AN ANCIENT MARINER'S EXPERIENCES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 3401, 19 June 1877, Page 2

AN ANCIENT MARINER'S EXPERIENCES.

Sir, — Amongst the many harbour boards which have been established for the more perfect development of local self-government-, I will venture to assert that not one single member has been elected for any of them who can boast of sucli qualifications as our friend Mr John Morgan. Aa a proof of this assertion, I have only to repeat what that gentleman stated in reference to the plurality of channels at one time forming at the month uf our river. In referring to the matter, Mr Morgan asserted that he knew a friend whose vessel, going out of the river by one of them when drawing six feet, at the top of high water, " grounded in mid-channel/' Now, I have had some little experience in nautical affairs, but have yet to learn that where the rise and fallatfullandchangeare eightfeet, a vessel drawing only six feet could ground at high water. Perhaus Mr Morgan will explain this phenomenon. But we have had some very extraordinary wonders performed recently by the tidal waves on several of the islands of the Pacific, as well as New Zealand ; so that it is not at all improbable but that a tidal wave lifted Mr Morgan's friend's ship, and loft her somewhere in six feet of water, which was mistaken fur a clninnel. — Yours, etc., High and Dry. June 18, 1877.