The barque Blmiranda, Captain Lampher, arrived in harbour yesterday morning from Port Chalmers and New < York. She brings a part cargo of kerosene and Yankee notions, principally consigned to Messrs Owen and Graham, who are the agents. She is a fine clipper barque of 656 tons, and made the voyage from New York to Dunedin in 89 days, said to bo the quickest time on record. She was built at Stockton, Maine, in 1874. Her departure from Port Chalmers took place on the 13th inst., or one day after the Courser. The s.s. Hawea arrived to-day from the South. Passengers— Mrs. Castles, Miss Wing, Miss Taylor, Miss Gilmour, Miss Allen, Miss Davis, Messrs Orbell, Allen, Harvey, C. Iryin, Collis, Heale, Guy, Dare, Donovan, Davis, Gilbert, Weston, Nancarrow. Gilmour, and 9 in the steerage. We are indebted to Mr. Dougherty, purser, for files, &c. The schooner Hally Bayly has cleared in ballast for Hohart Town. We are very sorry to see her leaving our port without giving us a chance of testing the speed of our Auckland vessels, against such a well-known "heeler." Some of our Auckland builders and owners get at times very cock-a-hoop about this or that craft, and if Captain Crone would give them the chance of measuring their strength with a vessel which has acquired such a substantial reputation as the Hally Bayly, it might do them good by taking the conceit out of them. The Aspasia, from Kaipara, arrived at Wel lington on the 15th instant, and the Hannah Bloomficld on the same day. The hulk India has been purchased by a Wel lington oysterman, and sunk near Point Jer mingham", Evan's Bay, as a breeding bed for oysters. The barque Hermon which was said to be coming here from New York is destined for Wellington and Lyttelton, and not for this port. The Missionary Schooner Dayspring will be engaged this week taking in supplies and stores for the various statior>s of the mission among the New Hebrides Islands. During the time she has been on view many thousands of persons have been on board, and all have received a cordial welcome from Captain Braithwaite and bis officers.
