CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7298, 5 June 1895, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THAT UNCHARTED ROCK.

(To the Editor of the Heiiald.)

Sir, — ." Longshoreman's " letter of the 3rd met., does not to my unsophisticated intelligence bring any light to bear on this rock. In dealing with the subject the evidence of two certificated masters viz., Capt. Neville of the Waihora, and the captain of the Anglian proved that something more than a whale exists. Whales no doubt wish to tret rid of barnacles and other parasites, but I venture to say never do so on vessels travelling at 12 to 14 knots an hour and never approach a screw steamer. The real fact of the whole matter is that the bay has not been properly surveyed, and rocks of papa exist of which the Harbor Board are entirely ignorant. At Napier about three years ago a vessel (small coasting craft) when swinging to the wind, went on rocks insidethe breakwater which were not supposed to exist. The vessel was with difficulty saved, but at Napier the opinion was that something more solid than a whale caused the damage. A diver was employed, and after several weeks (I write from memory) the Pyramid rocks were found. It is within the bounds, of possibility that Buch obstructions may exist even in Gisborne roadstead. The Hawea, Te Anau, Anglian, Waihora, and Tarawera have all touched or bumped on something. If whales, start a whale fishery. If rocks, blast theni or buoy them. My reply to " Longshoreman " is, " Very like a whale." Robert Moate.