PORT OF ONEHUNGA. ARRIVALS.-February 27.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3906, 28 February 1870, Page 2

PORT OF ONEHUNGA. ARRIVALS.-February 27.

Stormbird, si, 08 tons, Doile, from Taranaki and Southern ports Passenge s — Rev J. Buller, Mn. Barnard, Miss Barnard, Messrs. Bolace, Monro, Lockie, Spain, Taylor, and eight in the steerage. — Combes find Daldy. agent* . CLEAhED OUTWARDS — February 26 Willie Winkie, 13 tons, Grundy, for Raglan. Passengers — 5. — A. Barnes, agent.

IMPOBTS. Per ss. Stormbird, from Taranaki and Southern ports : 90 sheep, order ; 20 kegs butter, Eaton; 1 parcel, R. Hobbs. Prom Whanganui : 1 case, Fraser and Thine ; 1 sack sand, 13 bales wool, Cruickshank, Smart, and Co. ; 6 cases butter, A. Hood ; 2 cases butter, 2 kegs butter. Clark and Thompson (Thames).

ARRIVAL OF THE S.S. STORMBIRD. The s.s. Stormbird, Captain P. Doile, arrived in the Manukau yesterday morning early, from Sonthern ports, with a general cargo, and. several passengers. Captain Doile reports having left Wellington on the 22nd, at 11 a.m., arrived at Picton same day at 6 p.m.; left again at 2 a.m., arrived at Nelson 23rd at 12.30 p.m.; left Nelson, 23rd, midnight, arrived at Whanganui 24th., at 4 p.m. ; left Whanganui, 25th, 6 p.m., arrived at Taranaki 26th at 8 a.m. , left, 26th, at 1 p.m., arriving in the Manukau 27th, at 8 a,m. The Stormbird took 60 excursionists from Wellington to Nelson. Had fine weather throughout the passage, We are indebted to the purser, Mr, Curtis, for our Southern files. The following explanation, with reference to an article appearing in the TaranaVi Herald of the 19th instant, has been sent to us for publication :— "A statement appears in the Taranaki Herald of 19th February, respecting the visits of the Stormbird to that port, which requires- explanation and correction. The paragraph complains tl at Captain Doile ' chose to pass ' Taranaki without communicating, although the weather would have admitted of a boat going off. The fact is the surf-line of the aurf-boat broke when the boat was attempting to come out, and the surf was so heavy that without a line a boat was not likely to come out after this one was seen to go ashore. Besides this fact, the steamer was partially disabled, having the use of only a blade and a half of the propeller, which was injured by a snag in the Whanganui River. On the return trip it is complained that the Stormbird was to leave at 8 in the morning — four hours after arrival — while it did not leave until evening ; and it is added that passengers were needlessly hurried on board. The reason of the detention was a strong breeze, which prevented the vessel starting at the appointed time. It is necessary to remind those who complain of the Stormbird's short stay at Taranaki that, in both up and down trips, the vessel is going to and from bar-harbours, where it is absolutely requisite that the tide should be studied both for entry and departure, and therefore, for these considerations alone, it ia desirable to stay as short a time as possible in the open roadstead of Taranaki. A delay of an hour too much there may cost the loss qf twelve hours by the loss of the tide, sax important matter both for shippem pasion.