NOTICE TO MARINERS.
It appears from' an examination of the weather book of the ship Bruce, Thomas Meiklejohn. Commander, in her passage from Otago by the south of New Zealand to Calcutta, in November last, when passing the south-east extreme of South or Stewart island, discovered a dangerous reef, whicH Is not laid down in the Admiralty or any other chai'ts, or noticed in the New Zealand Pilot or Sailing Directions. This danger which is described at two low rocks from S to 6 feet hig;li, and close to^ gether. on which the sea breaks heavily, lies in the direct track of vessels closely rounding-Stewart island, in proceeding to or from the southern settlements of New Zealand.
Its position, which., appears to have been deter- . mined with some accuracy, is as follows :—7: — 7 1-10 miles E. by X \ ~BMroTn Owen Island off Lord's Itiver ; 5 1-10 E. bys§: i N. from the extreme of the Break -Sea Isles ; 3£ E. by S. 2-3 S. from Wreck Keef, off Port Adventure ; 7£ S.E. % E. from East Head, north of Port Adventure. — Or in latitude 47° V 35" S., and long. 168° '21' 35" 'E. Soundings, though tried for, were not obtained in -its neighbourhood, from the rapid rate of sailing of thp ship in passing the danger. It is creditable to Captain Meiklejohn -to have entered the discovery of this reef in liis weather book f but it is greatly to be regretted that he did not take some steps immediately on his arrival at Calcutta or in England to make public the exist- . ence of this very serious danger, which lies but little out of the sailing track of slips bound to the southern sattlements of New Zealand. Had not
the remark been seen by Rear- Admiral Fitz Roy 4 who was searching this book for Meteorological acts, and at once transmitted it to the Admiralty for publication) tliis reef might not have been heard erf until it had caused the wreck of a vessel. On being appb'ed j» for further information Captain Meiklejolm readily sent up his original Chart on which the reef was marked at the time, and there can be little doubt of its existence ; Masters . of vessels are therefore warned to keep a good look - .out in this neighbourhood. > They are further re- , . quested on the discovery .of any danger to report Jfae same immediately "oa an?ivlftgmime*^?%t?-port, in order that other vessels may be put on their • guard, and for the general beneiit of the mariner. „ By command of their Lordships, .John Wabuington, Hydrographer. sTydrograpbic Office, Admiralty, . /' . 3 JJondoa, 16th August, lgffr.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 517, 26 October 1861, Page 5
Word Count
437NOTICE TO MARINERS. Otago Witness, Issue 517, 26 October 1861, Page 5
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