Ths schooner yacht Jessie Niccol came up from the Heads on Saturday, and went on to Dnnedin. She had been lying there from the previous day waiting for a start to go outside. The schooner Spec returned to port on Saturday with the loss of ground tackle. She went from here to Moe raki on Thursday with a cargo of railway sleepers, and brought up in tlio bay, in company witli the ketches Edith Keid, Trial, Anne, and cutter Margaret Scollay. A heavy easterly sea got up, and the Spec parted both chains, and had to run back to replace ground tackle. The other vessels are reported to have beeu riding out the sea all right when the Spec left. The latter made but a short stay—the gear she needed was supplied by Ciark and Sons on Saturday night, and with the S.W breeze of yesterday morning she left for Moeraki. The Harbour Company's steamer Beautiful Star re turned to port yesteiday. Her errand this trip proved all but bootless, the heavy easterly sea that has pre vailed on the coast during the past ten days bavin"-ab solutely closed Timaru, her chief port of call, wliere lar^e consignments of wool are waiting s' i.j ment here. The Star left the port on Friday week, arrived at Timaru, and anchored close in next morn ing. There was a heavy sea on then, and at noon it so much increased that she had to shift her anuhora"c to deeper water to clear the break. Lay tliere until the following Monday, and then, the sea still keepiii" np, she cleared out for Lyttelton, and arrived tliere at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Discharged and shipped cargo tor Timaru and Dunedin, and left on Wednesday iiioht arriving off Timaru. 011 Thursday. Found the cci. there to be as heavy as ever, so brought up in the outer anchorage and wished for " a smooth," but no sign of one appeared. Friday passed and Saturday drew on to the afternoon ; and then, although a big sea was tumbling home, the folks on shore made a desperate attempt to communicate with her. One of the larger surf boats was launched and, driven by sturdy rowers, was pushed through several successive ridges of surf. 