TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2492, 14 March 1867, Page 8

TELEGRAMS.

Port Chaxmkb9, March 12. Arrived. — 2 p.m., City of Dunedin, ship, from Glasgow ; 4.30 p.m., David and Jessie, from Adelaide ; 5 p.m., Jinhnoral, from Hobart Town. Sailed.-— 2 p.m., Mary Ann, forHokitika; 3.30 p.m., Caribou, ship, for Guam. Tho B.s. Storm Bird arrived at Nelson yesterday at noon from Fox'a nnd Hokitika. Owing to the heavy south-easterly gale which has been blowing her departure from that port has been delayed until four o'clock this afternoon, when she will leave for Wellington via Picton, and is due here about four or five o 1 clack on Friday afternoon. She leaves for Napier on Saturday. The s.s. Taranaki left Port Chalmers on her appointed date — Monday last, and there is no doubt but that she will reach this port early on Sunday morning, with the Nelson and Hokitika mails for England, via Suez, for transmission to Melbourne per s.s. Otago. Intending excursionists to Nelson by her may therefore be certain of her departure from Wellington for Nelson on Monday evening next, the 18th, at six o'clock, as advertised. The s.p. Wanganui, due hero on Tuesday, had not arrived at a late hour last night. From private intelligence received in town, we hear that the Wanganui sailed from Wanganui at one o'clock on Monday afternoon, but in consequence of having to contend with a strong gale from the south-west, she did not reach Cape Terawiti till four o'elook on Tuesday morning. Captain Low, finding lie could make no head against the storm, then ran into Ohim Bay, where, we understand, he intended to remain till tho gale was spent. The ship City of Dunedin, from Glasgow, arrived «t Port Chalmers at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Clyde Shipbuilding. — As usual at the end of tho year, we present our readers with statistic! showing the number of vessels built on the Clyde during 1866, and tho number now in hand. The result, as might have been anticipated, is unfavorable for tho pnst. tweivo months as compared with the preceding year. In 1866, the number of vessels built was 2^3, representing a total of 151,998 tons and 23,857 -horse power, while there were building or contracted for 185 vessels, with ft tonnage of 140.548 and 18,750- horse power, making in till 418 vessels, 292,546 tons, and '42,607-horse power. This year the returns show a considerable falling off, especially as regards vessels in hand. There have been built, excluding a few fishing and other boats of unimportant character, 239 vowels, representing a total of 132,619 tons and 16.974-horse power ; while there sire building or contracted ior 109 vessels, with a lonmcflof 81,511 and 9,337-horse power— making in all 34B vessels, of 214,130 tom,and 26.311-horse power. This shows a decrease from 1865 of 100 vessels 78,416 tons, and 16,296-horse power. Tim striking deficiency may be easily accounted for by the partial depression in the shipbuilding trade Avhich followed the cessation of tho war in America; by the subsequent monetary panic, ■which from the prevailing want of confidence, has had such an effect in limiting operations in so many branches of business, and also by the variances which have existed between employers and workmen in different departments, and particularly in the shipbuilding trade itself, tho disorganized ffata of that portion of the labor market having, we aro informed, been tho occasion of a loss to the Clyde of orders which, in the condition of matters, could not bo undertaken, to the extent of at least £350,000. The amount which from this cnuse the workmen in the shipbuilding trade have lost in wages has been estimated at from £150.000 to £160,000. Of that sum about £65,000 applies to tho period of the lock-out ; but ft should bo explained that only one-half of that amount was effected by the resolution of the masters, as one-half of the men would have been on strike at any rate during that time. The loss of the other portion of the £150,000 is due to the action of the workmen, in some of them remaining out after they had the option of returning to their employment. But these statements do not show all the injury which has bpen occasioned by this unfortunate dispute, and if we calculate on tho extent to which other branches have suffored who contribute to the get up of a vessel, it is believed tho actual loss in the value of shipping ■will not be much short of a million sterling. Tho struggle has now terminated, the men being now paid for the hours they work, although fifty-seven a week is considered the standard. The carpen- < ters were tho last to yield, having remained out on strike from sixteen to eighteen weeks, and during that period the repairing trade was almost at a complete stand, and orders had to be taken to other ports. At present the shipbuilding trade continues very dull. Few orders are coming in. An immense number of hands are in consequence idlo, and some of the masters are thinking of putting down Bhips to keep the men at work during the winter. A reduction of from 2s to 6s a week has taken place in tho wages of all classes employed in shipbuilding. Masters are using every endeavor to pay the men according to their merits ; and while some have been reduced by 5s or 6s, probably others have experienced no reduction at all. There is a general feeling entertained that the trade will experience a great revival in tho spring of next year ; but before the winter is over there is little doubt that much and increasing distress will bo experienced by tho workmen and thoir families. — North British Mail.