MAPPING THE THREE KINGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1123, 10 May 1911, Page 4

MAPPING THE THREE KINGS.

THEIR .REAL POSITION. Some little time back, whilst H.M.S Powerful was en route from Auckland to Sydney, it was found that the Three Kings Islands were out of position, and 11.M.5. Cambrian was at once dispatched to tako observations. It is not too much to say that her departure on this mission created a great deal or interest', especially in shipping circles. A few weeks later a cable message, tent by Vice-Admiral Sir Kichard Poore, from Sydney, appeared ill the daily papers, staring that, the position of (lie Three Kings was wrongly charted, and that, tho position of Hit! south point, Great Island (as ascertained by the Cambrian), was latitude .'ildeg. llinin. 13soc. S., longitude 172deg. 7min. illscc. R, and the relative bearing from Cape Keinga of South Point, Great Island, X„ tilkleg. W. true !il miles. (Tho picsent charted position is latitude lildeg. Dmin. S., longitude, 172deg. Binin. Bs.ee. K., and the bearing from Capo Keinga N., 581deg. \\'., lit.B miles.) l*p till Hie present time,' the Cambrian's observations have been taken as correct, and mariners were advised accordingly. Quit n recently, however, tho Marino Department received a further communication from tho Admiral staling that, the Cambrian (in order to check tho position with greater accuracy) has taken, further observations from oil shore, and these additional observations place the position of the depot on Great Island— the place of observation—as latitude 3-i deg. Drain. Usee. and longitude 172 deg. flmin. Isec. E. This makes Groat Island to be about 1J miles north and n, I third of a mile east of the present charted position and not "three miles out of posi' tion" as originally asserted. Shipping people are now wondering whether this will affect the case of Captain Athvood, master of the Elingamite. which was lost at tho Three Kings whilst on a trip from Sydney to .Auckland, A iiumhor of master mariners are of opinion that the. finding of the new position will not have the slightest effect against tho ease on behalf of Captain Attwood, for even now the islands are charted in a position which does not correspond with the corrected position ascertained by H.M.S. Cambrian.