TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3097, 12 January 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Neison: 11th— Noon, Storm Bird, from Wellington. Poet Chalmers : llth-~8.30 a.m., Alhambra, from Bluff. The ship William Davio cleared at the customs, Jjyttelton, on the 7th instant with a full cargo of colonial produce. The Matador was loading at Foo Chow on the 6fch November, for New Zealand. H.M.S. Eosario haß been docked at Sydney to repair the damage caused by geeting on a reef in the South Seas. After being repaired, she will come on to New Zealand. The barque Ousuri, from Lyttelton, arrived at Otago on the Ist instant, with 100 bales of New Zealand flax, as part cargo for Boston, TJ.S.^ She was to fill up at Otago, and would sail for America at an early date. We are glad to chronicle this event, and trust this shipment will be alike beneficial to both countries. The schooner Banshee, from Pelorus Sound the Ist inst., with a cargo of sawn timber, arrived at Dunedin on the 4lb. The Lismore an Edinburgh •were loading timber at Havelock for Dunedin vrhen the Banshee left. The Jameß Nicol Fleming sailed from Otago for London on the 6th inst. She had seven cabin and eighteen steerage passengers ; and a valuable cargo consisting of 5119 balos wool and i Other coloniol produce. The b.s. Rangitoto, Captain Mackie, sailed for Melbourne on the 6th instant, with 16 cabin and 39 steerage passengers. She also had a valuable cargo including 10,7500zs gold, and a quantity of fine dressed flax. H.M.S. Blanche, Captain Montgomerie, was at Hobart Town on the 31st ulfc. \ The s.s. Storm Bird, which we recently stated had been sold by Messrs 3?reeth and Greig, haß been purchased by a Dunedin firm, who intend, •we understand, running her between Otago and Martin's Bay. M'Meckan, Bkckwood and Cob steamer Tararua arrived from Melbourne via Bluff, Dunedin, and Lyttelton, at 8 30 on Tuesday last. She sailed from Hobson's Bay on the 29th ulfc., at noon; passed through the heads at 2.45 p.m., and Swan Island at 5 p.m. next day. From leaving Port Phillip Heads, she encountered strong easterly gales, with high confused seas for five consecutive days, during which time she was obliged to ease her engines for 53 hours. The Solander was made at 4 a.m. on the sth, and Bluff Harbor reached at 10.40 a.m. ; discharged cargo, and left the earno afternoon at 4.30, experienced thick weather along the co«9t ; arrived at Port Chalmers at 8 a.m. on tho 6th ; discharged a large cargo and left ngain at 7 p.m. on the 7th, arriving at Lyttelton at 11 a.m. on tho Bth ; left again at 3.45 p.m. on 9th, arriving as above She sailed again yesterday afternoon, for Melbourne Nelson and Hokitika. We understand that it is probable that this vessel will not come here for a voyage or two, but will make Lyttelton her terminus. The brig Zingara, hence, arrived at Napier on the Bth inßtant. Tho three-masted schooner Ceara, Captain Darg, from China and Dunedin, arrived in this harbor yesterday afternoon, and took up her berth alongside the Queen's wharf. She has fiff.y tons •of tea, part of original cargo, and is consigned to Messrs Turnbull, Reeves & Co. Advices to tho 11th ult, have been received from New Caledonia. The Galatea arrived there on the 26th November, and received a royal salute. She only remained two days, and then left for Auckland. During her stay the Governor and tho leading men of Noumea gave a banquet to the Duke of Edinburgh. The gold commissioner had returned to Noumea, and reported to the Governor that the discovery of gold on an island was correcjb. — " Melbourne Argus." We are glad to be in a position to state that the Star of the South is once more afloat. The launch took place at hulf-pnet 6 o'clock this morning- the B.s. Rangatira being in attendance to tow her round to the Iron Pot, and likewise to render any other assistance, should it bo required. There seemed to have been some little doubt whether she would be launched this morning, owing to tho lowness of tbo tide, but it was at length (iecided to run the risk of failure j and accordingly at the time mentioned above, the dogs were knocked away by Messrs Lodder and Palmer, and the vessel glided gracefullyandrapidlyintohernativeelement Without the slightest mishap j in fuct it was one of the most successful launches we remember having seen When fairly afloat, the Rangatira took the Star in tow, and brought her round to the port, arriving too late, however, for the morning tide. The various Teasels in port displayed bunting in

honor of the event, as also did the several places of business where there were flagstaff^. When ready for sea — which we hope will not be long — it is probable that Mr Palmer will take command of the Star ; and we trust that the perseverance and industry which both that gentleman and Mr Lodder have' displayed in getting the vessel repaired and launched, will be duly rowarded. The Star of the South was always a " favorite" at whatever port she visited, and wo doubt not ahe will be a still greater favorite when again ready to proceed to sea. [As we go to press this even\ing, the Star is being towed into the iron pot /by the ss. Rangatira.]—" H. B. Herald," Jan. 9. The " Lyttelton- Times" of the sth instsays :— Several attempts had been made during the last few days to get the schooner Fairy off the Kaiapoi bar, but without success. The whole of her cargo, with the exception of a few telegraph poles, has been discharged, aud it is expected that she will be got off without damage as soon as the high tides set in. The Superb, from London for Melbourne, collided with the Nevuo Eulavio, Italian brig, in the Downes, 28th October. The brig lost jibboom, inaiuyard, and bowsprit, and had cap broken, bow rail, stanchions, &c, damaged. The Neuvo Eulario was damaged, and proceeded to Ramsgate in tow. The True Briton, from London for Melbourne, in anchoring at Plymouth, 26th October fouled the Recorno (Ricordo ?), Italian barque, and carried away her jibboom and head gear. ;The True Briton broke two shrouds of her fore-rigging, and received other slight damage. Captain Paddle reports a singular circumstance illustrative of the strength and tenacity of a description of seaweed which floats in immense patches off Cape Northumberland. On the last passago of the screw steamer Rangatira some fragments fouled the screw, and in such a dense mass was the course shapen that the vessel was at first greatly regarded, and finally completely stopped by its agency. On three separate occasions the engines were reversed to clear the seaweed, and even then it proved a matter of some difficulty. The Palinurus is the name of a nautical instrument, which only requires to bo seen on board to reccoramend itself strongly to shipmasters, especially those sailing in iron vessels or craft iron-sparred. The inventors Were Messrs Reynolds and Wiggings, and judging from Captain Stewart's expression of appreciation of its merits, it must cevtainly be. a most invaluable adjunct to the mariner. It determines instantly by shadow from the sun or observation by a star the deviation of a compass, and consequently shows the true course even in vessels where the local attraction deranges the magnetic current. To those interested a visit will be amply repaid by the courtesy of the master in explaining the modus operandi, which is most simple. There are several contrivances for the same purpose extant, but none seem to to have such simplicity with efficiency.— "Leader."