FOUR UNUSUAL CHARTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28979, 21 August 1959, Page 24

FOUR UNUSUAL CHARTS

West Coast Sounds Area

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. August 20. Four unusual charts of the West Coast sounds area, which combine the work done by naval surveyors more than 100 years ago with surveys made recently by naval vessels, will be published by the Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographic branch within the next few weeks. They are New Zealand charts 155 (George, Bligh and Milford Sounds), 156 (Dagg’s Sound to Caswell Sound), 157 (Dusky and Breaksea Sounds), and 158 (Preservation and Chalky Inlets). The new charts are unusual, for although they are being published by the Royal New Zealand Navy, they are reproduced by permission from 100-year-old British Admiralty charts, with additions and corrections to 1959. The originals are being withdrawn as the Admiralty has now no interest in the area and new New Zealand charts cannot be made until the entire area has been re-surveyed. In the ,meantime this “new-old” chart is being published. The Admiralty has supplied special impressions of the original engravings, to which have been added soundings made by H.M.N.Z.S. Lachlan in 1950, and H.M.A.S. Swan in 1959. The impressions were then photographed and the unique qualities of the early copperplates have been fully preserved by the use of modern processing methods.