HIGH WATER. To-mouuow. —Taiaroa Heads : 1.1-1 a.m., 1.34 p.m. Fort Chalmers; 1.53 a.w., 2.14 p.m. Dun eiia: 2.3S a.m., 2.59 p.m. PORT CHALMERS. SAlLED.— December 17. Herald, s.s„ 35(5 tous, Jones, forthe West Coast. Brunner, s.s., 332 tons, Spence, forlimarn and the West Coast. The Herald loft the Dunedin wharf at (ia.m. to-day for the W’est Coast via Oannuu. The barque Rangitiki is discharging cargo at tile Victoria wharf. , .... The Brunner left the Rattray street wharf this afternoon for Timaru and the West Coast ports, SHIRE LINE STEAMERS. The s.s. Morayshire (Captain Duncan) left Svdney for Gauuiru at six o’clock this morning, where she is due to arrive on the 22ml inst. After completing tin re the steamer proceeds to Timaru, Hiatt', and l*ort Chalmers- finally sailing uii the 1-th January. MOVEMENTS OF UNION S.S. COMPANY’S FLEET. Thursday, December 17. Lyttelton, —Mararoa sails 1(1 p.m. for Welling ton.—Flora sailed noon for Dunedin.—Waihora sailed 5 p.m. for Wellington.—Penguin arrived 7 a.in. from Wellington ; returns 10 p.m. Wellington.— Mawhera arrived 7 a.in. from Nelson. Nelson.— Waimii sailed 7 a.m. for ’Westport. Takapuna sails (5 p.m. for Pieton and W’ellington. WestportI.—Comma 1 .— Comma sailed 9a.m. for Nelson. AiK'Ki.ixu.—Te Aiuiu arrived 11 a.m. from Gisborne. ALLEGED STRIKING OF THE TAKAPUNA Wellington, December 17.—The magisterial inquiry into the alleged striking of the Takapuna on a reef near Alligator Point, while on the passage to Nelson a few days ago, was he'd yesterday. Captain Grant said at first he thought the vessel had touched, but on seeing hj r on the sl'P he was ceitain sUe did not. The sec 3rd officer, who was on the watch, said he thought the vessel touched. The evidence of the diver who examined the vessel’s bottom was against the theorv that the vessel had struck. The in quire was" adjourned till Saturday for argument on the legal points as to the jnrisdiction’of the (’ourt under the Shipping and Seamen’s Act, 1877. TELEGRAPHIC NOTICE BOARD. Arrivals. December 17; Greymouth, (5.40 a,m., Breeze, from Neweastle-oii-Tyne.—Lyttel ton, 11.40 a.m,, Mararoa, from Port Chalmers.— Uama.u, 1 p.’U., Herald, from Dunedin, Dev arte res. December 17; Invercargill, 10.3(1 a.m., Invercargill, for Puvsegur Point and Cromarty, with mails. Lyttelton, 11.45 a.m., Flora, for Port Chalmers. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Wellington, December 17.-G. M. Tucker, barque, for Mercury Bay.—Star of New Zealand, for Gisborne, Napier, and W’angar.ui. Sydney, December 17.—Morayshire, for Timaru. 