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THE NEW TRACK FROM CHINA TO AUSTRALIA.

(From the Cooktown Herald.) One of the most important discoveries made during the last few years in the Coral Sea, since Captain Moresby’s well-known survey of New Guinea, has been accomplished by Captain Miller, of the E.A. and M. Go’s steamer Bowen, which is of all moment to mariners traversing the great ocean highway between Australia and China. The new track opened by Captain Miller is a direct course, evading all the zigzags of Captain Moresby, without danger of any serious nature, and giving deep water all the way. We give the discovery as reported to ua by Captain Miller, and trust the Marine Boards down South will take cognisance of the matter, and spread the important intelligence all over the Anstralias. “On the last downward trip of the Bowen with teas for Sydney, Captain Miller intended, as usual, to come Captain Moresby’s track, as shown on the chart, but in thoroughly examining it, yon will find that a vessel lias to pass through a group of unsurveyed reefs, seen by D’Entreoasteau, which at anytime renders the navigation dangerous, especially at night. Captain Miller, wishing to make a rapid trip with his new teas to Sydney, and feeling confident he could shorten the track with less intricacy in navigation than that of Moresby’s, determined to try it. On the 37th June sighted the Trobriand Islands of D’Entrecasteau in the exact position as laid down by him, and then determined to steer through the Louisiade Archipelago to the eastward of track, feeling confident he could shorten the route, and succeeded in discovering a clear straight channel from D’Entreoasteau’a Trobriands to two islets marked on the chart—positions, latitude, 11 '35 S., longitude 151'50 E. At 3 a.m. on the 28th Captain Miller found himself among a group of islands, then steering S. by B. for theJomard entrance, which were named after the second officer of the steamer, the

‘ Novthey Group,’ he having seen them fiv>t. They were low coral islands, covered with vegetation. . From indications, Captain Miller was confident there was a clear passage through them, and deep water, so he hauled to the eastward, and steering S.E. by E. with the intention of passing to the eastward of the Northoy’s, but saw another group of three islands to the eastward, which were named Miller's Group. The Bowen was then steered between them through a fine channel five miles wide with deep water, and, as seen from the masthead, entirely devoid of danger. After passing through the hitherto unknown waters, steered straight for the Jomard entrance. Captain Miller states that this new track is shorter than Moresby’s, with far'less dangers from reefs, avoids his zigzag and the constant altering of course. The Bowen’s course was only altered once, and that, for half an hour, from a straight one, although the discovery whs made at night—which was moonlight—the steamer going full speed all the time.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18770915.2.27.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5142, 15 September 1877, Page 5 (Supplement)

Word count
Tapeke kupu
489

THE NEW TRACK FROM CHINA TO AUSTRALIA. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5142, 15 September 1877, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE NEW TRACK FROM CHINA TO AUSTRALIA. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5142, 15 September 1877, Page 5 (Supplement)

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