TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3342, 10 November 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Blenheim, 9th. — 2.50 p.m., Lyttelton from Wellington. The s.s. Phoebe, Captain Worsp, left Onehunga on the 7tk at 4.30 p.m. ; had strong weat winds ; anchored off faranuki on Bth, at 9,30 a.m. ; discharged and sailed at 1.30 p.m.; fresh westerly winds through the Straits. The steamer Samson, from Auckland, arrived last night, at half-past eight o'clock, but, owing to no berth being vacant, she anchored off. Tho N.Z.S.S. Co's s.s. Taranaki, Captain E. "Wheeler, left the Manukau on Tuesday last, at 4 p.m. ; arrived at Taranaki on the following morning, at 6 a.m., left again at 10 a.m. ; arrived at Nelson 'yesterday morning, at 4.30 a.m., left at 6.30 j arrived at Picton nt 3 p.m., left at 4 p.m., and arrived in this harbor yesterday evening at 8 p.m. The steamers Luna and Go-Ahead sailed yesterday morning, but came to anchor in Worser'e Bay in consequence of the heavy N.W. gale blowing in Cook Strait, Both vessels returned to port during fche afternoon, and took up their berths at tho Queen's wharf. The schooners Shepherdess, Enterprise, and Amateur also took their departure for the various stations on the coast, with stores, and will bring back return cargoes of wool for the London ships. The Queen Bee left Gravesend on the 16th September for Wellington. The following ara passengers by her: — Lieutenant and Mrs Gulliver and child, Mrs Dickens, Mrs Carruthere and child, Messrs Brown, Witherby, 8. S. W. Cowie, S. C. Miller, English, Delaney Ohatfield. The Now York correspondent of the San Francisco "Newa of the World" gives the following particulars with reference to the refitting of the steamer Dakota : — " In my last letter I noted the fact that the steamer Dakota was fitting up, and would Boon sail. Since then I have been informed by Mr Webb that eho will be delayed longer than was anticipated, owing to extensive alterations in her machinery, which, when completed, will make her one of the fastest vessels afloat. The alterations include a new set of tubular boilers, the previous set having been constructor on Mr Dickinson's principle, and found to be insufficient for the speed required. The valve gear, also, being of a somewhat complicated construction, and not generally understood by operative engineers, is to be removed. This involves giving the engine a new main cylinder and new valve gear. Tho new boilers are being constructed by Messrs John Roach and Son, of double the thickness of iron usually adopted in building massive boilers, and are intended to carry very high Bteam and operate the engines somewhat on the compound principle, from which it is expected the Dakota (a sister ship to the Nebraska) will attain even greater speed that that steamer has shown in her voyages to New Zealand and Australia. These extensive alterations will take tho remainder of the year to complete, bo that the ship cannot sail before Christmas. She will probably go direct to Auckland.