THE RANGITOTO CHANNEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12860, 8 May 1905, Page 4

THE RANGITOTO CHANNEL.

The rcsurvey of the Rangitoto Channel, the gateway of Auckland Harbour, is a matter of immense importance now that large vessels are continually entering and departing. They should be able to do so, without delay oi risk, at all hours and at all tides, but as the harbourmaster,

in his annual report to the Board, has pointed out, " no methodical and lasting improvement in the marking of the- channel can be undertaken until the survey is completed." The particular difficulty lies in the fact that H.M Sj Penguin has been removed by the Admiralty, but this, as we all know, is a matter on which wo have absolutely no grievance. Wc expect our own colonial Government to remov3 the rocks from the Mariukau Channel—and do not despair of this being done in a comparatively... short time, even though Mr. Seddon should fail to do ho. But we do not expect the British Government to chart our port entrances for us, although we might almost claim that as a vested right from the completeness of the service rendered to us by British survey ships in the past. However, the Penguin is gone and the Rangitoto Channel needs resurveyiag and needs it badly. There is no time to lrse if the Board is to maintain its character as a reformed body by trying to do what it ought in spite of the bad influences of old associations. A complete rcsurvey of the channel should not only be "ordered,''' but arranged fur and proceeded with— and at once.