ROCKS BETWEEN CAPE FOULWIND AND CAPE FAREWELL, (INFORMATION RELATING TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1875 Session I, H-26

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1875. NEW ZEALAND

ROCKS BETWEEN CAPE FOULWIND AND CAPE FAREWELL, (INFORMATION RELATING TO).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 2017t July, 1875. "That there be laid on the tablo all papers and information relating to rock? or breakers, the existence of which have been reported to the Government, between Cape Foulwind and Cape Farewell, on tho Western Coast of the Middle Island."— {Mr. O'Neill.)

No 1 The Haeboue Mastee, Westland, to the Seceetaey of Customs. Sie, — Harbour Department, Hokitika, 12th February, 1872. I have the honor to forward to you, a report of the approximate position of breakers seen on the West Coast of the Middle Island by Captain Thos. N. Clarkson,, master of the schooner " Spray," during the month of October, 1871, and also on the 4th January, 1872. Captain Clarkson informs that no sounding was attempted being taken, as they passed much too close to them in the dark, and were upon them before they expected. I have, <&c, Tnos. Tuenbull, W. Seed, Esq., Harbour Master, Westland. Secretary of Customs (Marine Branch), Wellington. _ H , . 1

Enclosure in No. 1. Captain Claekson to the Haeboue Masteb, Westland. Sie,— Hokitika, 9th February, 1872. I have the honor to inform you that, on my voyage from Lyttelton to the West Coast, in the month of October, 1871, to my surprise I saw breakers on the starboard beam of me at 10 a.m. on the 25th October, and I took the following bearings from the vessel, being becalmed at the time, but a heavy sea roll on:— Wanganui Inlet, EN.E. "} Kiourangi Point, S.S.E. |E. Position of ship. Sock Point, S. by E. ) At the same time the breakers bore from the ship N.E. by | E., distant about two miles. I also passed close to the breakers on night of the 4th of January, 1872, at 10 p.m., and am convinced that a dangerous reef exists near the position given above. I have, &c, Thos. N. Claekson, To Captain Turnbull, Master of schooner " Spray," Lyttelton. Harbour Master, Hokitika.

No 2 The Haeboue Mastee, Westland, to the Seceetaey of Customs. Sie, — Harbour Department, Hokitika, 20th April, 1872. I have the honor to inform you that Captain ltusscll, of the schooner "E. N. Cameron," which arrived at this port this morning, reports obtaining soundings on a rocky patch six to eight miles off Kiourangi Point, West Coast of the Province of Nelson. Whilst on his voyage from Lyttelton to this

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port, Captain Eussell reports from his log that on Wednesday, the 17th April, 1872, at 8 a.m., off Kiourangi Point, wind light from S.W., stood off shore, and sounded in 60 fathoms sand ; continued sounding regularly, and found the depth decrease over a sandy bottom until 25 fathoms rock was obtained, which decreased to 12 and 8 fathoms rock, at 10 a.m., when he tacked ship ; remarkable white slip on Kiourangi Point, bearing S.E. by compass. Captain Eussell omitted to take a cross bearing of the Cape Farewell land at the time, and considered it unsafe to stand longer on the port tack, as a heavy swell was setting over the reef. I find, on referring to Captain Thos. N. Clarkson's report of breakers seen by him in the month of October, 1871, and also in the mouth of January, 1872, which report was forwarded with my letter to you of the 12th February, 1872, that the bearings of Kiourangi Point agree nearly with the position of soundings as given by Captain Eussell—that is, S.E. I have, &c, Thos. Tuenbull, Wm. Seed, Esq., Harbour Master, Westland. Secretary of Customs (Marine Branch), Wellington.

No. 3. Memoeandum for the Seceetaey of Customs. 16th May, 1872. Mr. Seed, —On several occasions breakers have been reported off this part of the coast; the first time they were noticed was in August, 1860, by Captain Ponsonby of the " Lord Ashley," and, according to a tracing taken from his chart by the late Mr. Balfour, a line of breakers of about eight miles in length, though probably not continuous, commenced at about the distance of six miles from Eock Point, extending in a north-east direction at about four miles from the land. Although this danger lies in the trade of the coasting steamers from Nelson to Westport, &c, it has never been again reported. From an extract of the Wellington Independent preserved by Mr. Balfour, I find that Captain Stewart, of the schooner "Dunedin," reported in November, 1866, having seen a line of breakers, of about two miles in extent, and south-west by direction, commencing about nine miles from Kiourangi Point, and in October, 1871, Captain Clarkson, of the schooner " Spray," observed breakers hereabouts, and, by the bearings he has given, I find he places this danger within half a mile of where Captain Stewart reported it to exist in 1866. Captain Clarkson again noticed these breakers in January last. On the 17th of last month, Captain Russell, of the schooner " E. N. Cameron," sounded in 8 fathoms about six or eight miles off shore, and from the position given he was about six miles to the southward of the breakers above mentioned, and it is evident that he sounded on the same bank, having previously sounded in 12 and 25 fathoms. It is evident that a reef or shoal bank exists thereabouts, having probably 4 fathoms on it, as it seldom breaks, or it would have been more often reported. I think it should be surveyed without delay, being in the track of vessels. I forward a tracing herewith, showing probable position and extent. Notico to mariners should be issued. E. A. Edwin, Commander, EN.

No. 4. The Seceetaey of Customs to Captain Whitwell. Customs Department (Marine Branch), Wellington, Sie,— 29th May, 1872. Information has been received by this department from Captain Clarkson, of the schooner " Spray," that in October, 1871, and also in January last, he passed breakers about fifteen miles W.S.W. of West AVanganui Inlet, which he has no doubt mark the position of an extensive shoal. Captain Eussell, of the schooner " E. N. Cameron," reports having obtained soundings in 8 and 10 fathoms, about six or eight miles from Kiourangi Point: there is thus but little doubt that foul ground, probably of very considerable extent, exists in the neighbourhood above indicated. From your long experience on this part of the coast, I have no doubt that you will be able to supply accurate and reliable information concerning this danger, and if so I shall be very much obliged if you will furnish me with such particulars as would enable me to issue a notice to mariners, giving authentic information respecting its position. I have, &c, William Seed, Captain T. Whitwell, " p. s. Charles Edward," Nelson. Secretary of Customs.

No. 5. The Seceetaey of Customs to Captain Tuenbull. Sie, — Customs Department (Marine Branch), Wellington, Ist June, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th April, received on my return from Auckland, and have to thank you for the information contained therein respecting the shoal off Rock Point. Steps will be taken to verify the information supplied by you, and a notice to mariners will be issued. I have, &c, William Seed, Captain Turnbull, Harbour Master, Hokitika, Westland. Secretary of Customs.

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No. 6. Captain Wheelee to Captain Edwin. Nelson, 22nd May, 1872. Captain Whitwell, steamer " Charles Edward," knows position of reported reef well. Will take soundings, cross bearings, &c, and forward to you first opportunity. Captain Edward, Marine Office, Wellington. E. Wheelee.

No. 7. Captain Whitwell to the Seceetaey of Customs. Sie,— Nelson, 7th July, 1872. In answer to your letter of the 29th May in reference to the reports of the masters of the " Spray " and "E. N. Cameron," the only information I can give is that after heavy S. W. gales a line of broken water, extending between one and two miles north and south, and about seven or eight miles off shore, lies N.W. from Kiourangi Point. I have ascribed it to the existence of foul bottom. I have deferred answering your letter in the hope of being able to give more accurate information, intending to sound on the bearings given, but up to the present time I have not had the opportunity. I have, &c, Thos. Whitwell, W. Seed, Esq., Wellington. Master, " Charles Edward."

No. 8. The Seceetaey of Customs to Captain Whitwell. Customs Department (Marine Branch), Wellington, Sie,— 18th July, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of, and to thank you for, your letter of the 7th instant, with reference to the supposed danger off Kiourangi Point. I have, &c, William Seed, Captain T. Whitwell, p.s. " Charles Fdward," Nelson. Secretary of Customs.

No. 9. [The substance of this notice, as soon as it is received on board, is to be inserted in red ink on the charts affected by it, and introduced into the margin, or otherwise, in the page of the Sailing Directions to which it relates. See Instructions Navigation and Pilotage, p. 172.] Notice to Maeinees. No. 1. New Zealand—Middle Island. 1. Sunken Danger off N.W. Coast. Ineoemation has been received from Captain Stewart, of the schooner " Dunedin," of the existence of a sunken danger lying eight miles from the shore off the North-west Coast of the Middle Island of New Zealand, and nearly mid-distance between Cape Farewell and Rock Point. This danger (Stewart Breakers) was observed shortly after a gale from the S.W. had ceased, and was then breaking heavily. The following bearings were taken near the breakers: —Cape Farewell high land N.E. by E., Rock Point South, and the remarkable white landslip north of Kiourangi Point S.S.E.; from this position the breakers extended S.W. about 2| miles, and places the danger approximately in latitude 40° 39' S., and longitude 172° 13' E. It is also reported that the master of the schooner " E. N. Cameron," in searching for the danger, obtained a cast of eight fathoms near the position assigned. By command of their Lordships. Geo. Henry Richaeds, Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, Hydrographer. 3rd January, 1573.

No. 10. Captain Tuenbull to the Seceetaey of Customs. Sie, — Harbour Department, Westland, Hokitika, sth July, 1875. I have the honor to inform you that Captain J. McLean, of the s.s. " Otago," reports that on his last voyage from Nelson to the West Coast he had a good look at the breakers on the Kiourangi Beef, off West Wanganui, and describes the reef as a very dangerous one, and at the time he passed, p.m. 30th June, the sea was breaking on the patch with great violence. This reef, or danger, was reported by the master of the "E. N. Cameron," of Lyttelton, in 1872, and. he got as little as 8

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fathoms of water on it, but did not examine further, considering himself not justified in running any further risk. His report was forwarded to Wellington by me in letter dated 20th April, 1872, page 14. I have, &c, Wm. Seed, Esq., Secretary of Customs, Thos. Tuenbull, Marine Branch, Wellington. Chief Harbour Master for Westland.

No. 11. Mr. Bishop to Mr. McKellab. Sie— Wellington, 28th July, 1875. I have the honor to enclose you a memorandum from Captain J. McLean, of the s.s. " Otago," pointing out a danger at Kiourangi Point, West Coast. He wished me to re-write it and put it into better shape, as he was just on the point of sailing; but I considered that his own writing and signature would suit you best. I have, &c., H. S. McKellar, Esq., Marine Board, Wellington. Wm. Bishop. _____^_ Heavy breakers seen about four to five miles west of Kiourangi Point. Steamed outside of the breakers; found the w Tater discoloured, but being heavy rain, could not get the cross bearings. From Rock Point the breakers were so heavy that if a small vessel got into them she would be rolled over. Wellington, 26th July, 1875. J. McLean.

No. 12. Mr. McKellae to Mr. Bishop. Customs Department (Marine Branch), Wellington, Sib,— 29th July, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge, with thanks, your letter of yesterday, with enclosure from Captain McLean, of the s.s. " Otago," with reference to breakers off Kiourangi Point, West Coast, and to request that you will thank him for the same. I have, &c, H. 8. McKellae, W. Bishop, Esq., &c., &c, Wellington. (for Secretary).

By Authority: GrEOEGE Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington. —1875. Price, 3d.]