SHIPPING SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 591, 16 August 1867, Page 2

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Shipping business during the fortnight just expired has been anything but brisk, owing partly to the weather, and greatly to the blocked condition of the port, and also to a scarcity of vessels, for the entire fleet of Westland traders having arrived in a lump last month, left again almost simultaneously, and are yet scarcely due on their return. Ono or two of the earlier departures are, however, daily expected, the brigantine Mary for one, and those regular traders the Alma and Jane Lockhart. During the fortnight commencing on the 2nd inst. and endingyesterday thirty-one vessels have passed the Custom-house, twelve inwards and twenty outwards. Of the inward bounders three only were from foreign ports — viz., the good steamers Otago and Gothenburg from Melbourne direct, and the steamer Alhambraj from Melbourne via Dunedin. The three boats brought- up between them 460 passengers and 165 tons of cargo. The passengers were landed safely by the stoamers Yarra and Persevere, the latter especially doing good service, but the cargo is still in the roadstead, having been transhipped to the Isabella, which has not yet been able to get inside, in consequence of a shallow bar. A portion of the Alhambra's cargo that was not transhipped lacking stowageroom in the lighter, will he landed this morning by the Persevere, the little vessel having run out yesterday to load up. The greatest number of the immigrants (250) arrived by the Otago. The remainder of the arrivals, nine in number, entered in from coast ports ; one, the schooner Caledonia, being from Dunedin, and another, the Day-Dawn, from Auckland. The former was loaded with general merchandise, the latter with North Islands produce. Five arrived from Westland ports, one from Nelson (the Claud Hamilton), and one (the Phoebe), from Manukau v The last two brought little, either in the way of freight or pasaengsrs. Twenty vessels cleared for sea, seven of them foriforeign ports; three, the Mary Cumming, Maid of Erin, and Gothenburg, being bound for Melbourne, the brigantine Hannah Newton and s.s. Claud Hamilton, for Sydney j the brigantine Scabird, for Newcastle, and the schooner Stormbird, for Launceeton. Of the coastwise craft, the Caledonia returned to Dunedin, the steamers Otago, Phcebe, and Airedale left respectively for Nelson, the Bluff, and Wellington, the balance of departures being for West Coast ports. The West Coast coasting trade continues very slack, which is one of the effects of the impracticable state of this port and the glutted condition of the Buller market, which was swamped by the four hundred tons of cargo that arrived there last month from Melbourne, in the barque Nightingale. The coal trade with Greymouth, once so flourishing, has been wretchedly kept up, and as a result the price of that commodity has advanced nearly one hundred per cent., and the primitive wood fire again holds sway in Hokitika. This scarcity is due in a great measure to the difficulty of obtaining coal at the pit, although it must be confessed our unfortunate bar has something to do with it — tbe colliers declining to run the risk attending the sojourn of a heavily laden vessel in the roadstead. No communication has been held by ecu with tho southern coast ports, the necessity not having arisen ; neithor is it likely for some time to come, Melbourne having sent up nearly seventy tons of merchandise to Okarita in the schooner Martha and Lavinia, which arrived at her destination on the 3rd instant. The steamer Bruce, however, loft yesterday^on her periodical visit to the south, but very'lightly laden. She will extend her trip to Jackson's Bay, calling at Okarita on her return. The port has not yet received a visit from the brigantine Clara, one of last mouth's weather and bar bound fleet. She has, however, been heard of, and is now, we believe, in Nelson, where she proceeded to repair damages sustained in this roadstead during heavy weather. Her arrival is uncertain, and may not be expected until the bar improves. At present there are eight sail in the roadstead, all with one exception inward bound, tho odd vessel being the s.b. Alhambra. The rest are coasters, three of them, the Mary Van Every, the Lloyd's Herald, and Stormbird, from Dunedin. The others are the Emma Eliza, coal laden, from Greymouth, tho Emerald, from Kaiapoi, and two schooners names unknown. They will, we hope, tow inside either to-day or to-morrow.

THB WEATHER AHD BAB.

August commenced with very inclement weather, the period extending from tho 3rd to the Bth having been marked by gales and much ram. On the 3rd, bad weather set in from N.W., being heralded by an ominous fall in barometers, which sunk to below 29. Rain fell steadily during tho night, and next day a terrific gsle came in from W.N.W,, freshening in fmioui tquftUs, that tfawtwd to tew the

shipping from the wharf. The river was torn up into short angry waves, that dashed tho vessels together, and excited the utmost alarm amongst the crews, who hurriedly ran out extra moorings, and took other measures to secure the tier, as it was placed in great jeopardy by this sudden onslaught of old Boreas. The atmosphere was surcharged with electricity, apparent in the sharp lightning and thunder squalls which invariably preceded each burat of the gale, whilst hail, rain, and biting sleet proved most disagreeable accompaniments. A short deceitful lulToceurred on the sth, when the gale came on with renewed violence, exciting fears amongst tho weather-wise that no permanent change- would take place until the full nioon. This opinion was warranted by the barometers, which kept at a very low level, some glasses marking 28' 88', whilst those of tho highest range stood at from 29-20* to 29 30 only. Such a gale produced a frightful surf that effectually closed the port, and made further inroads upon the North-beach, rendering the removal of many buildings necessary, and threatening Beach street with anihilation. At last, on tho Bth, the gale which had hung between South and N.W. fairly broke, and was succeeded by a night of sharp frost, in its turn, followed by a morning unparalled in splendor, as for the first time for many days the sky was clear of clouds, revealing the mountains which, sheated in snow, stood out sharp against tho background of blue sky, their frozen poaks cornnscating under th,e influence of the bright sunlight. The gale abated, and the sea fell with singular rapidity, but left the bar in a wretched condition, as tho river lacked strength to clear it, the rain having fallen in the form of snow upon the high lands, and so the much-needed flood was suspended. Since then the weather has been delightful, sharp frosty nights and sunny days having prevailed, with winds chiefly from south to SE. The bar, we are sorry to say, has not improved much, notwithstanding the very light surf on since Saturday Inst. Nothing but a flood will open it, tho sea having cost up a ridge of sand that extends from the North Spit to tho Middle Bank, and through it the river finds a way in three places, each unnavigable, except to very light-draught vessels. Only one vessel (the Maid of Erin) has been towed out during the last twelve days. The s.s. Claud Hamilton was greatly delayed by the gale, as she arrived here on the 7th, but did not get away until the 11th, taking with her between 29,000 and 30,000 ounces of gold dust, shipped at the two ports of Hokitika and Greymouth. Shallow although the bur has been, the steamers Bruce and Persevere have worked it very successfully during the week. But for the handy Persevere the largo steamers that huve called here, as above related, would not have received dispatch, the Yarra being unable to get outside.

SHIPPING DISASTERS.

Notwithstanding the severity of the weather which led us to expect that some damage would result to shipping on this coast, we are happy to say that only two casualties have occurred — ono in the case of the cutter Harry Bluff, which, attempting to sail into the river on the 4th inst. (the day the gale came on), was disabled by a squall and driven ashore on the middle bank, right under the old Frederick's bows. She was partially discharged at low tide, and hauled off undamaged on the 7th. On the 11th a little difficulty befell tho Challenge. She ran out to sound the channel, preparatory to towing several outward-boun-ders, but the bar being much shallower than was anticipated, she grounded, and in less than half-an-hour had fairly " piled up" in a very ugly position. Fortunately, tho sea kept down, and prompt measures being taken to effect her release, she was hove off in two tides, not one whit the worse for her mishap.