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SHIPPING.

ARRIVAL.

AT THE BAR.

JANUARY 6—Naval Brigade, barque, 541 tons, Captain Downing, from London. Pas- sengers: Thos. Irving, Eliza Irving, Sarah Irving, Charlotte Irving, James Irving, Charlotte Irving, E. J. Noble, Thos. Miller, R. Levinge, Peter Drury, E. A. Maitland, T. S. Kennedy, W. S. Paget, H. Newsome, Sarah Clarke, Harriett Gilham, Fredk. Offord, Mary Offord, Mary Banks, Alfred Banks, Jane Shaw, Eliza Ann Shaw, Sarah Shaw, Margaret Shaw, Thos. Bowsby, E. Goodacre, and J. Hart. J. and G.

Harris, agents.

CLEARED.

Januarv 6.—Countess of Belmore, schooner, 61 toms, Captain Le Gros, for Townsville, Somerset, and Normanton. Passengers : Mr. and Mrs. J. Hanran and family.

EXPORTS.    

Countess of Belmore, schooner, for Towns- ville, Somerset, and Normanton : 40 bags flour, 18 bags 15 mats sugar, 11 bags salt, 10 pack- ages groceries and provisions, 4 bags rice, 4 half-chests tea, 3 kegs carbonate of soda, 4 cases, 1 bale woolpacks, 3 drums oil, 1 drum turps, 2 kegs paint, 1 bale, 1 quarter-tierce tobacco,

Webster and Co. ; 9 cases, 7 csks, Telegraph  

Department ; 12 packages groceries and provi-  

sions, 1 bag sago, 6 cases brandy, 3 boxes soap,     2 bags rice, 3 chests 4 half-chests tea, 2 cases     sundries, 1 bag soda, 15 bags flour, 31 cases   kerosine, 1 box tobacco, 1 case drapery, 1 keg   wire, 1 quarter-cask vinegar, 1 keg whisky, 1 package twine, 1 case gratings, 1 dozen brooms. Quinlan, Donnelly, and Co. ; 2 cases, 1 cask, 1

bundle buckets and axes, Perry Brothers ; 2 pieces castings with wheels, Hood and Co. ; 4 cases  

furniture, Goeldner and Swanlind ; 8 cases pickles, 32 bags rice, 2 chests tea, 1 quarter- cask 2 cases vinegar, Holmes and Ramsden ; 2 cases furniture, J. Petrie ; 1 case, Collector Customs ; 20 skeins twine, 3 bags, rice, 10 mats sugar, 2 cases kerosine, 2 casks peas, 1 keg lime juice, 1 box tobacco, 1 box pipes, 1 chest tea, 1 tin mustard, 2 sails, 2 tents, 1 chest, 2 coils rope, 2 tierces, 2 kegs, 5 casks bread, 2 boats, masts, yards, and oars, 2 pots, 1 cask molasses, 1 cask berrings, 2 buckets, 2 anchors, D. Dring ; 7 cases flour, Colonial Storekeeper ; 10 bags maize, 10 bags flour, 2 boxes, tobacco, 1 quarter-cask treacle, 1 case drapery, E. B. Forrest; 1 cask ale, Tabbett ; 1 pack-

age drapery, Finney, Isles, and Co. ;     16 packages furniture, 1 horse, J. Hanran ; 2     packages furniture, 17 packages groceries; and     provisions, 2 bags meal, 1 cask nuts, 150 bags   flour, 3 dozen buckets, 10 bags bran, 20 cases     ale, 2 casks stout, 1 bag onions, 1 case bedsteads,   1 cask ¡ead, 1 truss canvas, 20 bales fibre, J.     Burns.    

 

IPSWICH STEAMERS.—The Louisa, from Raff's wharf at 11 a.m. ; and the Ipswich, from the     A.S.N. Co.'s wharf, at 12.30 p.m., to-day.      

The Rangatira, ss., leaves for Sydney at 3      

o'clock to morrow aftemoon.

The James Paterson, ss., leaves for Mary-   borough, Gladstone, and Rockhampton, at 4     o'clock to-morrow afternoon.  

The barque Naval Brigade, from London,   anchored at the bar yesterday afternoon. Messrs. J. and G. Harris, the agents, at once despatched the steamer Emma, for the purpose of bringing up tbe passengers and cargo.

THE VOYAGE OF THE NEVADA.  

Certain passengers, arrived by the Nerada,     have made the following communication :—     " (To the Editor of tbe New Zealand Heralad.)    

"Sir,—The undersigned passengers, per the     steamship Nevada, desire to direct attention,     through your columns, to tbe condition of the       vessel, and to protest against the disregard of

public convenience and safety which evidently     characterises the management of the United     States, New Zealand, and Australian Mail Ser-     vice. Without wishing to magnify the perils     and discomforts of the voyage we have just   completed, we feel called upon to make known     the unseaworthiness of the Nevada, and to     condemn in the strongest terms the reckless-     ness—to call it by no harsher name —   on the part of the ship's owners who     continue to run this vessel with imminent   danger to human life. For months past     the Nevada has been altogether unfit to     encounter the contingencies of a long sea    

voyage ; and is unseaworthy now, as is proved     by our personal experience. At the present    

moment, she is running without a certificate ;     the one now posted-up in the vessel having     expired in April last, and no inspector, we pre-     sume, having been found tardy enough to renew     it. How it comes that under such circum-   stances, the ship is permitted, time after time to   quit New Zealand ports is a mystery which   ought to be fully looked into, and with regard   to which, we should imagine that those who pay   the mail subsidy would like to have some en-

lightenment. We, who have voyaged in the   Nevada for the last twenty-two days; who,   during that twenty-two days have scarcely     known twenty-four hours to pass without one of her four boilers giving out, owing to the bursting of the tubes; who have seen the machinery break down twice ; who have be- held the ship lying with motionless engines, as helpless as a log, in the trough of a heavy sea ;

who have heard the order 'All hands to the

pumps,' and have worked at those pumps our- selves for many hours. ; we, having a keen re- membrance of these things, and some thankful- ness for our own escape, are impelled to warn intending voyagers by this route of the dangers they must be prepared to brave.

" The Nevada left Honolulu on Monday, the 25th ultimo, and struggling through smooth seas and light winds as rapidly as her leaky boilers and defective machinery would permit, passed the Navigators' Islands on Saturday, the 7th instant. On the following day (Sunday) there came a fresh breeze from the south-east, which, gradually strengthening, brought up a rather heavy sea. On Wednesday morning, at about 3 o'clock, the circulating engine broke down, the machinery stopped, and the vessel lay helplessly rolling in the trough of the sea for seven hours. The damages being made good by 10.30 a.m., the ship was once more got under way. She did not, however, long continue on her course ; for early on the next morning the engines again stopped, and tbe passengers found that their position was rendered addition- ally interesting by the necessity of all hands going to the pumps, and working like galley slaves to clear the ship of water. At this time the sea ran high ; the Nevada lay wholly at the mercy of the waves, and there were no signs of the gale abating. The situation was certainly somewhat gloomy, but at about 10 30 a.m. the wind lulled, the sea subsided, and the prospect of finer weather partially relieved our appre- hensions. Stil, however, the danger did not seem to be entirely gone. There was a large quantity of water in the hold, the engines were motionless, the large pumps connected with them were choked with coal dust and useless, and both passengers and crew were, with short intervals of rest, kept working at the fore and aft pumps for thirty-six hours. However, at 6 p.m. on the Thursday, steam was once more made effective, and the wheels revolved ; and at 5.30 p.m. on Friday the pumps sucked, and the ship was pronounced dry. So the peril passed happily away.

" This plain statement of fact needs no com-

ment. We place it before the public in the

dr.tst details, and leave others to make the  

obvious deductions ; merely recording these significant circumstances :—That on this voyage the Nevada has met with no weather severe enough to cause damage or delay to any ship in good sea going condition ; that the unpleasant and even perilous situation in which the Nevada lay for so many hours was the result, not of stress of weather, but of the sheer inefficiency

of the machinery ; that at present scarcely a day passes without her boiler tubes giving way,  

and that should she be overtaken by any of the heavy gales which are common on this coast, nothing short of a miracle could save her from destruction. We have only to add that no blame seems to be in any way attached to the

captain or officers of the Nevada for this state  

of things. They did all that skill and care

could do to avert the peril that threatened us, and to remedy them as they came upon us.

Apologising for trespassing at such length upon your space we are, Sir, yours, &c.

[Here follow the names of thirty-six Passen-  

gers.]

"Auckland, December 18, 1872."    

A correspondent, who was among the passen- gers from San Francisco, informs us that the real facts of the case are very mildly stated. The whole voyage, both in the Nevada and Ajax (which latter vessel came as far as Honolulu), was a series of difficulties and discomforts. On the Ajax, one of the passengers, a Mr. Phelps,

husband of Mrs. Fanny Morgan Phelps, an   actress well known to the Sydney public—was

killed. During a stiff breeze, a heavy block   broke from its fastenings, and striking Mr.   Phelps on the side of the head, smashed his skull to pieces. He died the same night. The Ajax was sent to sea in a great hurry, being used as

a substitute for the Dacotah, which vessel was   to have started, but had not arrived from New York. At Honolulu the Nevada had to remain for five days, in order to have a new smoke stack fitted. In fact, the whole service is in a muddle

—nothing but makeshift from beginning to end.  

There was a time when most of the Nevada's  

passengers gave themselves up for lost ; and   there is no doubt that had the weather not sud-   denly lulled, when the crisis of their difficulties   was reached, the ship would have been perforce   abandoned.  

BURNING OF THE MISSOURI.

On October 30, the steamer Anna, arriving at Key West, N.J., from Nassau, brought the intelligence of the burning of the Atlantic Mail Line steamship Missouri, ea route from New York to Havana. Of all on board only twelve are known to be saved. The captain and crew of the ill-fated vessel are said to be among the perished. There were thirty-eight passengers on board, and a crew of fifty-four men. Five of the crew and seven passengers were saved.   A telegram dated from Key West says :—The Missouri was burned at sea in a gale on the  

22nd instant, about 25 miles from Abaco, en     route for Havana vía Nassau, New Providence.     Twelve persons were saved. The fire was dis- covered about 9 a.m. in the pantry, and sud- denly burst out in volumes of flames amidship, spreading rapidly over the ship. The boats were launched immediately, and all but one were swamped at once. Those remaining on board were compelled, on account of the flames, to jump into the water.

Those saved landed in one of the boats at Abaco, about 6 p.m. on the evening of the wreck, and were taken from thence in a small schooner to Nassau.  

It was a terrible sight for those in the floating  

bost to see those in the water clinging to the  

swamped boats, and begging for assistance.  

There were about tea ladies on board. It is

not known whether any of the missing have     since been picked up. It is said that the cap-     tain used every effort to save the lives of the     passengers. Three of the saved passengers are    

now here. The origin of the fire is unknown.    

Despatches in reference to the disaster, dated   New York, November 8, state :—  

The steamer Mono Castle arrived this after-    

noon, bringing some of the survivors of the ill   fated steamer Missouri.   William Jones, a sailor, states that on Tues-     day, October 22, at 9 a m., a cry of fire was  

raised. Its origin is supposed to have been in     the fire room, near the gratings. At this time    

all hands were reefing the fore topsails. It was    

blowing a gale from the E.N.E. The first and     second officers were on deck at the time, and we     were ordered at once to attach the hose to the  

donkey pumps. We set to work with a will,  

but inside of twenty minutes it was found that     the ship must be abandoned. Most of tbe pas-    

sengers were at breakfast at the time, but on hearing the cry of fire, they hurried on deck,  

but still there was no confusion.   There were three boats launched, one of which   was burned and one swamped with nine pas-   sengers. One was turned bottom up, with two  

sailors in it. The one which my comrade and    

I were in was saved. We remained around the  

ship for over two hours, but owing to the heavy   sea found it impossible to render any assistance.   We saw the burning ship up to about half-past    

2. There were about thirty-seven passengers

and fifty-four crew. Before leaving the ship,     we did everything we could to assist those in the  

swamped boat. The captain and officers acted

with the utmost coolness, and everything was     done to extinguish the fire.      

The statement of other survivors corroborates    

the story of Jones.

Vessels despatched from Havana, to the scene  

of the Missouri disaster, report that notwith-     standing a thorough search had been made not  

the slightest trace of anything belonging to the     vessel could be found.  

The following particulars of the burning of     the Missouri are obtained from survivors.     When the boat which was saved left the    

burning ship one boat was seen keel upward  

with two men on it. The rescued boat lay for    

two hours by a swamped boat containing nine   men, including the engineers, firemen, and ship's  

barber. A bucket was given to the men on the     swamped boat to bail it with, there being two  

in the rescued boat. Those in the swamped   boat were unable properly to manage it, and in   this condition were left. It is not likely any of   them were saved. No sails had been seen for

two days previous to the fire. On that day the   Missouri was in company with a ship from 9.15

a.m. until 3p m, when she was lost sight of in

40 minutes.

After the rescued left the Missouri they saw the passengers and crew who remained on board crowded on the after part of the yessel.  

It is said that the fire was first discovered on the door of a locker in the pantry. The alarm was immediately given, and wet carpets put on the fire by the pantrymen and others, and the steward reported to the passengers that the fire was out. The alarm was given while the pas- sengers were at breakfast, but on receiving the steward's report breakfast was resumed and their fears quieted. Within two minutes, how- ever, several voices screamed, " Fire !" from the stoke-hole. All was then confusion.

Within twenty minutes three boats were launched, including the rescued boat. With the exception of a few pieces of sugarcane, there was neither food nor water ; only two small oars and one large one, and no sails, nor anything to make them of.

It is said thai the donkey pumps of the steamer were never started, one passenger as- serting that he had hold of the hose at the time, and that no water was forced through it on the flames. The two deck pumps were worked a few minutes only. Within fifteen minutes after the alarm was given, the twelve survivors were in the boat, and the flames were coming from the stoke-hole in volumes. The ship's course was never altered, consequently the flames were carried atbwirc her, burning up one lifeboat on the lee side, and making it too hot to get the others off. Only three boats were launched, two of which were swamped. It is said that seven females and seven children were aboard the Missouri, none of whom got into the boats.

The Missouri's engines were stopped, but her sails left spread, and her rate of speed was eight     knots, which was maintained when last seen.  

The burned steamship Missouri was valued at     200,000 dollars ; insured for 100,000 dollars.     Her cargo was estimated at 250,000 dollars.    

SHIP MAILS.

Mails will be made up and closed at the

General Post-office as under :—

For New Zealand, per Bangatira, ss. : For newspapers, book packets, and registered letters, at 1.30 p.m. ; for ordinary letters, at 2 p.m., on Wednesday (to-morrow).

For the Australian Colonies, per Rangatira, ss. : For newspapers, book packets, and regis- tered letters, at 1.30 p.m. ; for ordinary letters, at 2.20 p.m. ; for late-fee letters, at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday (to-morrow).

For Maryborough, Gladstone and Rockhamp- ton, per James Paterson, ss.; For newspapers, book packets, and registered letters, at 2.30 p.m ; for ordinary letters, at 3 p.m.; for late-   fee letters, at 3.30 p.m., on Wednesday (to- morrow).  

VESSELS IN HARBOR.—JANUARY 6.

Ship Winefred. Captain E. P. Ellis, from London. J. and G. Harris, agents.

Ship Shakespeare, 877 tons, Captain C.M.D. Jorgensen, for London. Bright Brothers and Co., agents.

Ship Runnymede, 700 tons, for London. G. Raff and Co., agents.

Barque Abbey Holme, 516 tons, Captain Robinson, from London. Bright Brothers and Co., agents.

Barque Harmodius, 490 tons, Captain Deason, from London. Clarke, Hodgson, and Co., agents.  

Barque Naval Brigade, 541 tons. Captain Downing, from London. J. and G. Harris,

agents.

H.M. surveying schooner Pearl, Lieutenant Bedwell, from a cruise.

Schooner Young Australian. Captain Hannah, from Northern Ports. G. Raff and Co., agents.

Schooner Zephyr. 57 tons. Captain Cooney, from Newcastle. Quinlan, Donnelly, and Co.,

agents.

VESSELS TO ARRIVE.  

Alfred Hawley, barque, 420 tons. Captain   Balfour, from London, left Torbay October 2.   Bright Brothers and Co., agents.    

Royal Dane, ship, Captain James Cooper,   from London, with emigrants ; sailed October 5.  

J. and G. Harris, agents.  

Lammershagen, from Hamburg, with Immi-  

grants sailed October 6. Berens, Ranniger, and   Co., agents.  

Bilnaguith, from London ; to sail about   October 25. J. and G. Harris, agents.  

Spirit of the South, 516 tons, Captain Bur- rows, from London ; sailed October 30. Clarke, Hodgson, and Co, agents.

John Rennie, from Plymouth, for Port Denison, with emigrants ; to sail November 6.

Mardus, from Hamburgh, for Maryborough, with emigrants ; to sail November 10.

Light Brigade, from London, for Rockhamp- ton, with emigrants, to sail December 12.

Annie, barque, 437 tons, from London. G. Raff and Co, agents.

Mary Ann Wilson, 897 tons, from London.   Bright Brothers and Co., agents.

Toowoomba, Lieutenant D R. Bolt, R.N., commander ; to leave London, with emigrants, November 26. J. and G. Harris, agents.

May Queen, schooner, from Norman Mouth ;

sailed December 11.

Exonia, from Adelaide ; to sail on the 24th December. Quinlan, Donnelly, and Co., agents.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

PILOT STATION.—January 6. Ketch William and Mary anchored off Station.

MARYBOROUGH.—Arrival : January 5. James

Paterson, ss., from Gladstone.

ROCKHAMPTON.—Arrivals : January 4. Wild Wave, brig, from Sydney ; Queensland, s., from Brisbane.—Departures : January 4. Boomerang, ss., for Bowen. January 6. Governor Blackall, ss., for Sydney.

ST. LAWRENCE.—Arrival : January 4. Tino- nee, ss., for Rockhampton.  

CARDWELL.—Arrival : January 4. Hit or   Miss, cutter, from Somerset.  

SYDNEY.—Arrivals : January 4. City of Bris- bane, s., from Brisbane ; Egmont, ss., from  

Rockhampton. January 5. Blackbird, ss., from Brisbane ; City of Melbourne, s., from Mel- bourne ; H.M.S. Rosario, from the South Sea   Islands ; Mystery, schooner, and Forward,   barque, from Maryborough. — Departures :   January 4. Holmsdale, ship, for San Francisco,   January 5. Border Chief, ship, for London; R.  

J. Robertson, barque, for Hongkong.

MELBOURNE.—ARRIVALS: January 4. Macassar, barque, from Charente ; City of Adeaide, s., from Sydney. January 5. You Yangs, s., from Sydney.—Departure : January 4. Macedon, s.,

for Sydney  

 

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