The fs.s. Murray, from Hokitika, and the Charles Edward, were due at this port yes terday, but the weather was far from being calculated to encourage vessels to leave port, and neither vessel put in an appearance. The s.s. Murray was unable to get. into Hokitika on Friday last, and had to remain in the roadstead until next day's tide.. The schooner Bencleuch is' again alongside the Hokitika wharf. She was on Saturday morning hauled off the bank sufficiently to allow of her being towed up the river by the Lioness. She does not appear to have sus-" tamed any injury, but it is understood she •will be surveyed when hauled on to the bank, and should she have sustained any damage it will be made good prior to her taking in cargo for her original port, Dun edin. ■"■■'. The steamer Waipara left the Hokitika wharf on Sunday, fully laden with cargo, as j well as some 83 passengers, for the Haast river, amongst whom were Messrs Pizzey, Ecclesfield, Canavan, M'Quilkin, and other gentlemen interested in the success of the rush. The little steamer was veiy heavily laden, and had a hard struggle to gain the offing. She did so, but, with no doubt wet shoes to some of the passengers. : The Alfred Graving Dock, Hobson'sßay, ■is finished at last, and the contractors for its construction, Messrs John Irons and Co., have been authorised by the Public Works department Jio let the ' sea into it as Boon as they like. The coffer-dam, which •walls out the sea from it, Tyill therefore be cleared away as soon as the contractors may find convenient, and after that there will only remain some few other not very formid able works to be executed in order to the completion of the most magnificent dry dock in the southern hemisphere. , .Apatent life-preserving mattress, invented by Mr Thomas Cornish, mining agent, of Melbourne, was, lately tested at the Sand ridge Baths. The object of the invention is to afford to persons on shipboard an additional chance of safety in cases of sudden shipwreck. The mattresses are made sufficiently buoyant to support the weight of a man. and by lying down on them, nearly the whole of the body can be kept out of the water. 