PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 604, 31 August 1867, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

Utgh Wathb This Day.— 10.40 a.m.; 11.5 p.m. * IHKIVHD. August 80.— Nil. 3AILBD. August 30,— Nil. EXPECTED ABRirALS. Sarah and Mary, brgtn., from Melbourne, early. Storrnbird, sehr., from Launccston, daily. Jessie, schr., from Sydney, daily. Bella Vista, barque, from Hobart Town, daily. Florence, schr., from Melbourne, early. Hannah Newton, from Sydney, early. John Bullock, schr., from Melbourne, early Pilot, schr., from Melbourne, early. Mary, brigtu., from Melbourne, daily. Jane Lockhart, brigtn., from Sydney, daily. Mary Van Erery, schr., from Dunedin, daily. " Nil Desperauduni, brig, from Dunedin, early. Mary Anne, schr., from Melbourne, early. Anne Moore, brgtn., from Melbourne, early. Alma, barque, frotu Melbourne, early. Storm Bird, sehr., from Dunedin, daily. Falcon, sehr., from Christchurch, early. Thames, cutter, from Nelson, early. Elizabeth Curie, brigautine, from Dunediu, early. Harriet Nathan, barque, from Hobart Town, daily. PBOJECTBD DEPARTUBE3. Omeo, s.s., for Melbourne, to-day. Eangitoto, s.s., for Melbourne, to-day. Airedale, s.s., for Nelson, Northern Ports and Melbourne, September 2nd. Keera, s.s., for Dunedin via Greymouth, to-day. VESSEL IN POET. Brigantine — Lizzie Coleson. Schooners — Falcon, Alice, Dancir.g Ware. Ketches — Mary Anne, Jane Anno, Flo- j reuce. I Cutter — Elizabeth. I Steamers — Challenge, Golden Land, Yarra, IN TJIB EOADSTEAD. Alma, barque, from Melbourae. Clara, brigantine, from Melbourne. Annie 2J oore, brgtn, from Melbourne. Jane Lockliart, brigantine, from Sydney. Storm Bird, schr., from Dunedin. Stornbird, schr., from Launeeston. Mary, brigantiue, from Melbourne. Mary Van Every, schooner, from Duned'm. Isabella (lighter.) Two schooners, auppoßed Sea Eipple, from Hobarton, and Jessie, from Sydney. Union, brigantine, from Melbourne. Lioness, p.s.; Cymraes, ketch ; andEambler, schooner ; from G-rcymouth. Omeo, s.s., from Dunedin. Bella Vista, barque, from Hobart Town.

There is a goodly gathering of tho Hokitika fleet outside, and their number was increased yesterday by the arrival of the schooner Stormbird, from Launceston. She came to an anchor three miles south of the bar, and maintained/her position up to sunset. A hard dry blow from south- west veering to south was maintained by old Boreas during yesterday, for although the gale moderated towards daylight, it freshened up again with renewed vigor in the early part of the forenoon, and blew a downright " sneezer " until sunset. Viewed from tho beach, the roadstead presented a scene of commotion seldom witnessed on the West Coast ; for when ,the gale hauled to south the sea crosaed, sending home a jumble of waves that resolved themselves into ridges of surf fully a mile from the shore. The bar was of course impassable, and wo very much doubt whether its condition will be at all improved this morning, as the sea will scarcely subside in less time than twenty-four hours. Even supposing the gale Las ended, .which, to say the least, is very questionable. The hopes entertained of a fuir tide's work yesterday 'were rudely dissipated by this untoward burst of weather, and one of the best of the spring tides lost. We counted fourteen vessels in the roadstead yesterday morning, out of the seventeen which were in sight there the previous night — the Mary Van Every, Jessie (supposed), and Bella Vista, being hid in the offing. Those at anchor held their own bravely until the afternoon, when the Jane Lockhart.put to sea, and at a later hour was followed by the steamers Eangitoto and Omeo. At first the Eangitoto merely headed off shore under fore and aft canvas, as if to gain a wider offing, and we imagined she intended to lay to for the night, but as she was not in sight an hour afterwards ■we concluded she had left for Melbourne. She shipped passengers and mails on Thursday morning. When clear of the fleet the Omeo set her trysails, with the evident intention of spending the night comfortably tinder canvas. The unfortunate Clara is again driven to sea, aa she also left, dreading •we suppose, another mishap to her ground tackle, but the balance of the fleet maintained its position, two or three vessels riding to tbreir anchors under quite a press of canvas. We noticed that the barque Alma spread fore-topmast and main staysails — the main trysail and mizen. She rode very easily. At Biznaet there ,were eleven vessels holding on, amongst them the steamers Persevere and Lioness, lighter slabella, and colliers Sam. bier and Cyinraes. The Bmall craft weathered the gale admirably. The Bella Vista showed up in the course of the day, and was just iv sight at dusk. Loss of the Stonewall Jacksox and all ON BOAED. — SINGULAB CONDUCT OF A CAPtain. — The fate of the barque Stonewall Jackson, which sailed from Liverpool, via Cardiff, for the Cape of Good Hope on the 22nd January, has been cleared up by a report from Captain Joneß, of the Inman Company's steamer City of Manchester. On the 18th of March, when the City of Manchester was on her outward voyage to New York, and was off Kinsale, about half-past three p.m., a barque with the British ensign hoisted, union down, was sighted, and Captain Jones at once bore up for her. In reply to a signal of what was required the captain (Russell) of the barque said his vessel was the Stonewall Jackson, of Liverpool, and that she was sinking. An offer was made to take the distressed crew on board the steamer, but this offer was declined. Captain Jones then asked if he should take the vessel in tow ; to this Captain 'Russell consented, but refused to send his own boat for the tow-line. Under the circumstances No. 4 boat of the steamer ■was launched, and the chief officer and six men pulled alongside the barque, and succeeded in making fast a cable. The vessel was then taken in tow, but some time afterwards the line parted, and a fresh manilla rope was put on board the barque, together with another cable. The steamer then proceeded at half-speed, the night coming on very dark, though the Old Head at Kinsnle Light was visible. When off Kinsale Harbor it wan noticed that both the tow-ropes were rather slack, and on a test being put to them it was found that they were loose. They were then hauled up, and on being examined it was iound that they had not snapped, the eyeholes being perfect. Captain Jones and his officers, thinking that the barque required no further assistance, as tho ropes had already been cast loose by those on board the Stonewell Jackson, proceeded on his voyage. With the exception of a piece of wreck washed ashore near Kinsale, and which has been identified as having been a portion of the barque, nothing has since been heard of her, and there can be no doubt Captain Russell, from motives of his own — probably with a desire to save salvage money — cast off the tow-ropes when off the mouth of Kinsale harbor, attempted to enter, and in doing so was lost, with all on board. The boat and men belonging to the City of Manchester had a narrow escape; When coming alongside the steamer from the barque, the boat was

swamped, but the men were saved. The Stonewell Jackson was 408 ton 3 register, was built at Liverpool on the composite principle, and had a crow of twenty-two men.