SURVEY OF THE WEST COAST.

West Coast Times, Issue 630, 1 October 1867, Page 3

SURVEY OF THE WEST COAST.

(west coast times, sept. 17.) We are bound to say one thing of Mr Moorhouse: and that is, that he has been singularly uncommunicative with his constituents ever since he took his place in the House of Representatives as the member for Westland. It is true that during his occasional visits to us he has to some extent remembered that he holds the two and totally distinct positions of Superintendent of the whole province, and representative in j the Colonial Parliament of the Westland portion of it. At the public meeting held at the Prince of Wales he favored us with a discourse on colonial politics which • was exceedingly interesting and full of information — but in one sense exceedingly disappointing, inasmuch as iti scarcely touched the skirts of any of those questions which are of paramount because of local interest to ourselves. The impression left on the mind by Mr Moorhouse's very able exposition, was that between provincial and general politics there was very little in common. Many matters, however, that have engaged the attention of the Assembly during the present session, have had a practical bearing upon provincial affairs; and it was only right that public opinion here should have had a timely opportunity of expressing itself upon them. Scarcely a copy of any of these measures has reached the district, and we are indebted for such knowledge as we possess of their contents, to the resumes of them given in the Christchurch and Wellington papers. So far as Mr Moorhouse has set himself forward in the House to demand certain concessions to Westland interests — and he appears from the records to have done so frequently and zealously — he has very wantonly deprived himself of the support of the public here, because he has in no case consulted his constituents. We are informed by a recent telegram that Mr Moorhouse has brought under-the attention of the House of Representatives the subject of a Marine Survey of the West Coast. Our telegram was dated on Friday and received on Saturday morning last. We have no Wellington files of nearly so late date as Friday, and know nothing therefore of the precise kind of action which Mr Moorhouse has taken on this important matter. We gather, however, that the estimates of expenditure laid on jtlfegi pole contained no vote for the/workr any. that Mr Moorhouse eithei rt mpved or gave notice of motion in committee of supply -of an address to the Governor praying the necessary sum to be placed on the estimates: If his intentions to do this had been communicated to his constituents, he would surely have been strengthened by petitions from the Corporation and from the mercantile community, in the absence of a Chamber of Commerce, in Hokitika. Under the circumstances we think it exeepdingly doubtful whether the motion will be assented to. Yet it stands recommended by every consideration. Remembering the vast extent of our commerce, the necessity that often arises for vessels to hang on and off the coast, waiting the opportunity of wind and tide for crossing the bar-harbors; and the dangers which are consequently incident to ship, cargo, and crew, along the whole of this coast, it is impossible to estimate too highly the importance of prosecuting, to something like a satisfactory issue, the Marine Survey of this portion of the Middle Island. Speaking of the whole of the Colonial seaboard, we believe we are correct in sayiug that the work is in a most unsatisfactory state. The actual sites of many of the disastrous wrecks that have I taken place remain yet unascertained ; the set of the currents on the coast — one of the causes most conducive to wreck — i remains to be t'ully investigated and marked down. We speak of our own portion of the colony, however, only. Here, frequent complaints are made by masters of merchant vessels, of the unreliability of the information supplied them by the Admhalty charts, whilst the merchants of the neighboring colonies who export to us, complain still more largely of the enormous rates of premium they are compelled to pay, to ensure vessels and cargo consigned to Westland ports. The Insurance Companies cannot be blamed for what many may consider an excess of caution. They have heard of many actual, and no doubt of many merely suppositions, dangers oil this coast, and the bad impicssion they have formed is increased by the vague and indefinite character of the information supplied. If they take in hand one of the charts which a trading vessel is required to sail by, they find there, in the form 01 a foot note, the acknowledgment from the Hydrographer's Department of the Admiralty, that the coast line on this portion of the colony " has been filled in from data furnished b} r Messrs Heaphy and Brunner, from an exploratory journey in 1846.". In other words, no marine survey of our coast has yet been undertaken, whilst it is known. to those who frequent the coast thsit many small and available harbors of refuge exist on our coast-line especially suitable for coasters, but for which masters of vessels will not run in consequence of the want qf an effective

survey, and the absence of proper sailing directions. We do not, of course, speak of the case of masters of coasting steamers and other craft, to whom the outlines of every headland and the soundings of every bay are as familiar as the well-worn field path of the schoolboy. Yet, we remember, on a somewhat memorable excursion down South, some few months back, that the smartest steamer on the coast had to feel her way by soundings whilst travelling over several miles of " reef ground." It is, however, the case of shipmasters from the neighboring colonies, who have less intimate actual acquaintance with the coast, and who depend for guidance solely _ upon their charts and sailing directions, that has specially to be provided for. On such official charts as are available, we believe it is a fact that there is scarcely a single point or bay of the West Coast of Canterbury that is correctly laid down. The town of Hokitika itself is five miles out of its proper position.

The Colonial Government have several small steamers at their disposal, admirably adapted for this work, and they could not be employed in a more useful or profitable mission. Nor ! would it occasion any considerable expenditure. We may mention the St. Kilda, which with a competent surveyor and a small staff, and a couple of boats,' crews, .might perform the whole wdrk in a period probably of six months or less. Whatever the cost of a service so economically performed might be, it must be infinitely small compared with the great saving it would immediately effect in the "rates of marine insurance, and the consequent cheapening of all imported goods — to say nothiug of the additional safety of human life. When we take into consideration that during the year 1866 no less than 232 vessels — not including the coasting trade at all — with, auaggi-egate of 50,000 tonnage ; with 3897 seamen, aud upwards of 15,000 passengers on board, made up the complement of the West Coast trade ; that the value of the imports (other than coastwise) during that year was L 821,000, and of exports, L 2,206,00() ; and that the whole of the greatintereststhus represented depended more or less upou the safety of our coast for shipping ; it is surely not too much to ask that a complete survey under competent direction should be made, and that every portion of the coast, every danger, and every harbor of refuge, should be correctly laid down and published for general information. It is to be hoped that Mr Moorhouse has supported his motion with argument of sufficient cogency to carry the Colonial Treasurer and the House with him ; and that he will not need the support he has not asked, of an expression of public opinion here, in his endeavor to effect this very wise and necessary work.