SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 4072, 7 April 1874, Page 2

SHIPPING TELEGRAMS.

Pioton. — April 6th, arrived — 8 a.m., Taranaki, from Wellington; sailed at 0.30 p.m. for Nelson. Lxttelton,— April 6th, arrived — 9.45 a.m., Mongol, from Wellington. Sailed — 2 p.m., Mongol, for Dunedin j 3.15 p.m., Ladybird, for Wellington. In the course of Saturday afternoon the wind increased to a stiff breeze from the N.W., and during the night became very severe. Shortly before dawn the barque Malay, only lately arrived from Newcastle, which wbb merely moored to one of the buoys, parted her cable and drifted fast away before the wind acroas the bay. The crew, in the confusion of the hour, had no time to get the anchor free, and before anything could be done to bring her up she struck ground just at the end of Clyde Quay, her bow pointing towards the bathe, and in a few minutes she was fast aground broadside to the wind, where beneath the heavy gusts she has gradually careened over some degrees; The Malay had no anchor out, and, firmly though the buoys are anchored, sufficient warning was giTon in the course of the afternoon of what the gale would prove, and experience should have told that at leaßt one anchor ought to be dropt for safety's sake. Late on Sunday night the barque Canaille, which only arrived four days ago, parted her cable and the rope by which she also was moored to a buoy, and drifted across almost to the identical spot where the Malay was lying ; but, being deeper laden, she brought up about fifty yards further out, with her bow facing the city. Her starboard anchor was dropped, and it is probable but little expense or trouble will be necessitated in getting her off. With the Malay there will be more trouble, as she lies very nearly altogether out of the water ; but when the wind veers round to the South, a3 the weather-wiae prognosticate it will, she may yet be got off with the help of eteam power. Most likely, however, both vessels will need to be relieyed of some portion of their cargo, the Malay having some 200 tons aboard, the Camilla about twice that quantity, The ketch Alert followed the Canaille, and now lies stranded not far from the gas works, but little injured. Having had these warnings before them, the other vessels in harbor took extra precautions, and no other casualties occurred. It is a very long time since such a scene as the stranding of two such large vessels as the Malay and Camille has been witnessed within Bight of the wharf, and it is to be hoped that it will never happen that another vessel should be driven ashore in such a land-locked harbor as that of Wellington. Owing to the violence of the wind, there were no arrivals or departures of vessels recorded during yesterday. The etsamer Rangatira was passed by the Mongol, according to her purser's report, at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning, eleven miles to leeward of Baring's Head, the wind at that time blowing a strong gale, and had not arrived up to a late hour last night. It is of course mere matter of conjecture where the Bangatira may have. taken shelter, but there is happily as yeb no cause to doubt her ultimately reaching this port in safety. A signal made on Sunday eveniiag led to the belief that she was then in sight, and likely to reach the port, but this proved not to be the case. By the observations taken early yesterday morning, the weather was calm on the eastern seaboard of the Middle Island, but at the Blaff a strong S.W. gale was blowing. The N.W. wind appears to have prevailed generally over the North Island, and at Castle Point it was blowing a gale. As in the oase of the disastrous gale a month ago, there is every indication of the southerly wind bringing back a heavy fall of rain after the N.W. gale has expended its fury. By a telegram received during the afternoon the report of the morning was supplemented, and it was stated that the wind had sprung up all down the coast, and increased to a gale. Nevertheless the Ladybird is telegraphed as having left Lyttelton at three o'clock for Wellington, and the Mongol at two for Dunedin, so that probably the wind had moderated. The Mongol had made a fast passage of sixteen hours to Lyttelton. The arrival of the steamor Napier, which left the wharf at two p.m. on Saturday for Wanganui) has not yet been telegraphed. Probably it is the same with her as with the Kangatira. Captain Evans, of the Manawatu, •which arrived here on Sunday morning, saw her standing out oloae reefed in the distance, and thinks she was making for Port Underwood. There is email doubt the little steamer has managed to secure a snug shelter somewhere from the fury of the gale. Captain Eussell, Marine Surveyor, and the contractor who recently raised the steamer Tuapeka from the Clutha river, have, on behalf of the New Zealand Insurance Company, held a survey on the Kate Brian, as flhe sow lies wrecked at the Mokomoko.

The ketch Flying Squirrel, of Dunedin, Otago, has been sold to a gentleman in Lyttelton, and will shortly sail for that port under her new owner. The Faithful, another vessel, which for some time past has done good service in harbor as a lighter, has aho changed hands, and will go shortly to Lyttelton harbor to serve in a similar capacity there.