Alma and Lizzie ' Coleson, respectively from Melbourne and Sydney. Several vessels outward bound also crossed the bar. Heavy gales from S.W. and N.W. that sent home a terrific surf, prevailed during the 7th, Bth, and 9th, and shut the port again. On tbe7th the'Alhambra arrived from Melbourne.and was detained until the 10th, on which day the Gothenburg, also from Melbourne, put in an appearance. The gale and sea had by this time abated, but the bar being silted up, the Yarra was unable to tender them, bo t.ho agents summoned from Greymouth the light; draught steamer Persevere, which arrived in due course, and landed the mail 3 and passengers in the lagoon, but not without incurring great risk, as she dragged heavily when crossing the bar. Her presence was very opportune, as next day the steamers Otago and Phoßbe arrived, and sent their mails on shore by the little steamer, which did not land their passengers, being fully employed lighteriag the Alhambra of her cargo. The 11th was marked by the lowest tide we ever remember at this port, as the flood barely rose three fept, keeping the Yarra a prisoner inside. Next day, however, she made" a desperate attempt to reach the roadstead, and succeeded, using the North channel which had not been attempted by any vessel since the mishap to the Lioness in June. She tended the Otago, Phoebe and Gothenburg, and the two former and the Alhambra left the same day for their respective destinations. It was well that no time was lost in despatching them, as the bar silted up again on the 13th, barely permitting the entrance of the s.s. Kennedy, drawing four feet six inches, and the Persevere of a like draught. On this day, the steamer Tasmanian Maid, a vessel that for months previously had pursued a very useful- career on this coast, left for the North, with the intention of not returning until the spring floods effected a permanent change for the better in the approaches to the port. Meanwhile the roadstead fleet had increased to proportions above mentioned, no vessel having towed in since the 6th, whilst many had arrived from Melbourne and other places. But their deliverance was nigh at hand, for on the 13th a warm rain commenced falling, and must have melted a great deal of snow on the mountains, as a heavy flood came down next day, and continued during the 15th, again shutting the bar, but at the same time worked a wonderful change in the North channel, which ran straight out; to sea, and looked both wide and deep. A heavy north gale had, however, sot in, on the' 16th, and raised a hqavy surf that closed the port to inward bounders until the 17th, a memorable day— as the spell that had so long enthralled the port, was broken in right earnest, by the Arrival of the Christina Thomson and Dancing Wave in the river, via the' long unused (for towing purpokes) North Channel. The good work thus commenced was not fated to proceed uninterruptedly as a heavy Westerly gale blew up next day closing the port until the 30th. Then it broke, and the channel. being excellent eight vessels were towed in on that day and the next, to the immense delight of every

soul in Hokitika. The 22nd and 23rd witnessed the arrival of others, but not we regret to say unattended by mishap. A heavy sea again closed the bar on the 24th, and as there was every appearance of bad weather the s.s. Wallaby which had arrived outside with cattle from Wanganui was sent to Greymouth to discharge, and the steamer Southland, which also arrived at the same time, was ordered back to the Buller. The s.s. Kennedy,' another arrival, on this inauspicious day, made a dash at the south bar and came to grief on the middle bank, on which she remained thirty ' hours, and then hove off -again uninjured. The, river continued ipaccessable on the 26th and 27th, owing to shallow water, and on the 28th a heavy Nor'West gale commenced, bringing up much rain. The breeze lulled on the 29th, but the effects of this weather were perceptible in a heavy surf, and the flooded condition of the. river, which discharged an immense volume of muddy water that discolored the sea for nearly two miles from shore. A singular^change in the weather took place on the 30th, as on that day the wind chopped round to S.E. and blew" a perfect hurricane dead off the land. This beat the sea down and on the following day the tugs again commenced work, and reduced the roadstead fleet to two, the Valiant and Mary Anne. These were safely towed in yesterday, together with the brigantine Seabird, just arrived from Launceston, and for the first time for many weeks the roadstead last night was clear of sailing vessels. Last month's shipping business compares very favorably with many that preceded it, ninety-nine vessels having passed through the custom-house. Of these fifty-three entered in, and forty-four clearefl out. Under the head of foreign and coastwise the customs returns shew that twenty-eight arrived from foreign parts, and twenty-four coastwise, whilst sixteen sailed foreign, and thirtycoastwise. The majority of the foreign arrivals were from Melbourne, which sent up three steamers, the Alhambra, Gothenburg, and Otago, and sixteen sailing vessels. From Sydney only one steamer, the Claud Hamilton, and three sailing craft arrived, which leaves a tremendous balance in in favor of Melbourne. Trade with Tasmania has been well maintained four smart sailing craft, produce laden, having arrived from Hobart Town, and two from Launceston. Adelaide has sent us up two cargoes of breadstuffs in the brigantines Hector and Bungaree. Of the sixteen bottoms that cleared foreign, four steamers, and five sailing craft left for Melbourne, two under canvas for Sydney, three for Jffobart Town and one for Guam. The coasting trade has declined • greatly during the month ; the falling off being one of the effects of the impassable state of the bar. Only twentyfour coasters entered in, two being schooners from Christchuroh, and another from Dunedin. Excepting two or three of the Panama Company's steamers, the Nelson steamer, Kennedy, and the Dunedin trader Keera ; the remainder comprised small craft engaged in the West Coast coasting trade. The departures coastwise numbered twenty-nine, of which two sailed for Christchurch, and one for Dunedin. The balance may be classed as in the case of the arrvials.

SHIPPING DISASTEES.

The month has not been free from mishap to skipping, but, considering the immense disadvantage under which the port has been worked, and the hurry-scurry attending the arrival and departure of so many vessels on a tide, consignees may consider themselves singularly fortunate in this respect. Again, we are constrained to speak in the highest terms of the splendid service rendered by the harbor steamers, which were handled on many trying occasions in a manner never surpassed in this or any other port. But skill availed but little when the draught of the vessels in tow exceeded the depth of water on" the bar, and through this cause the schooner Gratitude came to grief on the North Spit, when towing in astern of the Lioness on the 22nd ult. Both the Lioness and Challenge worked hard to release her, but without suocess, and she afterwards became a total wreck and was sold at auction for Ll9. A great part of her cargo was saved, undamaged, but much of it was lo9t. No later than the following day the barque Frederic was cast ashore close to the other. She also was towing in, and behind the same steamer; and although both tugs struggled hard to pull her off into deep water she refused to budge. A very valuable cargo of case and bonded goods was, we are happy to say, landed by dray, in excellent order, as at low water the old craft lay high and dry. She was also sold at auction, and fetched L9o,"but the bargain provod a dear one to the purchaser, as she washed off the Spit and sunk in the channel, and afterwards hove up on the side of the middle bank, where Bhe J now lies, a worthless mass of timber and old iron. A small coasting schoooner named the Alice was also wrecked on the 18th, and her crew escaped death by a miracle. Sha happened to be caught, whilst at anchor, by the heavy westerly gale of that date, and her cable parting, she made for the rivor. But when in the bi;oak a heavy roller turned hor bottom up, and the crew of three men were washed out of her, but succeeded in regaining the hull which they cling to with dispairing energy until washed close into the beacli, when two or three brave fellows rushed into the surf with lines and rescued them. They were much exhausted, one being insensible when taken ashore. A few mishaps of minor oonBequenee occurred during the month, but do not demand special mention, The port of Greymouth has not been free from casualties, as the old Harriett was totally wrecked there on the 26th, and the steamer Halcyon stranded on the North Beach the previous day. At the Buller the N. Z. Co's s.s. Ahuriri piled up whilst attempting to enter about a fortnight since, and will have to be conveyed overland at a heavy expense.