SURVEY SHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 8

SURVEY SHIP.

FIVE-YEAR TASK.

AN IMPORTANT WORK.

COVERING N.Z. WATERS.

1-uM.S. ENDEAVOUR COMTH6. A survey of Xew Zealand and Pacific Island waters is to be made bv the naval survey ship, H.M.S. Endeavour which is due to arrive in Auckland on June 14. The vessel left England in March, and she will spend about five years on this station. The Endeavour, which is built «g semi-yacht like lines after the style of the cable ship Recorder, is one of the most important units of the British Navy. Her work extends over practically all seas, and to a larjre extent the correctness of Admiralty charts depends on her work. It is impossible, of course, for charts to be completely' up-to-date, as the bed of the ocean is constantly changing, in certain areas particularly, and charts are constantly being amended as these change* are noted and reported to the marine authorities of the world by ship-masters and other responsible authorities. Over Twenty Years. Her work in Xew Zealand and Pacific Island waters is regarded as particularly important, as there has not been a complete survey made of them for over 20 years. It will be recalled that last year the Union Company's Island steamer Matua, was severely damaged on an uncharted coral reef o: Rarotonga,and that from time to time shipping has been endangered by similar happening. The Endeavour is at present at Xewcastle. She will leave there shortly and will come on to Auckland, which will b» her headquarters during her stay in Xew Zealand waters. It is anticipated at present that the survey will take approximately five years, but the length of her stay here will depend largely i on the extent of the area she will cover and the time it takes to cover it. It is likely that the Endeavour's activities will be confined to the Xew Zetland coast during the initial part of ker stay here. I H.M.S. Endeavour is under the command of Captain A. G. X. Wyatt.