THE COASTAL SCHOONERS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1906, Page 2

THE COASTAL SCHOONERS.

REPLY TO "OLD COASTER."' (To (hi! Editor. Sir,—A correspondent, "Old Coaster," one of the old-timets of forly years ago, states that, the small eraft require a little more looking after. Now, .Sir, he cannot know that the small eraft in New Zealand are inspected far more often than the larger chits of vessels trading in these waters. w'it'n regard to having someone to see that sufficient ballast is carried, the master is the best judge of that. "Old Coaster" may have had to use the rule of thumb styie.vf navigation for the want of knowing better, but I can assure him Unit the masters of vessels trading in New Zealand are quite able and capable of navigating their eraft in a seamanlikc manner to any port they may be required to go to. He also states there are no deep sea lead-lines on board. 1 grant that he may be correct so far, but he cannot know that the lead lines in use on small coasters are marked to forty fathoms, while on the larger vessels they use the twentyfathom lino. When he talks about compasses he practically knows nothing, for a compass in a ship's cabin with a glass in the skylight is safer than on a stand on dock. Ho statos that in somo vessels there are, or at least there have been, no spare sails. What docs he mean? Sidelights are olso looked aftrr-iiy tho Customs Department, and are of tho regulation size and make. Now, Sir, I should strongly adviso "Old Coaster" to make a trip or two with sonic of the present mastors, and no doubt lie will bo able to show him a wrinkle or two. Apologising for taking up so much space, I am, etc, — . . RULE OF THUMB. Groymouth, May 25. , ,