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West Coast Times, Issue 588, 13 August 1867, Page 2

The P.N.Z. and A.X.M. Co's s.s. Phoebe, Captain Wheeler, arrived in the roadstead yesterday morning from Auckland, via Welligton and Nelson. She was tendered by the Persevere yesterday, and sails for Bluff Harbor and Dunedm this morning. We have received neither papers nor report from the Phcebe, this omission being doubtless caused by the hurry of transhipment. It is to be regretted, na we expected late intelligence concerning the reported discovery of gold in the Thames district. Strange to say, fiie Phoebe brings no Auckland or Nelson mail, and "only light bags from Wellington and Picton. The M.A. and N.Z.S.S.Co.'s s.s. Gothenburg, Captain Underwood, left Hobson's Bay at 4 p.m. on the 6th instant. Cleared Port Philip Heads at 6.40 p.m., and the Straits at 11 p.m. next day. Experienced moderate S.E. winds and a heavy southerly swell during the passage, sighted Mount Cook at 6 a.m. on the 11th, and anchored off the bar afc noon. The Gothenburg brings sixty passengers and forty-five tons of cargo. The passengers and mails were landed last night by the Persevere, and the cargo transhipped to the lighter Isabella. The Gothenburg will sail for Melbourne direct this morning. The s.s. Kennedy arrived at Greymouth from Nelson on Sunday night, and having only alight cargo on board f » Hokitika, will, we believe, discharge it there, and not extend her trip as usual to this port. Proverbially a lucky boat, and ene that many a time and oft has worked the bar under the moßt unfavorable circumstances without serious calamity befalling her, the Challenge has at last come to grief, and for the first time in her Hokitika career has fairly " piled up " on the beach. This disaster occurred yesterday morning, whilst she was sounding the channel preparatory to towing out some of the vessels that have so long been waiting for an opportunity to put to sea. The appearance of the bar was not very favorable, as the volume of the river being much ehrunken by the late frosts, lacked power to scour the channel, but as Sunday's tide was worked successfully, and tke surf in the meantime had much decreased, it was naturally expected that the channel would be no less navigable yesterday, especially as the tides were making towards the springs. The bar, however, must have silted up, for the tug scarcely cleared the j river before . she grounded on the outer point of the middle bank, and clung to the ground so tenaciously that, despite the full- power of her engines turned astern, she refused to budge, and in ten minutes was hove up with her port paddle out of water and a heavy list seawards. She lay in a very exposed position, but, fortunately, the eurf was light, so no damage resulted to her, not a wrinkle being perceptable in her copper when the tide ebbed. Preparations were at once commenced for an effort to heave her off on last night's tide, a warp being run out to the wreck Gratitude, and another to one of the old steam boilers embedded in the beach, A powerful winch wa» erected on board the wrook, and plenty of uandi engaged by Memra brow Bwfow*i on 4 wtfer \h ewMmk

ence of the harbor-master, who with his crew was busily engaged during the afternoon in preliminary works, theymanned the winoh and the Gratitude's windlass, and soon hovo the warp out of water. The hands on board the Challenge were not idle, as proved by the taut appearance of the other warp, which had been taken to the tug's windlass. Subjected to so heavy a purchase, she began to move shortly before high water, and ere the tide was gone had forgod ahead her own length, exciting high hopes that her release would be offectcd on this morning's, tide, when the work will recommence. Providing the sea keeps down, we have no fear for the safety of the Challenge, and believe she will get off this morning, if the heaviuggear holds good ; but if the sea gets up, an overland journoy will bo unavoidable, if indeed she does not go to pieces. The non-arrival of the s.s. Alhambra was accounted for yesterday by a telegram received by the agents, Messrs Eoyse, Mudie and Co., which set forth that the good steamer did not leave Dunedin until last Saturday night, instead of the preceding Thursday, as announced by us in a former issue. She may be expected to-morrow morning. The tides work had barely commenced when it was brought to an untimely end yesterday morning, by the Challenge's mishap. The Yarra had shipped passengers for the Otago, and was slowly dropping down the river on her way out, but observing the fate of the former vessel, Captain Nichol prudently backed his engines, and regained the wharf, as it was too evident the bar was very shallow, if not, quite unworkable. An attempt to cross it was not considered justifiable, and accordingly the Otago and Gothenburg would have been condemned to a further detention, but for the opportune arrival of the Persevere, which had been called up from Greymoiith by her agent. The little steamer arrived betimes, and during the day transhipped all passengers from the above steamer, and also from the Phoebe which arrived early in the forenoon. Their cargoes were discharged into the Isabella, which has now cargoes from four vessels on board — the Claud Hamilton, Otago, Phoebe, and Gothenburg. The north channel became rather worse during the day, whilst a decided improvement was perceptible in the old south entrance, and this determined the agents, Messrs Royse, Mudie and Co., to signal the Persevere to attempt it at high water last night, and the beacons being illuminated she did so with entire success, reaching the lagoon with her living freight of nearly 120 souls in safety. She also landed the Gothenburg's and Phoebe's mails. This morning she takes out passengers to the three boats, which will then sail for their respective destinations — the Otago to Nelson, the Phoobe to the Bluff, and tho old Goth on her way to Melbourne. But for the good service rendered by the useful Persevere, we should not be in a position to say so much. We last night received a communication from Okarita concerning the schooner Martha and Lavinia, which we announced in a former issue as having arrived at the above port from Melbourne on the 25th ult. She lay outside until the 3rd inst., waiting for an opportunity to cross the bar, and then essayed the attempt, but stuck fast upon the South Spit, remained a short time, and was then washed off, and on to the North Spit by a heavy roller. She lay there during that night, and next morning hove off and proceeded up the lagoon, but again unfortunately grounded on a patch opposite Bruce Bank, and had not succeeded in getting afloat up to the date of our communication, the 9th inst. The Martha Lavinia is desciibed as a very superior vessel of her class, being a bran new Tasmanian built craft, faithfully put together. She is topsail rig and sails well, and when loaded draws seven feet six inches of water. Notwithstanding her rough handling going into Okarita, she is tight as a bottle, and turned her cargo out in first-rate order. The following particulars aro given by the San Francisco papers of the lately reported discovery of an important island in the Pacific in the track of vessels bound for California * to China : — " The island is about 1500 milo3 from the coast, and in latitude of Cape Mendocino. The story goes that the captain of the barque "Washington, being on a voyage from the Sandwich Islands, bound to the northern coast, when in about 40deg. north latitude, found, while running in a fog, that the water had changed color, but there not being any land laid down in his chart, it did not strike him at first that he was on soundings. After a time he ordered out the lead and found deep water ; and as he sailed along and sounded, he found the water shoaling until he got into ten fathoms, when lie commenced to look for land, and after a while discovered through the fog an island, along which he coasted for some forty miles. The island was not laid down on his chart, and on inquiry after his arrival here could nob find that anyone else knew of land thereabouts. The latitude of tho reported discovered land is 40deg. 30min. north, and the longitude 151 deg. west. Tho captain did not land and take possession of the island, but report states that the Federal authorities have telegraphed the facts to Washington, and asked for instructions as to the sending a national vessel in search of the reported discovery. If this report should prove to have foundation in fact, and the United States Government, get possession of the island, it would be a convenient stopping place for vessels coming from the China coast and sailing on the norther circie. It might also be made available as a coaling station for the China Bteamers on their voyage from Yokohama, which, if we recollect aright, is in about 52 deg. of north latitude." The clipper ships Chariot of Famo and Queen of the South ran a most excellent race from Liverpool to Melbourne, having left •within half-an-hour of each other on the 24th April, and arrived at Port Phillip simultaneously on the 29th ult. When off Capo Leuwin they sighted each other, and from that time they kept in company a distance of 1200 miles, sometimes running at tho rate of thirteen knots an hour. The race is described as having been very exciting to the passengers.