CAUTION TO SHIP MASTERS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 29, 8 November 1842, Page 2

CAUTION TO SHIP MASTERS.

To the Editor of the Bay of Islands Observer. Bay of Islands, New Zealand, July 20, 1842. Sir, — Having recently very, narrowly Reaped shipwreck, I beg leave, through yoUr paper, to make known the existence of a dangerous reef,' nbt laid down in any charts extant,apd jprqbably ibpfprp.unknown. ‘Leaving Whytertach, pne of the Society Islands,,on tjie 20th June. steedhg lmhds were roused on Sunday, the 26th, between of five and &x a.m., by the officer of;the watch, in much confusion, was using every exertipn tp avoid danger heatone- had discovered. I reached the deck in. time .to .have a fair view of the reef, as we passed to windward of it. about two cables’ length,;as neanag 2 'coulft judge. l It being dark as at midnight at the time, I could not determine its size, but think it about' two ships’ length, N.E. and •S.W.vThis wind, blowing a gale at the time at E. by S., the ship running off eight knots, under reefed topsails, and heading ditectly for the reef when first seen, the sea running high and breaking furiously over the reef, which was .very little,- if any,-., above its surface (a point we could not determine), as we could see nothing but the spray and foam as it broke upon it. Had the ship struck, she must have gone to pieces immediately afterwards. Position of the reef, by two chronometers Latitude south 21 deg. 32 min.; longitude west 168 deg. 54 min. 30 sec. Respectfully yours, WICKHAM S. HARENS, Ship Thomas Dickenson.