A DEFERRED SURVEY.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12763, 3 February 1910, Page 2

A DEFERRED SURVEY.

[United l ; Rtss association, j Auckland, Feb. 2. At the Kaipara enquiry to-day, Charles Mollaer, light-keeper at Bean Rock, said he watched the Kaipara coming down the harbour. He "liad seen a great many large steamers go out of Auckland, and the Kaipara seemed •to Jiim to follow the ordinary course. Mr Brigham,. secretary of the Harbour Board, recalled, said, in answer to Mr Kettle, that he would not like to pin the responsibility on any one for the delay in having a survey made of the channel. After the reported striking of the Waitemata in 1904, the Harbour Board wanted a survey, and were willing to pay for it. The Penguin was in the port at the time, and was engaged on what they considered less important work. The Department gave no definite reply. Mr Kettle : But the minutes showed that a survey by. Captain Duder, and the engineer, Mr Hamer, was authorised, and a report hero showed that those gentlemen expressed their ability to do it at a cost of £450. Why was that survey not carried out ? ' Witness : Because the Board deferred the question with a view to getting the use of the survey ship on the station. Mr Kettle : Were the harbour master and the engineer not capable of doing it? . Witness: I don't say that; the Board simply desired to get the Admiralty vessel with all its appliances. Mr Brigham, in further evidence, said Captain Dawson, of the Penguin Jiad told ihim that they would noi take soundings to place on the Admiralty chart unless they were verified. They could not correct their charts in a loose way. He (Mr Brigham) would not say officially as secretary of the Harbour Board that the Admiralty hydrographers would not accept soundings from the Harbour Board. Cross-questioned by Mr Cotter, who appeared for the New Zealand Shipping Company, Mr Brigham said he could not recollect any conversation between the chairman of tho Harbour Board, the harbour master, and himself in which the harbour master was given instructions not to attempt to locate the shoal meantime, because the onus was on the captain of the ship. There were several conversations, and he thought what was said was that if Captain Cornwall alleged that he had struck a shoal it was for him to prove it. The inquiry was adjourned till Monday, Mr Ridings intimating that in the meantime the shoal in the channel and the berthage at the wharf would be surveyed by the Marine Department.