PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 608, 5 September 1867, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

Hioh Wukr This Dat. — 2.9 a.m.; 2.34 p.m.

UtKIVHH.

September l~ Qiuvu, schooner, Veale, from Lyttellton. .M.i»Um-, agent.

Airedale, s.s., Kennedy, from Dunedin. John White, agent.

SAILED.

September 4 — Bruce, p.s., Korley, for Buller. Lizzie Coleson, brigantine, for Sydney.

ENTERED IN.

Bruce, 84 tons, James Kerley, from Greymouth. 20 passengers. Cymraes, 28 tons, E. Perkins, from Greymouth. Queen, 46 tons, W. D. Veale, from Lyttelton.

CLEARED OCT.

Bruce, 84 tons, James Kerley, for Fox's River, and Westport.

BXPKCTED ABBIVAT4. Claud Hamilton, s.s., from Nelson, 6th inst. Sarah and Mary, brgtn., from Melbourne, earl 7- , „ Stormbird, schr., from Launceston, daily. Jessie, achr., from Sydney, daily. Bella Vista, barque, from Hobart Town, daily. Florence, echr., from Melbourne, early, Hannah Newton, from Sydney, early. John Bullock, schr., from Melbourne, early Pilot, sclir., from Melbourne, early. Mary, brigtn., from Molbourne, daily. Jane Lockhart, brigtn., from Syduoy, daily. Nil Desperandum, brig, from Dunedin, early. Mary Anne, schr., from Melbourne, early. Anno Moore, brgtn., from Melbourne, early. Alma, barque, from Melbourne, early. Storm Bird, achr., from Dunediu, daily. Falcon, schr., from Christchurch, early. Thames, cutter, from Nelson, early. Elizabeth Curie, brigantiue, from Dunedin, early. Harriet Nathan, barque, from Hobart Town, daily.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Airedale, s.s., for Nelson, Northern Ports, and Melbourne, 10-day. Claud Hamilton, s.s., for Sydney, tomorrow. Alice, sehr., for Fox's, early. Huntress, p.s., for Fox's, Pakihi, and Buller, to-day. Jane Anne, ketch, for Pakihi, early.

VESSELS IN POUT. Brigantine — Lizzie Ooleson. SrhujiitM-s — Falcon, Alice, Dancing Wave, Qusen.

Ketches — Mary Anne, Jano Anno, Florence. Cutler— Elizabeth.

Sleiimi'M — Challenge, Golden Laud, Yarra, Lioness.

IN TUB ROADSTEAD. Alma, baixjuejfrom Melbourne. Stombird, schr., from Launceston. Isabella (lighter.) Sea Ripple, schooner, from Hobart Town. Bella Vista, barque, from Hobart Town. Glencoe, barque, from Hobart Town. Jane Lockhart, brgtn., from Sydney. Sarah and Mary, brgtn., from Melbourne. Mary, brigantine, from Melbourne. Mary Grant, brig, from Melbourne. Union, brigantine, from Melbourne. Huntress, p.s., from Greymouth. Dunedin, schoonor, from Dunedin. Harriet Nathan, barque, from Hobart Town, Stormbir'l, schooner, from Dunedin. Clara, brigautine, from Melbourne. Anne Moore, brigantine, from Melbourne. Rambler, schooner, from Greymouth. Glimpse, cutter, from Napier.

IMPOET3.

Per Bruce, from Westport — 6 kegs butter, N. Edwards and Co ; 15050xs 13dwt» 20grs Gold, Bank N. S. Wales.

Per Cymraes, from Greymouth — 50 tons coal, Loutitt and Reid.

Per Queen, from Lyttelton — 125 bags potatoes, 12 casks cheese, 20 package tea, 171 cheeses, 8 casks currants, 4 casks sugar, 7 packages raisins, 24 cases ale, 22 cases bacon, Royse, Mudie and Co ; 30 bagi oats, 35 bales chaff, W. G. Cole and Co ; 4 boxes luggage, 300 bags bran, order.

EIPOET3.

Per Bruce, for Fox's River and Westport — 7 mats sugar, 1 case coffee, 1 chest candles, 1 case currants, 1 box jam, 1 box raisins, C. Lempfort ; 1 pr scales, 6 hammers, 4 truck■wheels, 1 parcel, J. Lewis ; 3 boxes glass, 1 tin paint, 1 keg brandy, 4 doors, 1 pkg sashes, 1 case glass, 3 tins paint, 1 drum oil, Fogo ; 1 bale drapery, White and Pirie ; 8 cases apples, 3 bags vegetables, Watson; 1 bale plush, Fleming; 4 hf-ehests tea, 4 boxes soap, 2 cases salmon, 1 case jam, 1 case painkiller, 1 case hams, 6 cases brandy, O. Lempfort ; 6 hhds eggs,- J. Duff ; 11 half-chests tea, 7 cases coffee, Alcorn and Co ; 36 truck wheels, 6 cases kerosene, 1 bag, T. G. Stone ; 4 cases, 2 casks, 4 crates, T. Field ; 1 bale, 3 cases, Hennelly and Co ; 1 case, J. B. Clarke ; 1 case hardware, Sinclair and Jack ; 1 case, 2 ovens, 20 pkgs wedges, J. Lewis ; 2 casks, J. B. Clarke ; 1 case, Marshall ; 1 truss, 1 parcel, White and Pirie ; 1 box, 1 parcel, Bailie and Humphrey ; 6 cases kerosone, 8 boxes candles, order ; 1 case, J. Lewis.

Another vessel of the many -which have been so long detained in the roadstead, reached the wharf yesterday behind the Lioness. She is a smart-looking Auckland built fore-and-aft schooner named the Queen, last from Lyttelton, with a full cargo of produce and sundries. She made a splendid run round the coast, having sailed from Lyttelton on the 10th ult., and favored by a smart south-easter reached Cape Farewell on the 12th, then experienced a shift of wind to NE. which carried her to Hokitika roads, next day, the passage being completed in two and a half days. Further progress was stopped by tho bad state of Ihe entrance, and until yesterday she knocked about outside, having been several times driven to sea by bad weather and as often returned to the roadstead to be in readiness for a push across the bar when the time came.

The coasting steamer Bruce sailed for the northern goldfields yesterday with a full cargo and some twenty passengers. The brigantine Lizzie Colt-son cleared the river yesterday bound to Sydney. She was towed out by the steamer Bruce, and took away eleven passengers and four tons of cargo consisting of wool, hides, and copper. The Panama Company's branch mail steamer Airedale arrived olf Greymouth yesterday afternoon, and having shipped gold and passengers by the Persevere, left for this port at 5 p.m., and doublless reached the roadstead shortly after 7 p.m. Her departure for Wellington, where she connects with the Panama R.M.S.S. Mataura, will positively take placo at noon to-day.

Wo acknowledge with thanks the rocoipt of three copies of the Melbourne "Argus" (latest date August 24), from Messrs Spence Brothers. They were brought by the brigantine Sarah and Mary, which made the passage from Hobson's Bay to the New Zealand coast in the short space of six days. She is now in the roadstead, but we hope to make her closer acquaintance at the wharf to-day. The Melbourne shipping news is unimportant. Tho following vessels were on the berth for Hokitika, s.s. Gothenburg, to sail Augunfc 26th, s.s. Tararua, August 27th, John Bullock, schooner, August 27th. s.s. Alhambra, August 31st, brigantines Clarendon and P-ilofc, early. The schooner John and Jane lalledfor this port August 23rd. The fine ship Red Rover, Captain Macaulay, from London, with » heavy cargo of general merchandise, arrived »t Lytteltoa oa ttt *& ulfc., tor <UtH of £*pwrhw# feriaji

— ironi tho Docks, May 14th, Gravesend, May 15th, and tho Downs, May 18th. She encountered a heavy gale on July 30th, and whilst hove-to, shipped a treinendoua sea that washed two of tho seamen overboard. Lifo buoy 3 were immediately throw to thorn, but fell short, and as soon as possible a boat was manned and lowered, but had barely ro.iched the water when it swamped, and the crow were rescued with much difficulty. The two men were drowned. The schooner J. B. Russel sailed from Heatheotefor this port on the 29th ult. We were much surprised yesterday morning to find the tug Challenge yet ashore, as we felt confident that her release would havo taken place on the previous night's tide, very ample arrangements having been made to effect it. Two windlasses, the Gratitude's and her own, were manned and set going shortly before midnight, and as the tide flowed she commenced to jump ahead, and when the sea struck her, she moved so rapidly that the men had much ado to keep the warps tight. The work was progressing merrily, and half-an-hour would have seen her afloat — when suddenly, and without warning — the Persevere, outward bound to Greymouth, earao blundering down the river fell foul of one of the warps and snapped it, the other having been slacked up just in time. The Challenge was then all alive, and- being thus released from restraint, commenced to forge astern, and ere the warp could be re-tautened she was caught by a few heavy rollers — washed high upon the bank and refused to budge again that tide. Attempts to move her were renewed yesterday afternoon, but to no purpose, and her owners determined to place her on short ways without further delay, and launch her to the water's edge again. To ensure success, this work bo completed on one tide, and if carried through will constitute the smartest feat ever performed on the Coast. We much regret the necessity that compels a measure of very doubtful result and yet involves a heavy cost and risk to the steamer, * and should like to know why due notice of the Perseveres departure was not given to the men engaged upon the ChallengeMoreover, the Persevere being of light draught could have left the river early on tide before the warps were stretched, or with equal safety have postponed her departure until the ebb tide, by which time the Challenge would have either been afloat or left, for the night as unmoveable. We certainly think that Captain Robertson and one or two othera we could mention might have displayed a little more care aud forethought. We regret to say that the p.s. 1 Huntress got into serious difficulties whilst attempting to enter the river yesterday. She is from Greymouth, with a heavy cargo of coal, and took tho bar on the very top of high-water, but. not making sufficient allowance for the North current we have alluded to in another place — was drifted upon the North Spit. Her engines were kept going at full speed, and a few heaving seas rolling in, she lifted and forged ahead until nearly clear of the ground, but being caught by the freshet on her port bow, she slued right round head to sea, and the next moment was "piled up" with her paddles out of water. Mr Gillies, the agent, was promptly in attendance, and measures to effect her, release were at once devised. The first consideration was to lighten her, and when the tide ebbed sufficiently, a number of drays attended, and by dusk the greatesl part of the coal had been landed. Anchors and lines were ran out to the North Spit, and other preparations made for a heave off on this morning's tide, which we hope terminated successfully. The clipper ship Blue Jacket, Captain White, arrived at Lyttelton on Friday last, after a splendid run of seventy-five days from Gravesend, the voyage from Lyttelton to England and back, having being completed in sir months and twenty-six days. On July 21st, either a wreck or dead whale floating about four feet out of the water, and covered with sea birds, was passed. On August 15th, when in latitude 47degs 56min S, longitude 102degs 55min E. she fell in with a fearful cyclone, which commenced at N.E. and finished off from W.S.W. The barometer fell to 28-25, a remarkably low standing. Tho galo was of short duration, lasting twelve hours only. The Blue Jacket brought out 270 passengers, of which number 201 were assisted immigrants, viz. : — male, adults, 46 ; female adults, 137 ; children, male and female, 18.

The cutler Elizabeth narrowly escaped •hipwreck on the Grey bar yesterday morning, and but for the, good services rendered by the 8.8. Kennedy would now be lying high and dry upon the beach. It appears she wa9 crossing the bar inwards, in tow of the Persevere, and by some mischance (unexplained to us) took the ground on the point of tho North Spit. The Persevere tugged hard to free the cutter, but without avail, and her fate was well nigh sealed, when, fortunately, the B.s. Kennedy, just up from the Buller, ran in, hove the cutter a line as she passed, and, after a few stiff pulls, got her afloat and towed her to the wharf. The Elizabeth was somewhat damaged, aB she lost her starboard bulwarks and galley by the heavy surf running. Tho middle bank may now be termed the South Spit, as the south channel is so far closed that it can be crossed dry shod at half tide, and we believe before the expiration of a week It will have banked up to the level o r the main beach. The entire volume of the river, including drainage from tho Mahinapana or Hospital Creek at last is discharged through the north channel, which has much increased in size, and so far a3 depth is concerned would, we beliere, be navigable during four hours' ojf the tide but for the ugly bar outside of it. The l[port is slowly reconstructing, but as yet in a transition state, and some tirno must necessarily elapse ere the entrance again assumes its original configuration, and until a protective South Spit forms we fear its navigation will be attended with greater or less risk. Tho bar will be subject to violent and sudden shiftings whenever an extra heavy surf rolls in, and the channel through it will be liable to bo intersected by sand patches which are often thrown up by the flood tide, but disappear under the scouring action of the ebb. Yesterday the bar was very much broken and anything but safe to be crossed by inward bound vessels. An unusually strong inshore current ran to the northward, and well nigh set the steamer Lioness and schooner Queen upon tho North Spit, compelling the tug to haul smartly up to recover tho ground thus lost. This brought her across the current, and when she opened the spits its full force struck her on the port bow, and shot her rapidly over towards the South Spit. To straighten herself she was obliged to reverse the port engine, and for several minutes remained stationary, but at last worked end on to the stream, and turned a-liead full-speed. And not one whit to soon, for her tow, in the meantime, had overrun the warp, lost way, and sagged away north at a great rate, until she was within a very few yards indeed of the beach. In tho very nick of time, however, the warp tightened, and, obedient to the impuls?, the lively little craft shot a-head, almost grazed the Huntress when passing her, and next minute was safe between the spits. She was tho only vessel that towed in yester-lay, as Captain Whitford considered the bar unsafe and refused to leave the river again on that tide. .We quite agreed with him. Thk Rachel, Barque.— This vessel, built by Mr Nowton at the Manning River, for Captain R. Firth, arrived at Glasgow in March last, having encountered very bad weathenon the Irish coast. Being a colonialbuilt vessel, the following extract from a letter received from Captain Firth, and dated Glasgow, 17th Junp, must prove interesting to many of our reodi-rs :— " You will no doubt be glad to hear I have got the Rachael classed for twelve years A I at Lloyd's, in London. I had very bad weather on tho coast of Ireland. On the 17 and 18th March I lost two topsails, foretopmast, staysail, and uiixen itaysail split; the long boat, galley, »nd store, tome bulwufti, jibboom, foretop. f»il<7Nr£} forttopgtUftntyKrcf, and iprnng $«

foretopmast. Many ships wcro lost nnd di ninsted that night. On my arrival in tho Clyde, by some mistake of the pilot, wo part ed from our moorings, ran into another ship, knocked a holo right through our bow ; the damage to the other ship was not much. Through all our bad Jweather — twenty- fivo days close reefed — there was not one ounce of tho cargo damaged.— "S.M. Herald." Aug. 16.

Tho following memorandum, contained in a bottle, was picked up close to Rhio a few days ago, and transmitted to the Dutch consul, for the information of those interested. It seems extraordinary that this document, which appeal's to have been cast overboard off the Australian coast, somewhere near Freemantlc, should in so short a time as has elapsed between the end of February and the end of May have travelled so far, and in so strange a direction as Rhio: — "Indian Ocean. — On board the British schooner Wild .Wave, February 26th, 1867, latitude 34deg. S., longitude lOOdeg. E. ; 165 days out ; awful passage, and miserable weather. Passengers all well ; one lady passenger gave birth to three children yesterday afternoon. Captain John H. Smith wants to be reported. First officer dangerously ill for about a fortnight. — Henry W. Briab."— " Straits Times."

The New Pilots at Sydney. — It is stated on reliable authority that the gentlemen who have been appointed to succed Messrs Robinson and Reeder, the deceased pilot 9, aro Captain Robert Cork, well known in connexion with the brig Comet, and Captain Alexauder Coutts, who is also an old master mariner of this port. We believe that both appointments will give general satisfaction. — " Sydney Empire," Aug. 17. The Titan, a new paddle steamer, owned by Messrs Spence Brothers and Co., and lately added to the fiVet of tug-boats engaged in Hobson's Buy, towed to sea on Sunday morning last the ship White Rose, in the short space of six hours and a half, the distance being forty-two milos — a feat which proves thnt she is one of tho most powerful steamers of her class now in the bay. — " Melbourne Argus," Aug. 21.