SHIPPING SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 630, 1 October 1867, Page 4

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

The month just expired has been, without exception, the most stirring of the present year in respect of shipping matters, one of the largest fleet of vessels that ever assembled in the roadstead having rushed the port in the short space of four days, and crowded the wharf to an unprecedented degree. This sudden glut was one of the effects of the port's inaccessability, of which we had too much reason to complain* in our last summary, but which we hope and indeed believe will never occur again, as the harbor has almost regained his original excellent configuration, which can be easily preserved by the construction of a few simple and, comparatively speaking, inexpensive works.

During the month 154 vessels passed through the Custom House, of which number eightytwo entered in and seventy-two cleared out. Of the arrivals, seventeen were from foreign ports and sixty-five coastwise ; and by classifying the departures, we find that twenty-four sailed foreign and fifty-one coastwise. A fair trade has been maintained with Melbourne, from which port eight heavily-laden sailing vessels were despatched for Hokitika, and also the steamers Gothenburg and Otago, both being well freighted and with full passenger-lists! In return we sent back ten vessels, six of them being steamers, viz., the Rangitoto and Omeo, which twice left the port for Melbourne diu--ing the month, and the Gothenburg and Egmont. Two bottoms only arrived from Sydney, one the Jane Lockhart, under canvass, and the steamer Claud Hamilton. The departures for that port were in excess of the arrivals from it, as four sailing craft wore despatched there, and the Claud on her return,as usual, at the commencement of the month. Quite a brisk trade was transacted with fertile Tasmania, six vessels crammed with produce, three of them with horses on board as well — having reached these shores, and notwithstanding a long detention outside, their freights were landed in good order. Those constant traders the barques Bella Vista aud G-lencoe, and the barque Harriett Nathan, and schooner Sea Ripple (the last two being on their first visit) arrived from Hobart Town, whilst our smart friend the Sea Bird popped in from Launcoston, and the brigantine Hector, from the river Don — with the first cargo ever shipped at thafcport for Hokitika. Excepting the Sea Kipple, the same fleet returned to Tasmania, but the number was made up by the schooner Dancing Wave, which left on the 3rd ult. The coastwise trade was very heavy. The arrivals from other than West Const ports numbered sixteen, and were contributed by Dunedin, East Canterbury, and Napier. Wo were astonished at the advent of eight sailing vessels from Dunedin, as for many months our connection with Otago has been mainly kept up by the coasting steamer Keera, and one or two small schooners. Five vessels under canvas with full cargoes, chiefly of produce, were despatched from Lyttelton and Christchurch, whilst Napier forwarded a cargo of potatoes in the cutter Glinlp3e. Save that portion of it carried only by the Panama Company's fine steamers which swept round the New Zealand coast with punctuality and despatch. The balance of the coastwise trade was confined to West Coast waters, Wo may add that eight vessel? sailed, foanpe fop Dnnedin, and four* fan

Dunedin. paid us her usual monthly visit, and departed for this port by the way she came — northabout.