Untitled

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1958, 17 September 1863, Page 2

The s.s. Wonga Wonga has been placed on the slip at Evans' Bay, for the purpose of undergoing an over-haul. She will be ready to sail for Lyttelton and Dunedin on Sunday first The brig Alexandria, from Newcastle, N.S.W., arrived in pork, cm Tuesday afternoon, after a passage of 14 days. She brings a cargo of coals for Mr J. Dransfleld. The brigantine Willing Lass arrived in port on Tuesday night from Melbourne via Nelson, which port she left on Friday last She brings a general cargo for this place and Timaru. She haa hauled alongside the wharf to discharge. The Queen of the Avon, has now finished discharging, and has cleared hi ballast for Colombo. . The Esk, 21, screw corvette, of .1,109 tong, and 250 horse power, has been commissioned at Portsmouth for the Australian station. Several names are current as those of officers likely to receive the command, and among the moßt prominent were Captains Boyce and Curtis. -Tho Esk was originally constructed for the Admiralty' by Mr Scott BusselL Since ncr last commission, however, her hull has been almost entirely rebuilt, and her engines have also undergone considerable repairs. Her armament consists of 16 8-inch guns, muzzle loaders, and four 40---pounder breech-loading Armstrongs—all broadside guns, —and one 110-pounder breech-loading Armstrong as a pivot forecastle gun.—Australian Mail. LOSS OF ANOTHER CANADIAN MAIL STEAJIER.-ißy the Jul'tt, from Quebec, on the 18th instant, we learn that the Norwegian, Captain A. M'Master, ran ashore at St Paul, Newfoundland, in a dense fog. The Mails, crew, and passengers were Bayed. Hopes are entertained that the ship may be got off. St Paul is a small island in the Gulf of St Lawrence, eight miles-N.E. of the North extremity of Cape , Breton.—European Times. A Novel Steamer.—The screw-Bteamer Nautilus, Captain Wintringhani, just arrived at Hull, on Wednesday morning from St Petersburg, brought a small tubular cigar-shaped steamship, which was'built two years ago by a gentleman named Winam. This novel steamer, which is built on the same principle as the American tubular vessel, drawings of which appeared in tho Illustrated London News about two years ago, has been brought to this country for the purpose of experimenting npon. She is at present eighty feet long, and hi the widest part amidships is eight feet in diameter. "We understand, however, that she is to bo considerably enlarged, and for that purpose will be handed over to Messrs Earl and Co, shipbuilders, of Hull. The owner is confident that, after she is lengthened, and other improvements made, she could cross the Atlantic with perfect safety, and would answer admirably for an American mail-boat On tha top or back of tha vesssl there aTe four short tubes projecting about two and a-half feet, which will answer the purpose of ventilators, and as a means of entrance to'the vesseL To prevent the steamer rolling over in the water she is well ballasted with spelter, and draws about three feet water. There are several screws in her sides to which stanchions may be fastened. On this ft grating to form a deck is fixed, and an iron guard runs from stem to stern. The vessel is propelled by means of a screw, which is placed about twenty feet from the stern. She in fitted' with a rudder at each end.—English Paper.