' The cutter Hope, bound to Oamaru, sailed yesterday The br'icantine Seagull returned to Port on' Friday night from a long coasting trip that commenced on the 13th July, when she left with a full cargo wr Blutt Harbour. Delivered it, and shipped another for I mi aru and left on the 27th, and, meeting heavy easterly weather when abreast c£ the Port, she anchored uud<jr the lee of the Head and remained there until the morning of the 30th, then continued.her passage, and finally arrived off Timaru at 6p. m. Discharged and ballasted, and went round to Havelock, arriving there on the 10th of August. 1 hence she went tq kaipara. Experienced a prevalence of heavy head gales, with much rain, thunder, and lightning in tho Sound, and had to seek shelter in Guard's Bay, and eventually reached Kaipara on tho 29th, after a passage of 37 hours. Loaded up and left on the 6th instant, was off Wellington on the 7th, and then, being stuck up by a heavy southerly gale,--she ran in and anchored. Put to sea again on the 9th, and on the following day was abreast of Pompey's Pillar; when the wind again head ing her, and increasing .to - a a heavy gale, she made for the lee of Pigeon Bay, and again anchored. She lay thereuntil the 20th inst., heavy S.W. weather prevailing tho while; then left, and arrived at the Port on Friday night, and .on Saturday proceeded to Dunedin. She has brought a cargo of Kauri timber. The usual notice of having entered at the Customs has been given:in the case of the brigantine.Francis Lewey. She is also advertised to sail for Wellington as coon as she completed her engagements with this port. Messrs Bouman, Macandrew, and Co. have received advices of the sailing o£ the schooner Oriti, from Hokitika, yesterday week. She is tterefore due. The schooner Helena, is also expected from the North by the same firm. We are glad to hear that the ship Portland has secured between 000 and 70C tons of cargo for Mel bourne, and that negotiations for more are progress-

ing. Amongst tho passengers by the Lady Bird yesterday was Captain Saimders, who brought the Edith Reid across from Tasmania. He is gone to Wanganui, there to take charge of the schooner Jane Anderson. 