EXPECTED ARRIVALS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2052, 23 April 1864, Page 2

EXPECTED ARRIVALS.

Lord Ashley, s.s., from Lyttelton and Otago, due I Queen, s.s., from Napier and Auckland, 27th Rangatira, s.s., from Lyttelton and Duuedin, 28th Airedale, s.s., from Lyttelton, Otago, and the Bluff 28th Storm Bird, s.s., from Wangauui, Taranaki, Raglan, and Manukau, April 31st Phoebe, s.s., Ferguson, from Picton, Nelson, Taranaki and Manukau, 3rd. Lady Bird, s.s., from Sydney and Nelsou Wellington, s.s., from Glasgow Nimroud, from Cardiff PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Lord'Ashley, s.s., for Napier and Auckland, 24th > Rangatira, s.s., for Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, 1 and Manukau, 29th Phoebe, as., for Canterbury, Otago, and the Bluff, on the 29th.

The W.S.N. Company's s^s. Wanganui, Captaiu Linklater, sailed from Wanganui on Sunday morning, the 17th inst, at 7.15 a.m., for Baglan, with a cargo of 48 head of cattle and 330 sheep. She arrived off Baglan on Monday at 3 a.m., and crossed the bar at 7 a.m. Lauded stock, and sailed again on Tuesday evening, at 6 o'clock, for Taranaki, where she arrived on Wednesday, at G. 30 a.m. Left again Bamo day, G. 15 p.m., for Wanganui, and arrived off the bar at 5 a.m. on Thursday. Crossing the bar at G.2oa.m. Loft Wanganui the same day for WelUngton, crossing the bar at 10.10 a,m., and arrived in this harbor the same evening, after a fine passage of 11. houiu Previous te her reaching the wharf, threo guns were fired, and a large number of people collected ready to board her. As soon as sho came alongside, three hearty cheers were given for Captain Linklater and the new. company. The Wanganui is apparently a first class vessel, something of the model of the Bangatira, but with a little more beam. She is fitted with a steam winch, which affords great facilities for loading and discharging atbothfore and aft hold. The saloon is very elegantly fitted up, and the accommodation for passengors is complete. Altogether the vessel is a credit to om 1 enterprising Wanganuifriends, and we trust they may derive much benefit and profit from their venture. It will be seen by an advertisement in another column, that tho Wanganui is laid on for tho new diggings, to sail on Monday evening.

The s.s. Wonga Wouga, Capt Cellem, sailed from Wellington on Saturday tho IGth, at 8 p.m., arrived at Wanganui on Sunday at 1 p.m. Left Wanganui on Tuesday, the 19th, at 0 p.m., and arrived at Taranaki ou Wednesday, at 1 30 p.m Sailed again the same evening, at 5.30 p.m., arrived at Wanganui on Thursday, the .Ist, at 9 a.ni. ; and sailed again at 10.30 a.m., after an hour and ahalf's detention, and arrived in this harbor at 1 a.m. of the 22nd. She experienced fine weather throughout tho paßßage.

The steamers Wanganui, Susannah Outhbert, brig Wee Totle, and schooner Excelsior, wero at Taranaki when the Wonga Wonga, was there on Wednesday last Tho b.s. Wanganui left vVanganui an hour before the Wonga.

The Btoamers Storm Bird and Susannah Outhberth, crossed the bar as tho Wonga left

The barque Bose haß about 300 bales of wool on boai'd, besides other produce, and we understand there is about 250 bales on shore ready for shipment The schooner Success leaves this port to-day for Napier, for a cargo of wool for the barque. The Sea Serpent and Esther ara also both expected with wool

The B.s. Wonga Wonga, Captain Cellem, will leave for Wanganui immediately on.the arrival of tho English maiL

The as. Scotia — Wa are informed by the agents for this veßßel, Mesars Levin & Co, that on her amval in Melbourne, from Otago, Bhe was to be taken on the patent slip, to clean and repaint This may account for the delay In her arrival here, as expected. The Scotia is a Une new stoamer of 900 tons register, 180 horse power, nominal, and is the first vessel of the Otago Steamship Company. She waß to be followed by the Albion, a sister ship, and built for the same Company. The following are the particulars of the Otago Steamship Company's Bteamer Scotia's trial trip to Melbourne ; Scotia left PortOhalmers at 12.80 p.m. on Thursday, 24th March. A strong southerly wind to Buapuke Island, where she arrived at 3 next morning. A thick fog and rain, Ship hove to till 7, then half speed. At 8 saw Oity ofHobart close to. Passed Bluff at 10 o'clook, atrong galea head. Made the Swan 'at 4 p.m. on the 29th inst, __tere_ Port Philip heads at 1.80 pm on the 80th. Speed: averaged, 10 knots throughout. From Swan going 11 to 12.

Tho Wanganui made a favourable trip to Nelsou. She pasßed the heads at 2 p.m. of the llth; brought Up in Blind Bay at 3 o'clock next morning, to wait for the tide ; arrived at Nelson at 11.30 a.m. While in charge of the pilot, who ran her up to the wharf with full steam on, she ran foul of the Airedale's quarter and carried away some of her stsnehions and network, at the same time breaking an iron plate in her own bow. The damage done to both vessels is about £100. It was found that the tides wero too low to admit of tho vessol being put on the gridiron to have her bottom cleaned, as was intended, and on Wednesday she was swung for the adjustment of her compasses; on Thursday at 11.30 p.m. left Nelson wharf and arrived at the heads at 1 p.m. yesterday. All the passengers, soino of whom were experienced seamen, wero highly pleased with tho vessel's performance. Notwithstanding her foul bottom, she made 9£ knots under steam alone with ease, and there was an almost eutire absence of that jerking and clanking which are bo disagreeable in the most of screw steamers.— Wanganui Chronicle, 10th instant

We understand that the Directors have resolved to ran the Wanganui between Wellington and Manukau, calling at all intermediate ports; and we are sure that her superior accommodations and fastness will make her tho favorite boat for passeugers. We are not aware if the fares and rates of freight aro to be lowered; but think that instead of a needless running down of rates in a profitless competition, it would be well if the two bodies of directors would agree upon a scale of charges, some--1 what lower than the present, but such as would be fair and reasonabla We suppose that the directors of our local Company will apply for the subsidy for the conveyi mcc of the English mail from Wellington, to which, f ,'am local as well as other circumstances, they have certa inly the best right, as will no doubt be admitted in the pr oper quarter, when application^ is made. We Bhould sui 'P o3e th" I ' a subsidy might also be obtained from the Post-office for the conveyance of. provincial mails; but the .directors will no doubt have had this matter under cons Ideration. We believe there is every prospect of the Wan.Vanui getting good freights northwards, for sometime; and as Messrs Taylor and Watt give her all their goodß from Wellington, and the other storekeepers have also am interest in doing so, full cargoes may be expected thence. We have observed it stated that the Wanganui is exactly similar to the Bangatira. This is not the case, as the former is six inches broader in the beam and draws six inche s less water than the latter; and the Wanganui is also fitted out in a superior manner, not only as regards what may he called luxurious accommodation for passengers, but also and moro particularly, as respects her sailing appliances. For instance, her steering apparatus is on the newest and most improved plan, and the self regulating action of the screw is an improvement conducing much to steadiness of motion.— lbid, 20th inst

The Times contains tho following communication regarding the practicability of temporarily remedying the dangers of leakage from the loss of rivets in iron ships : " On the passage of the iron ship Dewa Guiigadhur from Singapore, withi a full cargo of general goods, after rounding tho Cape of Good Hope, about tho 20th of September, blowing a gale and the ship under double reefed topsails, sounded the pumps aud found she had 18 inches of water in her, which being fdurteen inches more than usual, the captain felt sure that a leak had broken out somewhere, and was very anixous to ascertain tho cause. He supposed it arose from the bolt-holes of the trail or head boards, which had been washed off in a gale on the 23rd of September, and the bolts drawn out from the plates. The holes were with much difficulty stopped, after removing tho cargo in the f orehold, but without reducing the quantity of water coming into the ship, or of the labor at the pumps. It was then apparent that the leak must be in the bottom of the ship, by the loss of a rivet or otherwise, and captain and crew were very axiously employed for six days and nights in searching for it It was at last found that a rivet was out of a.butt in the third plate from the keel, just abaft the foremast, which after cutting away ceiling to get at it (the cargo in the way having been placed on deck, and covered with sails and tarpaulins), was plugged with wood for the time The first calm weathor afterwards was occupied in putting in a permanent screw bolt, which the captain had prepared with gutta percha washers outside and in, and a nut on the inside to fix altogether, and which was done in tho following manner :— A spike noil was tide to the.end of a skein of twine and forced through the hole from the inside, and other spikes were attached to the line at intervals of about two feet, until a quantity of this twine, with the nails attached to it was payed out through the rivet hole; the ship's bottom was then swept with a fishing line, which got entangled with the spike nails, and enabled them to be hauled on board, paying out tho twine from the inside of the ship's hold as required. The rivet which the captain had made ready was then lashed to the twine, after cutting off the spike nails, dropped overboard, and carefully drawn through the hole from the inside into its place, washers put upon it, and the nut then screwed on, to make all secure.

Passenger Smrs.— An Order in Council has been issued respecting the Passenger Act, 185G, which revokeß the Older in Council dated the 25th of Febmary, 1855, and directs that another, now published, shall henceforth be observed for preserving order, for promoting health, and for securing cleanliness and ventilation, to be observed on board of every passenger ship proceeding from the United Kingdom to any port or place in her Majesty's possession abroad, out of Europe, and not being within the Mediterranean Sea. It is specified, among other ruleß, that passengers shall rise at 7 a.m,, at which hour the flreß shall bo lighted. The breakfast hour is between eight and nine o'clock, and before that time all emigrants, except those under medical orders, are to be out of bed and dressed, and the beds rolled up, , and tho deck on which they sleep properly swept Dinner is to be at one o'clock, supper at six; fires are to be put out at seven o'clock, and the emigrants are to he in their berths at ten. On Sunday the passengers are to bo mustered at ten a.m., and aro expected to appear in decent apparel. Tho day is to be observed as religiously as circumstances will admit No smoking shall be allowed between decks. The following kinds of misconduct are striotly prohibited :— All immoral or indecent acts or conduct, taking improper liberties or using improper familiartities with the female passengers, using blasphomous, obscene,, or indecent language, or language tending to a breach of tho peace, swearing, gambling, drunkenness, fighting, disorderly, riotous, quarrelsome, or insubordinate conduct — Times, Jan 15.

Burning of tub Martaban by toe Alabama.— The following detailed statement of the burning of the Martaban by the Alabama, was mado to us by the captain of tho lost ship : — " I left Amherst on the 12th for Singapore, having ou board a cargo consisting of 12,354 bags of rice. On the following day, at two p.m., Pulo Penang and tho Carimons plainly in sight from the deck, made a steamer steering to the North, which, upon Making out the Martaban, altered her course directly for us; and when within one mile, set tho Confederate ilag and fired a gun across our bows. In answer, I immediately settheßritish ensign at the peak, and hove to. Upon nearing the Martaban, an armed boat's crow, with an officer left the steamer, and came alongside. The officer when coming on board, demanded to see the ship's papers, which I immediately produced. The papers were — register, port clearance, and bill of lading. Upon examination tho officer informed me that they weife. not satisfactory, and that he should take charge untuMe could communicate wiuYhis commander, Captain Semmes, of the Alabama. Calling two armed men, one of whom was stationed on the forecastle, the other on the poop, he sent the boat back with a mossago to Captain Semmea, who at once came on board the Martaban, and demanded td'see my papers. I handed him th^ register, which ho examined. (The register was a bona fide British register on parchment, issued by tho proper British authorities in Moulmeln.) After examining this document, Captain Semmes said to me that he was not " to be humbugged by auy false papor," that I ought tohave had a certificate that the transfer was legal, aud that he should bum my ship. Upon this I said that the documents I held wore legal and sufficient proof of my nationality, and protested against his burning the vesseL To this he paid not tho slightest attention, but went bn deck, and said to his officer, " Sir, you will bum this vesseL" He then returned on board the Alabama. Tho first lieutenant then ;came on board the Martaban, and took charge, hauled down tho English flag that wasflyiug at the peak— let go anchor, clued up sails, and mado preparations for setting the vessel onflrp, staving in the cabin skylights to mako a good draft Ih the meantime my crew by his orders had hoisted out my ship's boat, and gone on board tho Alabama, loaving myself and offlcors on board, who were ordered to pack up a few clothes, giving us half an hour to do so, and follow them. I was allowed two small trunks, my officers each a small bag, armed men in the cabin watching the packing, t was assured by tho first lieutenant that the contents of my two trunks would bo respected, but my two chronometers aud all my nautical instruments wero taken from me. The Alabama then proceeded up the straits, and atmidnight camo.to anchor, five miles off the town of Malacca. Steam was kept up all night At daybreak, I was^alledupon to open my trunks, which were searched by an officer and the master at arms. A bag containing 400 rupees was taken from me, and also a night-glass, and part of my private papers. My officers' bags, were searched in the same mannor. We were then required to sign our parole not to serve against the Confederate States until exchanged. We wero put on hoard tho Alabama's boat (my ship's boat having beon broken while towing) aud landed at Malacca."— Java 2'imes, Jan 14.

A Vessel Carried over Niagara Falls.— An obliging correspondent at Chippewa sends us an (account of a melancholy occurrence which took place at the Niagara Biver on Monday last, which resulted in the death of ono man hy being carried over the fall, and caused imminent peril to five others, as woll as the loss of a small vesseL About eleven o'clock in the morning the steamer A. D. Griffin, of Buffalo, reached that port, having in tow two scows, the Abbey and the A. Murray, of Port Bobinson. The captain of tho steamer not knowing tho depth of water, kept too far into tho river with not sufficient steam to keep head-way on the bcows. One of the latter, the A. Murray, striking against the spiles at the entrance of tho harbor, swung around with the current almost into the jaws of the, mighty cataract Tho captaiu and four mon who were on board seeing the helpless position into which the vessel had got, and tho great peril with which they were threatened— being within less than five minutes' distance of tho great fall— leaped from the vessel, and boldly struck for shore. Four bf them, tho captain included, succeeded by great exertions in maintaining themsolves above the surface ; but, sad to relate, tho fifth sank amid tho leaping and boiling waters, and was carried over the cataract In tho meantime a boat manned by two brave men shot out from tho mouth of Wellaud River to the assistance of the helpless beings in tho scow. The oarsmen, Messrs F. Lauzan, junr, and Georgo Morse, pulled boldly and swiftly out, rescued the men from their perilous position and succeeded in reaching the shore just above the first rapid. One minute more and they would have been carried over the falls to the great gulf below. Too much praise cannot bo given to the men by whose presence of mind and courage' four human beings, were thus rescued from certain destruction. The scow glided along the stream till it reached a rook almost on the brink of the cataract, where its course was stopped, and where it will remain till broken up by the ice in the spring,— Toronto leader, 10th Dec.