SEA SURVEY WORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19340, 2 June 1937, Page 16

SEA SURVEY WORK

DOMINION COASTLINE

MAY LAST FIVE YEARS

ADMIRALTY SHIP’S TASK

A survey and charting of I lie New Zealand coastline will lie begun in the near future by the Admiralty stir vey ship Eniioavmir, w hich is expected to arrive :tt Auckland about the mid die of this inoiil h.

The Endeavour, which is commanded by Captain Wyatt, li.N., left England til the end of February, and is at present at Newcastle, Australia. She is due to leave for the Dominion shortly, and tit least for the earlier part of her pro! meted stay in New Zealand waters she will be based on Auckland.

Master-mariners and other experts have held for years that a new survey of the Dominion’s coastline is Jong overdue. The Marine .Department, lias concurred in this view, but specially-equipped ships are required for the work, which is of a highlyspecialised and technical nature. As a result, it wits necessary to wail until one of the Admiralty survey ships was available. I'nder aa arrangement made by the New Zealand Government with the Admiralty, the .British Government will provide tlie Endeavour complete and will bear till expenses in connection with the pay and maintenance of ollieers and ratings, leaving the Dominion authorities to provide fuel and the cost of docking and refitting. Generosity Appreciated.

The New Zealand Government litis already expressed appreciation of the very generous manner in which Groat Britain lias met the needs of the Dominion in a matter of great importance to it maritime country.

The complete survey of the New Zealand coastline and outlying islands is expected to lake live years or ionger. Much, of course, depends on the conditions encountered on flic surveys.

The Endeavour is a ship of IL’XO lons built on lines somewhat similar to those of the cable steamer Koeorder. Site was first commissioned in 11)12 and lias been engaged exclusively on hydtographic duties. She carries a complement of 1.19.

The general procedure followed by the Admiralty survey vessels is to put lo sea in the early spring and to remain tit sea almost continuously for about eight months, returning to port at short intervals for the purpose of refuelling, taking on supplies, and granting leave to ratings. During the winter months the survey ship returns to her base, where her expert ollieers prepare detailed information from the data obtained on the surveys and also work on new charts of the coastline, which arc subsequently issued through the Admiralty. fa all probability the Endeavour's first task after her arrival in New Zealand will be to undertake a com plete survey of the Hatiraki Gulf and the approaches to Auckland. Later on, during her stay in New Zealand, she may use the southern ports as bases for her operations.