ARRIVED.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3252, 15 July 1871, Page 2

ARRIVED.

JULY.

14, Omeo, s.s., 1000 tons, Calder, from Melbourne, Tia the West Coast. Passengers: Cabin— Miss Greenwood, Dr Boor, Mr Lynch, Master Sunning j 7 steerage. SAILED. Id-Nil. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Lord Ashley, 8.8., from Napier, Tauranga, and Auckland, this day Eangatira, s.s., from the South, 18fch Wellington, s.s., from the South, 20th Taranaki, c.c., from Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manukau, 21st PEOJECTED DEPAKTUKE3. Omeo, s.s., for Melbourne, via the South, this day Lord Ashley, s.s., for the South, lGlh Eangatira, s.s., for Napier, 19th Taranaki, s.s., for the South, 20lh Wellington, s.s., for Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manukau, 21sfc The s.s. Omeo, Captain Calder, cleared Port Phillip llortds at 9 p.m. on the 3rd instant. Sxperieneed fresh W. and S.W. winds, and arrived off Grreymonth at 2 a.m. on the 9th. Proceeded on to Hokitika, and stood off and on until the morning of the 11th ; then anchored until 9 a.m. on the 12th, when the steamer Despatch came down from Greyniouth and took in passengers. Left for Nelson at 11 a.m. same day, and arrived at 1 p.m. on the 13th. Sailed at 7 a.m. on the 14th, and arrived at Wellington at 6 p.m. We thank Mr Norm for full files. A cyclone is reported as having occurred near Aden Canal, and the steamer Colling■wood is supposed to have foundered. The steamer Brea'lalbane was lost on the Bed Sea coast 5 the crew, passengers, and part of the cargo wero saved. »'fThe mail steamer Behar, from Bombay, broke down, and a new boat, the Khedive, has come, via the Canal, to take her place on the China line. The Dutch are starting a monthy line of steamers between Java and Holland, via the Canal. A coolie tradgey has taken place in the China seas. A ship was burnt, and 600 out of 650 lives were lost. The ship Mainear Scott has been lost. The loss of the Queen of the Thames has been attributed by the " Times" to the desire for a sharp run. The passengers arrived homo safe. In view of the recent loss" of the Queen of the Thames from mistaking a point on the South African coast, it may be worth quoting from the "Gazette" a notice from a Cape colony authority : — " From and after the 31st of December, 1870, the Roman Rock Lighthouse, Simon's Bay, will be painted in broad horizontal bands of red and white." The "Times," in commenting upon the accident to the Queen of the Thameß, hints that it was caused by a desire to make a sharp run, and pooh-poohs the idea of a master being out of his reckoning by local attraction or the currents. This is scarcely fair to the master of the Queen of the Thames, for Bhe is not the firßfc vessel, by something like a score, that has been lost on almost the same spot, from causes which, so far as we have heard, have never yot been accurately defined. The "Times" cays nothing of the wind prevailing at the time, probably because the writer was not aware of the fact that nearly all tho shipping disasters which have occurred off the Cape Coast have resulted from endeavoring to force vessels round Cape l'Agulhas in the face of heavy north-westerly gales. Then, even were the weather fair, and tho winds light, the coast is not less dangerous ; for it is known, by those who have read the reports of the investigations held into the loss of vessels at about the same spot, that, after n north-west gale, the normal velocity of the current is increased to an extent hitherto incalculable, so variable ia it in its nature. Indeed, we know it to have been proved, in more than one instance, that when the commander of a vessel has believed himself, by accurate reckoning, to be Borne twenty or twenty-five miles at sea, the •' look-out" has reported " breakers ahead," and the vessel has almost immediately taken the ground. — " European Mail." FIRE ok the SHIP MARY SHEPHERD. Early yesterday morning a fire broke out on board the ship Mary Shepherd, which was berthed alongside the Sandridge Railway Pier. This fine vessel only arrived in port yesterday ■week from London, and had a Jarge cargo of general merchandise, which is only partially discharged. That portion which was stowed in the lower hold was not touched, and consists principallj of railway material, ironmongers' ware, cement, tar, pitch, earthenware, malt, brandy, and salt — the latter consisting of about 100 tons. This, of course, will be totally lost by tho submersion consequent on the vessel being scuttled. The fire was first observed about half-past 3 o'clock by the watchman on board, who saw smoke issuing from the cabin. He immediately gave the alarm, by calling the captain and all hands. A boat was sent to tho Nelson and to the harbor department for assistance, which was speedily rendered. Amongst the first to arrive at tho vessel were Captain Doran, the assistant harbor-master; Mr Roae, of the Customs j tho water police ; Mr Boyd, chief officer of the ship Essex ; Captain Gray, of (.lie ship Loch Lomond ; Captain Vine, the railway company's piermaster ; Captain Payne, chief harbor -master 5 and Mr Elder, superintendent of tho marine yacd, but when the two latter gentlemen arrived at the vessel 6he had been scuttled on one side. Those who first arrived at the ship were able to lend great assistance, and the carpenter of the Essex proved himself of much service, and deserves great praise, as he, with the assistance of the carpenter of tho burning ship, unshackled the chains, and with tho scuttling gear which Captain Doran brought with him, sunk the vessel. Captain Payne, on his arrival, ordered her to be scuttled on the other side also, which was accordingly done. As she now lies ehe has the appearance of a vessel being very heavily laden, the only strange look about her being that she is to deep in the water. It can in no way bo ascertained as yet in what way the fire originated, but the general opinion is that it commenced in the lower hold, otherwise the upper- work of the ship must havo been destroyed ; and what strengthens this opinion is, that no flames were to be seen, only an immense body of smoke, previous to tho hatches being placed on. Captain Gray, of tho Loch Lomond, managed to secure the chrouometerf, charts, &c, from tho captain's cabin. About v o'clock rockets were fired, which were mistaken at Williatnstown as being let olf from the steamship Somersetshire, whicL was on the point of sailing. The steamtug Sophia towed the ship from the pier to the place where sho is now lying scuttled in about four fat/ioms of water, at a distance of about five or six cables' length from the Sandridge town pier. There still remains in the vessel nbout 700 tons of cargo in the lower hold, the cargo which was 'tween decks having been taken out. It is believed that the vessel is partially insured, but Captain Croot is not certain of the fact. It is expected that tho vessel will be raised in a few days. It is fortunate that there was little or no wind at the time, or far more serious damage might have been caused. The Mary Shepherd is a full-rigged ship, belonging to* Messrs John Ledgett and Son, oi' London, aiad is nearly 13 years old, having two years to run on her first letter. She was built at Sunderlaud, und is of 905 tons burthen. Sho was consigned to W. Crosby and Co.—" Argue," July 3.