TELEGRAM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 721, 14 September 1870, Page 2

TELEGRAM.

Picton.— Sept. 14, 12.30 p.m., Phcebe, from Nelson. ■ Another valuable addition to the Admiralty charts of Victorian waters has just left the hands of Captain G. H. Richards, R.N., F.R-.5., hydrographer to the Admiralty. It is necessarily the work of the Admiralty survey party on duty in Victoria, and now underjthe command of Navigating-Lieutenant H. J. Stanley, R.N., and judging from past work it is, we believe, entitled to respect as thoroughly trustworthy. It is a chart of the " entrance to Port Phillip," as our port is called by the Imperial authorities, ana comprises the Heads with all the entrance channels, which have never yet been included in one map. Indeed, the South Channel has never been mapped before on this scale. Most of the surveys on which this chart is based were effected under the superintendence of the late Commander Cox, but they also include a re-survey of the West Channel — which has recently shifted somewhat — under Lieutenant "Stanley. The entire chart of four sheets measures 4ft. 4in. by 3ft. 4in. The advantages of this map to commerce will assuredly be soon felt, and, as presenting in a comprehensive form the natural and artificial characteristics of the Heads' entrance to Port Phillip Bay, it will find ready acceptance in all interested quarters. The list of Admiralty Victorian charts now comprise Bass' Straits (in two sheets), with plans of Franklin Road, Refuge Cove, Murray Pass, Waterhouse Anchorage, and Swan Island, with sketches of the land contour; a chart of anchorages in Bass' Straits, in Victoria, including Apollo and Louttit Bays ; the general " Port Phillip " chart; Port Phillip Entrance (the one described above, which supersedes the previous chart, based on Captain Ross' surveys, with Borne of Captain Cox's soundings added); Hobson's Bay and Yarra River to Melbourne (6in. to the mile); Geelong Harbour ; Western Port ("Port Western," accordiug to the erroneous Admiralty nomenclature) harbour; and Corner Inlet, JsyOaptaii Stokes, with corrections up to ;£)6l. Bf yond tbis there is the work of two

seasons, represented by some valuable surveys of the coast eastward of the Heads, and of the chief western Victorian ports. Some of the tracings of the work of the last season but one have been sent to the Government, who have cleverly photolithographed them, and propose to sell them to captains at a trifling cost until the authorised Admiralty maps are published. They are five in number, viz. — charts of Sea Elephant Bay, Venus Bay, and Anderson Inlet from Cape Liptrap to Wilson's Promontory, Leonard, Norman (named, like Norman Island, by Lieutenant Stanley after the late lamented Commander Norman), and Oberon Bays, and from Cape Wollamai to Cape Liptrap. 'ihe work of last season, which will be published in due course, although it is scarcely possible it can be photo-lithographed like the others — includes a survey of about 80 miles of coast from Wilson's Promontory to Merriman's Creek on the Ninety-mile Beach ; also very complete charts of the harbours, &c, of Portland, Port Fairy, and Warrnambool, which are vast improvements on the charts of Mr J. Barrow. Next season the Admiralty party will confine itself mostly to shore work eastward of Merriman's Creek, and so on to the entrance to the Gipp's Land Lakes and the Snowy River. It appears to be definitely settled that H.M.C.S. Victoria is not to be used further for Burvey purposes. — Argus, Sept. 2.