ICEBERGS AT THE! ANTIPODES

West Coast Times, Issue 10672, 28 December 1897, Page 4

ICEBERGS AT THE! ANTIPODES

The Government steamer .Hinemoa furnishes some interesting information concerning her last trip to the island. Leaving the Bluff the steamer made Stewart island,.where she was detained weather-bound some days. Thence she made the Snares, and finding the wreck depot, &c, right, proceeded to the Auckland islands The inspection of depots, &c ,at the Auckland* was satisfactory. In accordance wich instructions by the Minister for Marine, six sea lions w.ere tried, representing an average size of these animals. They produced four to ten gallons of oil each, besides the akins. These products will be taken on to Wellington for the purpose of ascertaining the market values. Enormous numbers of sea lions were met with, and the opinion is that they are increasing to such an extent that the fur seal has all but disappeared. The immunity with which the sea lion has been treated seems to have increased his ferocity. He showed more disposition than ever to dispute the ground; indeed, a sturdy old bull unexpectedly put in an appearance, and the i trying-out party only saved themselves Iby taking to theii heels. It seems as if , they would get undisputed possession before long unless prompt action be taken Ito hold them in subjection. Five sheep I belonging to the island lessee's* flock were ' shorn. Having no dogs the rest of the ; flock could not be mustered. Ihe fleece • was brought up, and will in due course be reported upon by the owner. There was no appearance of seal poaching or other indications of the island having been rej cently visited. From the Aucklands the j steamer proceeded to the Marquaries, • where, subject to the information given ! anent the melancholy boat accident, things were reported all right. The bird season was brisk and lively in its operations as ever. From the Marquaries the steamer left for Camphell's, reaching Perseverance at 5 p.m. ou Friday, the 27th ult. She visited and explored the adjoining harbor, with the result that things were found undisturbed. She left for the Antipodes next night, aud had an exciting passage thither. On the south-west end of the island, a cable length from the land, what in the indistinct light of early dawn was supposed to be huge breakers were seen. Anxious attention was bestowed upon this singular phenomenon as current information explained no such appearance. Eventually it was seen to be an immense iceberg stranded that distance from the land. Later ou a field of ice five to seven miles in length was sighted floating away in a south-east direction. Closer inspection showed the surface most irregulir and in every sense of the word weird and •fantastic. At parts it shot up in pinnacles, and at other points stretched out into dark, glassy plains. Afterwards three lofty berga hove in sight, which could not have been less than 250 ft high and at least a mile and a- half round. Their sides were deeply fissured and cut into cliffs. The ascertained buoyancy o£ ice is as three to one; In that case these bergs must have been 750 ft below water, which gives an entire body of 1000 ft of sold ice. So far as ascertained, none carried earth, rock, debris, or other morainic matter. The last three bergs, like the other, were all stranded. The depth of ocean i . that case would be orer 100 fathoms. The Hinemoa did what little service she had to perform at the Antipodes with as much despatch as possible, and hurried away with as much daylight as she could, so as to get out of the way of these monster bergs. The wreck depot was found all right, and there was nothing to indicate the presence of anyone on the islands At 9 p.m., en route to the Bounties, the steamer had made an offing of 40 miles, when, in the indistinct light of the moon, a huge mass of ice suddenly hove in sight on the starboard side. It soon became apparent that this was by far the biggest berg of the lot. It registered 300 ft high, with a circumference of 2£ miles. As might be imagined, this occasioned uneasiness on the steamer, Captain Neal remaining on deck continuously for many hours together. Speeding on her way the stetmer reached the Bounties. The inspection being satisfactory a course was shaped back to the mainland, and after sighting Nuggets Point the steamer made Bluff Harbor.