BLUFF HARBOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14457, 25 February 1909, Page 8

BLUFF HARBOUR.

THE MABAJILI INCIDENT. (Feou Our Own Corrf.spqxdext.) IXVEHOAHGILL, February 23. At tho meeting of the Bluif Harbour Board to-day the liarbournwsler reported as follows on his iiivestisration of tho channel where the s.s. Marama was alleged to have touched:—"l have tlio honour to report having taken accurate soundings in the main channel from the lightship to the south-east cud of the William Davey Bank under the most favourable circumstances—namely, at low water spring tide, ami with exceptionally tine weather,—aid could find no trace of any obstruction whatever anywhere near tlio lino of (he leading marks defining mid-channel. .Subsequently on the arrival of the j.s. Manilla, at this r©rt I aceompanied Captain Worrall and his chief ollioer, and again travelled the same locality, continually sounding Ihe channel, and could find nothing noon which the Marama could have pussiblv touched at low water. Captain Worrail, of course, was not in a position to indicate the place where his ship was supposed to Uavo touched Ike "round, as lie knew nothing of it untii the engineer reported the matter to him. The chief oiiieer. however, pointed out the position of the ship when he fell her touch. This position is in a dheet line with the red lights and abreast of the chequered buov on the western end of the Davey Bank. This place was also carefully' sounded, ujk! the least, depth of water'that I could find there was 27ft at low ws'er spring tide." -Mr Walton said that ... thought that the was very satisfactory, and that it disposed of the opinion that there was any obstruction. The board was convinced from the first that there was no obstruction tliere. The harbourmaster had evidently done his examination in a very thorough manner under the most favourable 'londitions, slid the speaker took it that the point was now absolutely settled. This was apparently the opinion of tho members generally, who apnear to lake u> view that the Marania' wt out of the channel. It was decided that a copy of the report he sect to the Union Steam Ship Company.