WEATHER REPORT

West Coast Times, Issue 1002, 8 December 1868, Page 2

WEATHER REPORT

Monday, December 8. No returns.

Owing to interruption in the northern line of telegraph, during yesterday, we are unable to furnish our usual weather report. The Greymouth and Westport wires were interrupted during the whole of yesterday, and the line was reported down during the afternoon.

A fore-and-aft schooner was observed outside yesterday, standing off and on in the roadstead. From her rig she was supposed to be the Aurora, from Dunedin.

There was no appearance of the s.s. Kenned}', yesterday, she doubtless being detained in the Grey River, owing to the heavy sea outside. The weather now showing sigii3 of moderating, she may be, with certainty, looked for to-day.

TheP.N.Z.and A.TC.M. company's steamer, Lord Ashley, is expected here on the 12th instant, from Wellington, via Nelson. It will be seen by an advertisement in the usual column, that she is to be despatched from this port, for Sydney, on the 13th instant.

The whole of the late arrivals were yesterday busily engaged discharging, but the heavy showers which came down at short intervals, greatly interfered with their rapid progress. The whole of the goods are* J so far, being landed in excellent condition.

The weather, which had returned to its old boisterous state on Saturday night, had somewhat improved yesterday afternoon, and hopes were entertained that a change for the better was about to take place. The forenight, however, was dismally looking in the extreme, and heavy clouds of threatening appearance hanging overhead, seemed to give no encouragement that the hopes of finer weather would be realised. The sea has also been in a most turbulent state during the past two days, entirely preventing any communication with Greymouth and the other Coast ports by the sea board. Owing to the3e circumstances the s.s. Kennedy and Waipara have been unable to leave the "latter port to come on here in order to fulfill their engagements. Several vessels have also been observed during the past two days hovering about iv the offing, but the tremendous sea running on the coast precluded the slightest attempt being made on the part of the steamtugs to tow them inside.

The s.s. Tararua sailed from Lyttelton, for Wellington, at noon on the 7th instant. Her mails will very probably arrive here by the Christchurch coach on Wednesdny evening, and the passengers will no doubt be forwarded from Wellington by the company's steamer Lord Ashley, expected here on Saturday next.

It will be seen by our shipping telegrams that another vessel of war has arrived at the capital of New Zealand, from Sydney. H.M.S. Charybdis arrived on the sth instant, and will doubtless at once be put into active service in assisting the land forces.

The Mary Van Every, twenty-eight days out from Dunedin for this port, was spoken by the master of the brig Clarendon on Sunday last, off the Foulwind.

WRECK OF THE BRIG CLARENDON.

Yesterday evening, about five o'clock, a large vessel was observed nearly abreast of the Arahura, struggling iv the break. Upon the information being reported to Captain Turnbull, he, in company with Captains Thompson and Agnew, proceeded to the tramway terminus, and got a apodal carriage, for the purpose of reaching the scone to render assistance, if necessary. On reaching the Arahura Bridge the party met with Mr M'Lean, of Lamplougli, and Sergeant Blanc, who told thorn that the vessel w.-is ashftrc about a quarter of a mile north of the Waimea Creek. At this time the party were joined by our special reporter, on horseback. It being then qnitc dark, it was determined to proceed no further, as the Sergeant and Mr M'Lean assured the party that tho crew were all safe, and no assistance would he required. It appears that the stranded vessel is the brig Clarendon, which sailed from Greymouth on the 4tb inst. for Melbourne in ballast. Mr M'Lean, who whs on board the vessel, was informed by Captain Dow, the master of the brig, that on Saturday, at pwn, it Cfttoe on toblpw a jiard gale, ani}

it was discovered that evening that the vessel had sprung a leak, through the ship laboring very heavily in the seaway. All hands were at once sent to the pumps, and the vessel was k >pt away for Nelson. The leak increasing, a spare sail was passed under her bottom, which had the effect of ciusing the leak to ! decrease, and gave the men some rest from : the pumps. The next day the gale increased, j and so also did the leak, in consequence of ; the canvas h iving become torn. She sighted ! Caps Foulwind during the afternoon, and at ! thi-i time the gale headed the vessel, the wind suddenly shifting to ~N.IL Finding it impossible to make headway, she was kept away for Greymouth, and, when abreast of that place, flew. signals of distress, to try and get a steamer to take her into port. No steamer showing out, stood on for Hokitika s and when abreast of the Arahura, it was found that the vessel had drifted near the break. l *An attemx>t was made to heave on the other tack, but she missed stays. Seeing that any further attempt to save the vessel was hopeless, in order to save the lives of the crew, the helm was put about, . and her head directed for the beach. The crew had been incessantly at the pumps from the time she sprung the leak until she was beached, and were quite exhausted. The harbor master, Captain Turnbull, left for the wreck this morning at two o'clock, and we hope to be able to furnish a more detailed account of the wreck in our next issue, as no doubt Captain Dow will come into town to-day.