TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2921, 27 November 1869, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

Port Chalmers : 25—5.20 a.m., Phoebe, from Bluff; 6.45 p.m., Rangatira, from Lyttelton. 26 — 5 p.m., Phoebe, for Lyttelton. Lyttelton ; 25—8.45 a.m., Tararua, from Dunedin ; 8 p.m., Bengal, barque, from Dunedin. 26 — 3.45 pan., Tararua, for Wellington. Wanoanui : 25 — 11 a.m., Charles Edward, for Auckland. 26— noon, Storm Bird, from Auckland ; 12.45 p.m., Wanganui, from Wellington ; 1.15 p.m., Ahuviri, from Wellington ; 3 p.m., Sturt, from Patea. Hokitika : 25—1 p.m., Zephyr, for Melbourne. Greymotjth: 25—3 p.m., 1.0., from Melbourne ; Magnet, from Melbourne. The barque City of Newcastle sailed from port on Thursday afternoon. It may be remembered that this vessel was used of late years as the Panama Company's coal hulk, and more l'ecently as the receptacle for the condemned Maori prisoners, who are now expiating their light sentence of hard labor on the public works of Otago. J Captain Lusher has had charge of the vessel during her contract with the General Government for the retention of the colored convicts, and great credit is due to that gentleman for the very excellent manner in which he has rigged and fitted her out. Mr Holmes, pilot, unmoored and took the ship outside, and he was much pleased to notice the ease with which, under Captain Lusher's plans, the topsail yards were hauled home with three or four men. Mr Gan> naway, owner, is too well known in Wellington as skip's husband of the late Panama Company's, fleet of steamers, to require any encomium at our hands, but his enterprise in purchasing, fitting out, and sending to sea ono of the largest sailing vessels at present registered in New Zealand is worthy of notice. That gentleman, with a few friends accompanied the pilot outside of the lighthouse, and Captain Scott ent3rtained them previous to their departure. Wo shall be glad to hear that the " City" has made a speedy passage to Newcastle, and that her captain will earn the many friendly beta against time in his favor for the first week of 1870. The s.s. Wellington, Captain Holmes, from Auckland via Napier, arrived in this harbor yesterday morning, at 10 o'clock. She left Auckland on the 23rd inst., at 3.45 p.tn, ; aiTived at Napier on the 25th at 5 a.m. ; left again at 2.15 p.m., same day, and arrived in this harbor as above. She experienced fine weather and smooth water from Auckland to the East Cape ; and from thence to Hawkes' Bay strong southerly windß and hoavy sea. From Napier to Wellington light winds and smooth water. The Wellington passod the s.s. Eagle at 5 a.m. on the 26th inst., 15 miles north of Cape Palliser ; and the brigan.tine Esther off Cape Palliser. jj JThe s.s. Ahuriri, Captain Flowerday, sailed for Wanganui, Taranaki, and Manukau on Thursday evening last, with a general cargo and an average number of passengers. Tne s.s. Storm Bird is due here to-day from Wanganui. She is to receive a thorough overhaul, and will be ready to proceed to sea in about a fortnight's time. The f.\ Rangitoto, with the English mail, is expected here on the Ist December. The frequent desertions of seamen lately, and the attractions of the Auckland goldfields to them, who have been discharged and paid off, have occasioned an unusually active demand for Jack, the result of which is shown by a rise in his "Wages, and an increased inquiry for his services on board ship. The ruling pay for able seamen out of Wellington for many months past has been £4 per month, in intercolonial and foroign-goino; sailing vessels ; £5 for steamers, and from £5 to £6 for coasting traders. The trndency of this market is, in the meantime, upwards, through the agencies mentioned. The crew of the City of Newcastle, which sailed on Thursday afternoon, was quitted (as the auctioneers say) in one line at from £5 to £5 10s per month, excluding officers. Coasters now give £6 ; and some of the steamers are even being run short-handed rather than comply with the increased demand. In Bailing ships the wages of mates may be quoted at from £9 to £10 per month ; second mates, from £6 to £7 ; carpenters, from £8 to £10 ; cooks and stewards, from £5 to £7. The figures on board steamers aro generally in advance of these. The schoouer Kate having taken in cargo for Manawatu awaits a change of wind to proceed to sea. The ketch Falcon, loaded with a general cargo, sailed for Blenheim last evening. 'I he cutter Dawn (Manawatu trader) is at present employed in removing cattle from the islands in Cook's Strait to Porirua. This vessel will also bring down the wool from Mana and Kapiti for the London ships now in port. The schooner Shepherdess, hence to Palliser Bay sheep stations far wool, was at anchor in Worser's Bay late on Thursday night. The schooner Colleen Bawn, from the Grey, coal laden, has arrived safely at Kaiapoi. .Captain Thompson may be expected to return early next we;)k to keep engagements with the outport settlers. The brigantine Esther, cutter Glimpse, and ketch Elizabeth are still at active work on the East Coast fetching in this season's clip for the homeward hound ships. The steamer Charles Edward, from Nelson, arrived at Wanganui on the 23rd insb. She sailed on the 24th for Manukau with the following cargo : — 3O head of cattle, 15 calves, 30 pigs, and 4 horses.