THE SCENE OF MANY WRECKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9540, 17 June 1911, Page 3

THE SCENE OF MANY WRECKS.

SOUNDING ROUND THE THREE KINGS. TERRA NOVA ENGAGED. (Pes Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June IS. Tho Antarctic exploring ship Terra Nova, which has-been chartered by. the Marine Department for coastal _ survey work, , will begin operations in tho vicinity of the Three Kings and Cape Maria Van Diemen early in July. The vessel , will take soundings over an area to tho westward of tho Three Kings and between tho Three Kings and Capo Maria Van Dieman. As a very large number of soundings have to bo taken, it is very likely that tho wholo of tho three months for which the Terra Nova has been engaged will be spent in,..tho ono.locality. The Three Kings have been selected as the scene of opera., tions because there. are very few soundings of this vicinity. on the chart. In order to enablo ship-masters to approach tho Three Kings with greater safety in dirty weather and to definitely a;>ccrtain their position, tho Department recognises that complete soundings should no taken. There is no lighthouse on tho Three Kings, which is a very difficult spot to light even if it should bo deemed advisable to do 60. The Terra Nova in her survey work will cover an area varying from 40 to 50 miles in length to from 15 to 20 miles in width or, roughly, 800 squaro miles. Tho western part of the Three Kings was tho scene of the wreck of tho Elingamito (Captain Atwood) on November 9th, 1903, Tho barque Elderland sprang a leak and was lost about three miles north-east of the Three Kings on December 14th, 1906. Tho Loch Lo' mond on » voyage from Newcastle to Wellington is believed to have foundered in the samo vicinity, aa some wreckage was picked up between. North Cape and Capo Maria Van Dieman, supposed to havo formed part of that vessel.