AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 113, 18 April 1868, Page 6

AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

RETURN OF THE BRIG AMHERST. The following telegrams are from the Otago Witness of the 4th iust. ; Invercargill, Thursday. The brig Amherst arrived at the Bluff on the 31st, from the Auckland Islands. After leaving the Bluff she experienced light winds to the Snares, and reached them on the 28th January. She searched but found no castaways. There are thousands of mutton birds on the islands. The captain of the Amherst had a large pole, 15ft. long, erected, on which were placed bottles containing letters. Matches, fish-hooks, knives, &c., were left. The Amherst reached Port Ross on the Ist of February, and formed depot No. 1 on Enderby Island, containing clothing, blankets, compasses, matches, tools, &c. It was placed in a good position, and on it was written, “ The curse of the widow and the fatherless light upon the man who breaks open this box whilst he has a ship at his back.” Plenty of goats, <fec., are on the islands. A search was made round the coast, but no trace of any cave was discovered. Traces of wreck were seen near two rocks, which jutted out like buttresses. A landing was made at Darnley’s harbor. . Depot number 2 was made near Musgrave’s hut. Depots were left at the principal islands, and goats and pigs were landed. Plenty of pigs, birds, seals, and rabbits, were found on most of the islands. No traces whatever were found of the castaways. The Depots on Auckland and Campbell’s Islands have been made with care, and their position distinctly defined. The latitude and longitude of all the islands were taken, and it was found that the Aucklands are placed on the chart 35 miles to the south of their true position. This glaring error 1 , says the official report, is sufficient to account for the number of wrecks. The official report published in the Southland Times, makes four columns, and is most interesting. The islands are adapted for a penal settlement.