THE BOUNTY ISLANDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2680, 8 September 1870, Page 2

THE BOUNTY ISLANDS.

The following official report of the visit of H.M.S. Rosalia to these islands is published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 19th ult. :—

H.M.S. Rosario, Wellington, N.Z , 13th July, 1870. Sir —In accordance with your orders, I left Auckland on the 29th of June for the Bounty Islands, but owing to the weather coming on thick:, with a strong head-wind, I anchored for the night in Tofino Bay. I weighed on the following morning, and experienced strong westerly winds until the evening of the 4th July, when a heavy gale sprang up from the S. W., which obliged me to lie te for thirfcy-six hours, during which time the second cutter was stove by a sea, and several feet of the port waist hammock Betting washed away. On the forenoon of the 6th, the wind moderating and being again west, I made sail, and on the Bth got up steam, so as to insure sighting the Bountys before dark, as their position was uncertain. We made them at 3 15 p.m, bearing N.E. by E. PD. on the same day, and hove to at sunset, trying for soundings at 110 fathoms, the centre of the islands bearing N.E. by E. |E. about twelve miles. At daylight, stood in for the islands under steam ; wind light, with heavy ocean 3well from the southward. Fired guns at intervals to attract attention, but on approaching nearer to them, I soon saw how hopeless was our chance of finding any traces of the missing ship Matoaka, for these rocky islets are perfectly barren, destitute of any covering, and exposed on every side to the fury of the sea, which breaks heavily and incessantly upon them. Even during the comparatively calm forenoon we experienced, the sea was observed to dash completely over many of them, sending clouds of spray over nearly the highest. There was a blow-hole in one of the western islets through which the water and spray was forced upwards of 300 feet high. This dangerous group of rocks extends 3f miles east and west, and about 14 mile north and south, about twenty in number (counting large and small), and divided into two clus era with apparently a clear passage between them. Landing was quite impracticable, and I doubt if, even in the calmest summer day, a footing could be obtained.

At 8.30 am. +- x islet N.E. by E. from two to three miles, sounded in 87 fathoms, white sand and pebbles. Observed a sunken rock S.S.E., breaking heavily. Altered course and stood out. At 9.30 a.m. sounled in 98 fathoms, white sand and shells, the centre of the islefca being N.E. by E.|B. 4| miles. When the peak of eastern islet bore N.E .p., a base of 3 2 miles B. by N. was run with the patent log, until the same peak bore N.N.W.^W., and the usual angles for distance and height being taken, we found the ship 2 2 miles from it, in 84 fathoms, yellow sand and shells. Height of peak being 280 feet (sketches taken). The sunken rock o -served breaking to the southward bears S.^W. from the western islet, and S.W.^S. from the eastern one, and about three miles from the main group. We also observed the breakers reported by Captain Norman, of the colonial steamer Victoria, in November, 1865, from three to four miles to the westward.

Since leaving Auckland, we were fortunate in obtaining good observations every forenoon, noon, and afternoon, and were consequently enabled to determine accurately the position of these dangerous rocks, namely, latitude 47.46.24 S., longitude 178 56.45 E. Highest islet (easternmost one), 280 ft.

At noon, having brought up bottom, 1 took possession of them in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty, hoisting the colours, and reading a proclamation to the officers and ship's company to that effect, and declared them duly annexed to Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand. Steamed round to leeward, and at 12.30 p.m. got soundings at 89 fathoms, white sand and shells, the eastern inlet bearing S.W"4S. 2\ miles. At 1.15 p.m. sounded again in 93 fathoms, water worn granite and shells, tbe-t- x of islets bearing S.E.£S., and the x -*• south.

Owing to the geographical position of these islets, I was by no means surprised when no traces of the guano deposits said to exist here were observed, and it was noticeable that an extremely small number of sea birds were to be seen, either on the rocks or flying about. Two large schools of black fish were seen in the immediate neighbourhood of the islets, together with large patches of kelp.

At 1.20 p.m. shaped a course for Cape Campbell, and lost sight of the Bountys at 4.30 p.m. On the lOfch, at 8.30 a.m., a S.W. gale springing up, I made sail, and at 9 pm. on the 11th sighted Pencarrow light, and anchored in Port Nicholson at 1 a.m. on the 12th July.—l have, &c, Geo. Palmer, Captain. Commodore Rowley Lambert, C.8., A.D.C., Senior Officer, H.M.S. Challenger.