UNCHARTED REEF OFF TASMANIA.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8071, 14 January 1892, Page 4

UNCHARTED REEF OFF TASMANIA.

Captain J. Bradley, Harbourmaster at L&a&ceston, has reported that Captains Taife ai»d l*e*ek, of the s.a. JKoonyaaad ketch Swilt, reported to him theexistenoe at a daingeromi reef, estimated bj them to extend fLN,EL and W.S.W., one mile. From cro&sbearlngs of the land, they gave the position of the eastern end of the yeefi to be ia lat. 40.57 S. and 144.3Q JB. This position plaeee the reported reef cix mfies xve&i three-quarter eoath from We«C Point magnetic. There is no dauber charted near thia position, the Bally twley breaker being tea miles distant, oth captains assured him that they were thoroughly sure of the bearings taken, and agreed as to the position Riven. They described tfee sea as first breaking heavily on the western end of the reef, *ad running f B. in a confaeed roll, again bfeaklng on the ©aatera extremity. Capt,

Leask informed him that be passed within half a mile of the reef while becalmed. He had prepared to leave the vessel in the boats, when a breeze sprung up and he succeeded in clearing it with his vessel. As the reef was dangerously in the course of vessels bound to the West Coast ports, he suggested that the position and extent of the danger be determined as soon aa possible. He had been informed that the existence of a rock or reef had been known to persons who had been in the neighbourhood for several years, but had never reported it. The Launceston Marine Board decided to send the report on to the Government.