FOR WRONG PORT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11124, 6 February 1930, Page 6

FOR WRONG PORT

SHIPMASTERS CONFUSED BY POSITION iOF AUCKLAND. CHARTS TOO SMALL TO BE OF MUCH USE. THE CASE OF THE WEST LOQUASSUCK. (Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND.. Feb. 4. Alnsters of steamers which do not work New Zealand ports are somet'mes confused h.v the position of Auckland as shown on their charts. Snob was tho case last week, when tho American cargo vessel AA est Loqunssuck wirelessed that she was anproaching Auckland with all possible speed, because of the illness of the master. Captain Forsythe. Tho West Loquassuck was reallv making for tlio entrance to Alainikau harbor and the signalman there would have received a shock had lie seen this largo'steamer approaching the bar. Foreign steamers which do not, call at New Zealand ports use only small scale charts of the Dominion. The charts are so small and the isthmus so narrow that the word “Auckland” juts out into west into the Tasman Sea, instead of pointing to the East. Coast. This confuses navigators, particularly i* thev have never vis’tod New Zealand .

The West Doquassurk ts a vessel of .'COO odd tons and was on her wav from New York and other American port s to Svdney. On the journey across tlwv. Tasman the captain became seriously ill. and as Auckland appeared to be the nearest port it was decided 10, come here with all possible speed. Tim officers wirelessed Auckland to snv they were coming. blit the official,- here rcpl that they were making f( t' the wrong harbor. Tlie vessel then decided to go to New. TMvmonth. .whore the captain was sent to hospital. There was a similar case a few rears ago. and alsa on that occasion the stammer was stopped from enterirg Mannkou and diverted to another port.