SIR JOHN COODE AT THE GIPPSLAND LAKES ENTRANCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5308, 30 March 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

SIR JOHN COODE AT THE GIPPSLAND LAKES ENTRANCE.

(From the correspondent of the Melbourne -Leader.)

Sale, March 13,

Sir John Goode and party returned to Sale this evening. They left in the Tangil on Monday, and after stopping to take in fuel, arrived opposite Roadnight’a station, at the Lakes entrance, at 10 o’clock the same evening. The work of. inspecting the present entrance was commenced before sunrise on Tuesday, and the coast to the eastward, as far as the Red Bluff, was visited. In the forenoon the Tangil steamed up to the new entrance works, after which Mount Barkly, or Jemmy’s Point was ascended, from which a view of the whole locality was obtained. The Rosedale, screw steamer, arrived off the entrance in the morning, and as there was not enough water on the bar, she anchored. At 2 o’clock the Lady of the Lake went out, that being the time of high water, to bring in some of the passengers from the Rosedale, and to sound the depth of the water on the bar. This gave Sir John Coode an opportunity to go out and examine the bar and the outer portion of the entrance, 1 of which he fully availed himself. The afternoon was spent in taking the bearings of the entrance from, the adjoining elevation, and the evening in collecting evidence from the residents as to the various changes that have taken place in the entrance. On Wednesday, before daybreak, further observations were made, and additional information was collected. ' The Tangil left the entrance at a quarter to six a.m., and proceeded to Bairnsdale, where an hour was spent, a start being made for Sale at a quarter-past eleven. It is evident from the method of observation pursued by Sir John Coode that he depends on being able to formulate a scheme for making a permanent entrance by taking advantage of the natural operation of wind, tide and current. The plans and surveys of the entrance and the coast generally he has been able to verify at a glance, but he has most assiduously addressed himself to the task of taking observations and carefully collecting evidence regarding the changes that have taken place in the coast as to the process by which, and the time when, they occurred. His observations include nautical data, in the collection of which Sir John Coode received great assistance from Captain Payne. It is understood that Sir John regards the task of making an entrance as extremely difficult, but not impossible. ■ . .■ ■ 1 ■ • 1 i