ARRIVED.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 3382, 30 December 1871, Page 2

ARRIVED.

Decembeb. 29, Albion, b.b, 900 tons, M'Lean, from Melbourne, via South. Passeßgers— Messrs Inglis, Smith, Williamson, Mrs Carr and child, and 18 for Napier and Auckland. 29, Sfc Kilda, 8.8., 91 tons, Flowerday, from Wanganui. Passengers— Mr and Mrs Holmes, Mrs Rankin, Mrs Breohan and two childron, Messrs Godwin, Watt, Armstrong, Swunn, Mills, M'Leod, Toole. 29, Keera, S9, Curey, from Napier. Passengers—"Rev. Mr M'G-reggor, Mrs M'Greggor, Mrs Wiggins, Mrs Gordon, Mrs Smith, Messrs Catchpool, iCocre, Johnston, Wilson, Dean, Baunerman, Flannagan, Young, and Gordon. SAILED. " 29, Albion, s.s, 900 tons, M'Lean^for Napier and Auckland. Passongers— Messrs Arinadden, Lawes, Cheesman, Purnell, Douglas, Mrs Knowles and child, Mrs Ross, Mr and Mrs Nairn and family, Miss Lawes, Miss Hughes, Mr Eoyd and friend, Mr and Miss O'Neill, and eighteen original passengers from South for North. IMPOBTB. In the Albion, W. Bishop, agent— l case fancy goode, 3 cases cigars, Cohen ; 1 case saddlery, 1 parcel, Lowes; 2 qr-casks port -wine, 1 do whisky, 20 cases whisky, 10 do claret, 20 do moselle, J. Dranefield ; 10 brls resin, R. Cooper j 1 case, 1 pkge tobacco, Willeston } 2 qr-casks wine, order ; 2 trunks merchandise, 1 truss do, 1 roll matting, A. M'Lean; 2 oases, 2 bales, 2 trunks merchandise, J. M'Dowell & Co ; 1 case do, 1 parcel, W. Piloher ; 1 cask, 1 case, 2 crates, Parker ; 26 cases fruit, 6 half do do, Lucas ; 1 parcel, W. Lyon ; 1 do, M'Leon ; 50 cases fruit, W. M. Bannatyne & Co ; 3 coses merchandise, Pr Samuel ; 2do do, B. W. Mills ; 2do do, W Gibson; I hhd beer, Club; 1 case, W. Bishop ; 126 mats sugar, 50 boxes tea, Port ; 84 mats sugar, 11 cases, Gandy j 8 do, Crawford ; 1 parcel, Koowles. In the Dawn, Gandy, agent— 34 bales wool, Brown. In the St. Kilda, W. aiid G. Turnbnll and Co, agents— so bales phormium, order; 2 bales wool, E. Pearce ; 7 bales wool, T. & W Young ; 25 do do, Leven &Co ; 50 do do, W. and G. Turnbull &Co ; 1 parcel, Barlow ; 1 case, Lyon ; 15 bales pliormium, order. In the Keera, C. Hartmann, agent— l truss, Turnbull ; 14 bales wool, E. Pearce ; 1 box, Johnston & Co; 1 box, P. Laing j 1 box, Levin & Co; 134 bags potatoes, B. Smith 6 Co ; 1 case stationery, Commissioner of Stamps ; 1 parcel, Marks ; 1 box, Berry ; 40 kegs powder, Mills. EXPOIITS. In the St Kilda, W. & G. Turnbulll & Co, agents— l case oilman's stores, 8 boxes soap, 2 kegs carbonate soda, 10 bags flour, 1 case peel, 7 gunnies sugar, Mountain : 4 lengths gas pipe, 4 bends, 4 flanges, Barraud ; 6 boxes tea, 1 half-chest tea, 2 gunnies sugar, 1 pkg groceries, 1 truck, 2 cases salad oil, 1 do ealmon, 5 do kerosene, 2 do stnrch, 2 do blue, 1 chest eago, 1 pkg groceries, 2 half-chests tea, 1 tox tobacco, 1 do pipes, 16 boxes tea, £ case vestas, 1 chest, 1 keg nails, 1 case drapery, 9 gunnies sugar, 25 mats sugar, 1 case salad oil, 1 do vinegar, 1 do pickles, 1 do drapery, 2 gunnies sugar, 1 case drapery, 2 casks sugar, W. and G. Turnbull & Co ; 1 qr-cask rum, Young. In the Albion, W. Bishop, agent— l truss drapery, A. P. Stuart; 1 case furniture, W. James ; 1 case cigars, 3 cases, 2qr casks, 27 cases, 2 do moselle, 1 hhd, W. Bishop ; and a quantity of cargo, transhipped ex Tararua, from Melbourne. EXPECTED AltlllVAXS. Alhambra, h.s , from Melbourne via South, tbis day Phoebe, s.s, from the South, this day Rangatira, s.s, from the South, Ist PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Keera, s.s., for Napier, Poverty Bay, Tauranga, and Auckland, this day Alhambra, b.b. for Nel'on, Greymouth, Hokifcika, and Australia, this day Phoebe, b b, for Picton, Nelson, Taranaki, and Manakau, Ist Bangitira, ss, for Napier, 2nd

The Keera left Auckland on the 22nd Dec, arrived at Tauranga 23rd ; left same day, and arrived at Napier 25th ; sailed on the 28th, arriving alongside the wharf at midnight. Owing to a heavy sea breaking for a mile and a half off Poverty Bay was not able to land the Poverty Bay mails. Passed the s.s. Albion at 6.30 p.m. 29th off Cape Palliser. Experienced fine weather throughout the passage. Tho ship Electra has now on board 2500 bales wool and flax, besides a quantity of tallow, butter, and other produce. Her wool press having been broken a little delay will be caused thereby ; but it is expected sho will sail about the 10th January. The Queen Bee, consigned to Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co, will be pub on the berth for London direct immediately after her arrival. The s.s. St Kilda arrived late on Thursday night from Wonganui, with a full cargo wool and phormium for transhipment to the London vessels. Sho sailed again last night for Wanganui with a general cargo. The barque Annie pressed lur first bale of wool on the Queen's Wharf on the 18th Nor, and would, but for the scarconess of hands, have completed her loading on Saturday lust. She has now on board 2000 bales wool, 200 bales phormium, 50 kegs butter, nnd a quantity of bones and hides. About 150 bales remain to be pressed, and she will then be ready for sea. The steamship Albion, 900 tons, J. M'Lean, commander, cleared Port Phillip Heads at G p.m. on the 16th, and arrived at Bluff Harbor at 7 a.m. on the 21st ; discharged cargo ami left; at 5 p.m. same day, arriving at Port Chalmers at 4 a.m. on the 22nd ; sailed at 2 p.m. on the 26th, and arrived at Lyttelton at 10.30 a.m. on the 27th ; left at 12 30 p.m. on the 28th, arriving at Wellington on the 29th. The screw steam clipper Albion, which has had a somewhat chequered career since her first advent to Australian waters, is again about to enter on active service in tho intercolonial passenger trade. This well-known steamer, after a lengthened period of inglorious and unprofitable inactivity, during which eho was the subject of no small litigation, was ultimately disposed of by auction to Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co, who secured her as another addition to their already numerous fleet. On taking possession of their purchase, Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co, who use no half measures with regard to their vessels in the matter of alterations and repairs, but have things done on a thorough and liberal scale, determined to make such changes and improTements throughout the Albion as would fit her for taking a leading position in the intercolonial trado, or adapt her for any mail service — from here to Batavia for instance — which might be established. For this purpose she has recently undergono interiorly very extensive and material alterations, and her passenger accommodation of all classes may be fuirly said to hare been almost reconstructed. 3?or a number of weeks past the steamer has been entirely given over to all manner of artisans and artists, who have been exercising their ekill and taste in her very elaborate refit, and the result of their lubors has been an unqualified success. Tho hull has been carefully examined, and well scraped, and cleaned within and withoat, and is reported as being " sound as a bell." The engines have also been taken to pieces and portions renewed and strengthened where necessary, and they have also been fitted with several new improvements. The boilers have also been re tubed, and ari increased rate of epeed is anticipated. Two or three years ago the Albion was considered a comfortable and commodious vessel, and a favorite with voyagers to and from New Zealand, but the change in her passenger accommodations, both saloon and steerage, is now of so complete and marked ft character, that very few even of her old patrons would recognise her to be tho same vessel. There is a fine large spar deck for a promenade, and the saloon is entered by a

double companion, at tho top of which is tho captain's cabin. The saloon has been considerably enlarged by the former bertha of tho officers, and the stewards' pantries, &c, being shifted nearer the engine-room, and from the rich but light and tasteful style of decoration adopted, it presents quite a fairy appearance. The upholstery and furniture is of an expensive description, and the panelling round the after part of the saloon is blazoned with tho coats of arms of the various colonies and the arms of their chief cities, together with other heraldic and eniblematio devices The comfort of the passengers, however, has not been subordinated to show effect, and tho berths have been supplied with every adjunct to make voyaging pleasant. The ladies' cabin is also handsomely furnished, and is very roomy and light. The accommodations in the fore cabin are entirely new, and have been so arranged that there is ample space for each passenger, and thorough ventilation and light. There is also a separate apartment for females, aud all the arrangements which forethought could devise for the convenience of a large number of people on board ship have been made. Her refit aloft has likewise been of a thorough character, and the whole of her standing and running rigging, spars, canvas, &c, have been subjected to searching overhaul, and renewed where needed. The command of the Albion will be taken by Captain John M'Lean, a veteran in experionco in the inter* colonial steam trade, and especially in tho New Zealand trade. With him as chief officer will be Mr Bawden, formerly of the s s. Rnngitoto, and the chief engineer is Mr Mathieson, who was lately in the Aldinga. Mr J. E. Norris goes as purser. The work generally has been under the superintendence of Capt M'Meckan himself, who is never happier than when " up to his eyes" in business, and the overhaul of the machinery was supervised by Mr Kirkwood, the superintending engineer of the firm. Foi' the painting and decorative work. Mr Borfchwick is responsible, and the result of his efforts will bear n more than superficial scrutiny. Altogether a very considerable outlay has been made on the ship, and she is now a better property than when sho was a new vessel. The "Daily Times!' gives the following particulars of tho recont heavy galo at Port Chalmers : — At Port Chalmers the galo was one of the heaviest known there, and swept the harbor, making communication a matter of great danger. The ships, however, rode it out safely and without damage, although there were aome narrow escapes. The ships Peter Denny and Otago both started their anchors, the latter driving down close on the May Queen. The E. P. Bouverie and James Nicol Fleming held well, aB also did the Carrick Castlo and Glenhuntly. Several lighten drifted, but were secured from damage. In the upper harbor, tho Naval Brigade pinnace dragged from her moorings and drifted in near a sandy beach close to Black Jack's Point, but once in shelter her anchor held her well. A dingy drifted on to the beach close to the same spot. The yachts, on tho whole, rode out the galo very well. Mr Green's Frolic, which has a very low free-board, filled with water and sank. The baths creaked much, and appeared as if they would go, but they hold out. A large amount of timber, that had no doubt been blown off tho various jetties, was seen floating down the bay.