VESSELS IN PORT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1966, 6 October 1863, Page 2

VESSELS IN PORT.

Shepherdess, schooner, from Lyttelton. Esthor, brigantine, from Napier. William Carey, ship, from London Alert, cutter, from Rangitikei. Valiant, brig, from Otago. Supply, cutter, from Wairau Pearl, cutter, from Manawatu. Mary and Elizabeth, schooner, from Lyttelton Asterope. ship, from London Phcebe, s.s.. from Sydney Thb Asterope. — We have much pleasure in announcing the arrival On the 4th October, of the well known clipper ship Asterope, from London direct, on her third visit to this Port, with a, full cargo af goods. The- Asterope is now commanded by Capt Adam Stuart, formerly chief officer under our old friend Capt Mitchell. The present run from England to Wellington has been made in 90 days, being a shorter time by 16 days than either of her former trips. Light Westerly winds caused some delay in the English Channel, and very light variable winds was experienced until after crossing the Equator. After passing the Cape of Good Hope some severe gales were met with, in one of which the main-yard was sprung, but after sighting Tasmania the winds again fell light and variable. We have much pleasure in congratulating Capt Stuart on the success of his first trip, and also in directing the attention of our readers to the subjoined testimonial to him, signed by the whole of the passengers :— TESTIMONIAL TO CAPTAIN STUART OF THE SHIP ASTEROPE. To Captain Adam Stuart, ship Astbbopb, — We, the undersigned passengers by the ship Asterope, beg to return you our sincere thanks for the unremitting kindness and courtesy shown to ua by you throughout our voyage from London to New Zealand. We have also much pleasure in testifying to the excellence of the provisions supplied to us. The speed and other good qualities of the Asterope are doutitles too well known in New Zealand to need comment from us ; but the fact that her prssent voyage, despite of most unfavourable wsather, has been performed in so short a time, must be ascribed, (under Providence,) to your admirable seamanship, and to tha coolness and gallantry displayed by you during the Bevere gales which have swept over us since passing the Cape of Good Hope. We have also sincere satisfaction in recognising the services rendered, and the courtesy shewn to us, by your officers, Messrs Moulam, Ritchie, and Main. To yourself wo offer our warmest congratulations on the success of tbis your first trip as Commander of the Asterope ; and, with all possible good wishes for your future careor, wo bid you most heartily farewell. Ship Asterope, October 4th, 1868. E. Daniell, J.P. Lizzie Smith C. D. R. Ward, J.P. James D. Fraser A. Ward Helen Fraser Thomas Milner John Johnson S. E. Hudson John Feast G. S. Chieno Christopher Alpin R. J. Chiona Ebenezer Bishop Mary Board The s.s. Phcebe.— .The IC.R.M Co's s.s. Phosbe, left Sydney on tho 25th Sept, at 7 pm, and had strong winds with heavy sea, from the North and West, which lasted until the 28th, when she experienced fine South and Westerly winds to Capo Farewell, passed Cape Farewell at S pm on the 30th, and arrived in Nelson at 9 pm on the same day. Loft Nelson at lam on the 4th, and arrived at Picton tho same day at 11.30 am ; left Picton at 5.15 pm on the 4th, and in consequence of the strong north-easter blowing in the straits, it was deemed advisable to run for shelter, arrived in Wellington at 6.30 pm on the sth. The s.s. Wosga Wonga.— The Wonga Wonga, Captain Cellem, arrived in this harbor from Wanganui at 6.30 am on Friday last She left Wellington for Wanganui on the evening of tho 28th inst, and when off Terawiti encountered a heavy gale from the N.W., with a-heavy sea running, which obliged her lo bear up for the Sound, whero she arrived at 2am on Tuesday ; she stopped in the Sound until 4pm on Wednesday, when she steamed out and arrived at Wanganui at 10 am on Thursday ; left again at noon same day, and arrived here aa above. The s.s. Stokm Bikd.— The Storm Bird, Captain Mundle, left Manukau on Tuesday last at noon, arrived at Raglan on next day at 9 am ; left again at noon, and arrived at Taranaki on Thursday at 1 am ; left again at 1 pm, arrived at Wanganui on Friday at noon ; left again at 2 pm, and arrived here on Saturday morning at 5.30 am. New Vessel. — A neat little vessel called the Sandfly, recently built by the Messrs Thompson, for Haybittlo Brothers, haß been added to our coasting fleet She is 40 feet long,- has 12 feet beam, and will be employed in the trade between Rangitikei and Wellington. The s.s. Conio. — We perceive by % the Napier papers that the Corio, Captain Turner, has been laid on as a regular trader between Dunedin, Napier, and Auckland. Arrival of Troops.— The Queen of the South, a splendid clipper ship, belonging to the Black Ball line— from Melbourne, with 150 men of H.M 40th regt, has arrived. This vessel was once one of the justly celebrated fast line of packets between New York and San Francisco, then called the Morning Light She is ready for sea, and will most probably sail to-day for Callao.— Southern Cross, 26th Sep. Arrival op Militia Volunteers.— Our old favourite the Caduceus, in command of Captain Adolphus Holton, arrived from Melbourne yesterday shortly after 2pm She sailed from Melbourne on the 10th inst, taking her final departure from the heads on the 13th, and experienced fair weather on the passage across. Made the Three Kings on Wednesday last, and there sighted a barque (in all probability the Tonatin) standing to tho westward. The Caduceus brings 387 men of tho New Zealand Volunteer Militia Force, all fine stalwart fellows, and amongst them several old service men. They have arrived in command of Captain Dunne and the following officers :— Lieut Percival, and Wallace ; Ensign Young, and Dr Agassiz. Mr Eugene Amsiuck, special reporter for the Melbourne Herald, has also come down as passenger. Captain Holton reports that another large ship was about to be taken up when he left, and a large draft was awaiting embarkation. The Caduceus has no cargo for this port, but has on board a fine kangaroo for his Excellency Sir Gorge Grey.— New Zealander, 2Gth Sep. Loss op the Salcombb Castle at Kaipara Hiads.— We regret to have to record the total wreck of this schooner at the head of tho Kaipara river, on Thursday, the 16th instant Tho Salcmobe Castle it will be remembered was an old trader between this port and the Southern Provinces, and only a short time since went up to Sydney to got a thorough overhaul and refit The following report of the occurrence has been kindly furnished by Captain James : — '• The Salcombe Castle left Lyttelton on the 12th instant, at 6 pm, and on the evening of the following day (Sunday) passed through Cook's Straits. At daylight on Monday morning the vessel was off Cape Egmont, the wind being S.E., and fine, and the Mount clear, with an appearance of fine weather. At 4 pm passed through Taranaki roads, showing the number of the vessel. On Tuesday morning the loth, at daylight, Mount Egmont could be soen distinctly there being a light breeze from tho E.N.E. At four pm Wood-head bore about east, being distant about nineteen miles. At six pm took in all small sail, and put the ship under easy, canvass. At 2am on Wednesday morning laid tho topsail to the mast and waited for daylight At six am it commenced to rain and the wind increased, when the topsail was filled on the starboard tack, and .at 7am got sight of land, but as the weather was so thick the Captain could not ascertain what it was. He wore the ship immediately, put her on the port tack, made sail, and soon lost sight of the land. At 11 am the land camo in sight again, and the ship seemed to be making nothing off it ; tho gale increasing, with a very high sea. The ship then appeared to be making lee-way rapidly, and at one pm more sail was made. At 8 pm Monganui Bluff bore about N.W. j N., and was about 5 miles distant, and all tho sail that could be prudently put, but it was. found impossible to work off the land. 3.50 pm, the ship was in broken water, with five fathoms soundings, and at 4 o'clock she struck hard abaft Tho Captain then put her on the port tack, and ran her on the beach. It was low water at tho time, the sea breaking over the vessel. It was only at Bam on the following morning, Captain James succeeded in getting on shore, and he climbed up the cliffs, which were nearly one hundred feet high and almost perpendicular. He looked around, but saw no natives or signs of habitations in any direction. At nine o'clock he returned to the ship and at ton, two native messengers were seen coming along the beach, bound for Hokianga. Ono of them, "a chief, named Eika Re Kereru, took a letter for Captain James to Mr Mariner, at Maungawhare, requesting him to send horses to convey the crow from the wreck. On Friday, the 18th, the messenger returned, accompanied by another native and horses, which Mr Mariner had kindly sent for the Captain's use. On Saturday about 10 am, twentythree natives, principally from Wairoa, visited the wreck, and did not attempt to pilfer anything. They simply asksd for some rope to tie up their horses, which was given to them, as also some refreshments. On Monday morning last, Captain James, .with the crew of seven men, proceeded along the beach, and on arriving at a place where a French ship,- the Almede, he thinks was • wrecked, halted for the night On the Tuesday morning the party to»k the inland route, and made for the chief Parero'spa, near to Maungawhare, where they arrived at 4 pm, and were kindly received by Parero himself. The crew halted thore for the night, and Mr Mariner sent & boat with four men to convey Captain James to Maungawhare the same night On the Wednesday morning Parero conveyed the crew to the same destination, and was paid for his trouble. On the Thursday morning the wbolf} party twiii passage to Jhc wau. boat for Kaipara,

— S-S-MMSMM-MSMSM-Ml'l IHI I I' i»aß______, W , M ,«d««fl where they arrived at 8 pm that night, and at 8 am the following morning they started for Lamb and Melvin's mill, Waitemata, where they arrived at 2 pm. From there they took boat, and arrived in Auckland at 8 o'clock on Friday night, all greatly fatigued and footsore. The erew 1 were sixteen hours on the wreck ; the sea breaking over the vessel so violently that they had to remain in the cabin. The rudder broke away; the stern was injured* and the vessel greatly strained, with a good deal of water 1 in her. The Salcombe Castle, was a British built schooner" rigged vessel, of about 255 tons, about 13 years old, having been classed A 1 for 11 years.- She has lately been on the slip in Sydney,, and was refitted with new sails, &o, at a total cost of £300, and turned out ready for the summer trade. She was to have loaded timber at McLeod's mill, Kaipara, for Lyttelton, and was only partially insured." The sails, gear, hull, &c, of the wreck will be sold to-day at auction by Mr Cochrane. The natives have engaged to save all that is possible and store it, until the owners claim them. We understand that steps have been taken to bring the nameß of Beveral natives, who rendered great and valuable service to the shipwrecked marinersj before the Government,— lbid, 28th Sep.