WEATHER REPORT

West Coast Times, Issue 1008, 15 December 1868, Page 2

WEATHER REPORT

MOXOAT, DUCHKBBK 14. No returns.

The smart little schooner Three Friends arrived in the river yesterday. She came from Fox's (Brighton), and being favored with a leading wind, and there being an excellent channel, she took the bar under canvas, and was successful in reaching the wharf.

We are unable this morning to furnish the usual weather report from the various interprovincial ports. This is in consequence of the wet weather yesterday, which rendered the lines difficult to work.

The barque Alma cleared at the customs yesterday, and sails this morning for Melbourne. She takes up a number of logs ofwhite and red pine as cargo. Since Captain Finlay's arrival here he has been presented by his late passengers with a testimonial and a gold ring, in token of their appreciation of his kindness during the trip from Melbourne.

The Hokitika bar is now in splendid condition, and has a channel containing, at the least soundings, ten feet of water. It tends slightly to the northward, but not sufficiently so to render it unnavigable, even with a very rough sea. On Sunday the water in the river was extremely low, owing to the great body of water which found easy egress through the channel. It is fully expected that the channel will be still more improved to-day.

An inquiry has been held at the custom house, before Mr Patten,Colleetor of Customs, into the cause of the wreck of the brig Clarendon. The evidence showed that, the vessel had xmdergone a survey previous to her leaving Greymouth, she then being leaky, the result of which was that sufficient repairs were made to the vessel to enable her, in the surveyors' opinion, to reach Melbourne. But, owing to the severe weather met with after leaving the port, the leak had been opened again by the straining of the vessel. On the termination of the enquiry Mr Patten declared the captain of the brig entirely exonerated from blame.

The s.B. Alhambra, fully expected to arrive from Melbourne during the day, will be despatched this evening for Nelson, Wellington, East Coast ports, and Melbourne. The p.s. Persevere leaves the wharf at 5 p.m. to convey passengers on board.

Owing to the inclemency of the weather the s.s. Waipara was unable to take in cargo yesterday, and therefore could not proceed on her trip last night as advertised. (Should the weather be favorable she will sail this evening.

The s.s. Lord Ashley did not put in an appearance yesterday as was expected, but there can be no doubt that she will have arrived during the night. She is announced to sail for Sydney this morning. The Pilot Board held an inquiry at the custom house yesterday with reference to the grounding of the ship Empress of the Seas while passing through the Heads on the 4th November, in charge of Pilot Siuglcton. The vwbcl, it appeared, only grounded slightly, and there was scarcely auy interruption to her course ; but the boarl considered the pilot to blame, inasmuch sis he brought the vessel through the Heads ou an ebb tide, when she was drawing over twetif.y t'< tt of water. They contented themselves, however, with recording their opinion that Mr Singleton had committpd an error of judgment. — Argun, December 1. -

A collision, which might have afforded further scope for the energies of the Raising of Sunken Vessels Company, occurred yesterday afternoon, in 'he vicinity of the company's present sphere of operations at tho City of Launceston. The A.S.N. Company's s.s. Alexandra, Captain B. Paddle, which arrived in the bay on Sunday afternoon from Adelaide, proceeded r.n her voyage to Sydiu-y yesterday, from the Hailway pier, Sandridge, about half-past two o'clock"™ tho afternoon. la goiutf down the bay, and wlteu ueariog the

spot where the s.s. City of Launceston is sunk, she ran into t&e three^niaste'd iron schooner Cleopatra^ which was bound out to Newcastle, N.S.W. The schooner, at the ttniei was on the starboard tack, and the steamer struck her just immediately forward of the main chains, cutting her down to the water's edge. The Alexandra then took the disabled schooner in tow, and returned with her to Hobson's Bay. The damage sustained by the Alexandra is comparatively slight, and she will probably be enabled to resume her voyage to-day. 'Every exertion has been made by her agents to have the requisite repairs effected expeditiously. — Ibid. We mentioned some time ago the name of a boy named Blacker, on board of H.M.C.S. Nelson, who had three timesbeen instrumental in saving life by courageously jumping overboard to the assistance of ofmrades or others who were *iv danger of drowning. The boy has been awarded the Royal Humane Society's medal for his gallant conduct, and His Excellency the Governor |)roceeds to-day on board the Nelson at two o'clock to bestow it on the brave lad. — Ibid.

The following Regulations and Bye-laws in reference to passenger vessels, is published in the Keiv Zealand Gazette, of Nov. 23rd: — 1. The master, or if there be no master the person iv charge of every vessel, whether steamer or sailing vessel, being or lying alongside of any pier, jetty, or wharf in the Colony, and which vessel shall have passengers on board, or be engaged in carrying passengers, or in which, if a steamer, passengers may by law be carried, shall keep for the use of passengers or persons coining from or going on board such vessel a proper aud secure gangway, with double side-rails, or stanchions with ropes rove taught through the same, the top rail or rope being not less than three feet three inches high, and shall cause such gangway to be securely fixed and to extend from one portion of the vessel's deck or side-rail to the pier, jetty, or wharf, with a good solid bearing at each end, and to bo so kept fixed so long as such vessel shall be alongside such wharf, pier, or jetty. 2. In the event of the outer end of auy such gangway resting on the vessel's side-rail, the master, or if there be no master the person in charge of any such vessel, shall keep substantial steps fixed to lead from the end of the gangway to the vessel's deck. 3. Iv cases in which by the preceding regulations it is required that a vessel shall have a gangway fixed, the master, or if there be no master the person in charge of such vessel, shall keep a proper bright light fixed over such gangway from sunset to sunrise in such a manner as to light the whole length of it properly, and shall keep such light burning bright and clear from sunset till sunrise, so long as the vessel remains alongside any pier, wharf, or jetty. 4. Any master, or the person ill charge of any vessel when there is no muster thereof, who shall be convicted of any breach, neglect, or disobedience of any of the foregoing regulations or bye-laws shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds. — Forster Gouixo, Clerk to the Executive Council.

Intelligence was received in town on Saturday from Havelock, by telegraph, that the cutter Venture, Thomas Windover master and owner, was wrecked in Ketu Bay, Pelorus Sound, on Friday last, whilst on her passage to Havelock from this port. The Venture cleared out at this port on the 2nd instant with a full cargo, part of which has been recovered, more or loss damaged, and conveyed on to Havelock by the cutter Midge. No particulars as to how she was lost have been received, but it is supposed that she was caught in a squall and capsiscd. The Venture was an Auckland built craft, and has been in the trade between Nelson and Havelock for the last five or six years. We believe she was uninsured. — Nelson Examiner, December 8.

H.M.S.S. ram Blanc-he, Captain Montgoraerie, arrived in harbor from Sydney yesterday afternoon, and intends shortly we understand, to proceed to Napier. She had fino weather all the passage, uutil close to the New Zealand coast, when she met with a heavy gale, which delayed her some time. From the Advertiser we learn the following particulars :— She is a composite built vessel, and is fitted with all the most recent improvements and inventions in the way of armament. She carries six guns of heavy calibre — her small arms being the Snider rifle— with the usual amount of pistols and side arms ; she is of 1268 tons burthen, with engines of 350 horse-power, and carries a complement of 180 hands all told. Subjoined we give a list of her officers : — Lieuts. Markham, Mansell, Beaumont, and Edwards ; Surgeon, Dr. Molloy ; Paymaster, Mr Card ; Chief Engineer, Mr Sneil ; Assistant Engineer, Mr Bailey. — Wellington Post.