CAPE KIDNAPPERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1208, 17 August 1911, Page 4

CAPE KIDNAPPERS.

IS IT OUT OF POSITION? Tho question whether the Kidnappers, or Bnt'o.,jlßlaiKl|' is,out of,position on tho chart lias been raised in Parliament by Mr. Pool*, M.P. Tho Minister for Marino (Hon. J. A. Millar) stated yesterday i—"ln December, 1905, Captain M'Donnhl, of tho s.s. Waikare, reported that, from careful bearings which he took from Cape Kidnappers, ho made the bearing of Bar© Island b.. ldcg. E. (magnetic), whereas by the Admiralty Chart the hearing showed'S. "dog. W.> a difference of eight degrees. A notice to mariners giving this information was published, and Captain Bollons, of tho s.s. Hincmoa, was instructed to make observations with respect to Bare Island and Capo Kidnappers. He found that Bare Island was charted the correct distance, about Ono mile from tho mainland, but that tho contour of lli6 coast-line in. its vicinity was mot accurately laid down, tho Kidnappers being shown on the chart one mile and three-quartern east of itg true position. His bearings from Capo Kidnappers agreed with those of Captain M'Donald. A chart showing tho discrepancy between the SurveyorGeneral's contour of the coast-lino between Cape Kidnappers and Black Head and that shown on tho Admiralty Chart was sent to the Hydrographor to the Admiralty in November, 1903. Attention was drawn to this in a notice to mariners which was issued giving the result of Captain Bollons's observation, and shortly afterwards the Hydrographor issued a corrected chart. There is no doubt that this and many other parls of tho coast needs surveying, but' Lieutenant Psnuell, who is in charge of the Terra Nova, having only a comparatively small staff of officers and a small crew, considered that it would have been a waste of tinio and money and a risk to his ship—with, i her powcr-*-tli attempt any detailed sur- ' vey of tho coast, and the work he is now doing is considered of greater value and importance."