A.—No. 1.

ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

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Enclosure in No. 4. Memorandum by Mr. Hall. I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency a Memorandum from the Marine Engineer for the Colony, explanatory of the circumstances under which a survey of a portion of the coast line of New Zealand has been undertaken by the Colonial Government, as well as of the manner in which that survey is being conducted. The plans, field-books, &c, mentioned by Mr. Balfour, will be transmitted to your Excellency without delay. In the meantime I shall feel obliged if your Excellency will be pleased to cause Mr. Balfour's Memorandum to be transmitted to the Admiralty, with a view to its being ascertained whether the results of the surveys now being carried on can be placed on the Admiralty charts as new editions are issued. The Colonial Government are ready to comply to the best of their ability with any conditions which the Admiralty may think it right to attach to the acceptance of these surveys. John Hall. General Post Office, Wellington, 28th September, 1868.

Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in Xo. 4. Memorandum by Mr. Balfour. Marine Surveys. The Admiralty charts of New Zealand are most satisfactorily accurate on the whole, and are at this moment both minute and complete enough for general purposes. The extension of colonization has, however, so greatly increased the importance of many districts as to render it advisable to survey minutely a number of the minor anchorages and shelters, which, though of but little value at the time the Admiralty surveys were made, are now fast rising into importance, as the outlets of valuable tracts of country. Several minor and comparatively non-important errors in the charts, new rocks (generally close in-shore), &c, are also from time to time reported, and it has been considered most desirable to ascertain their existence and determine their positions if found. Some portions of the Coast have never been surveyed; and the whole of the West Coast of the Middle Island from Milford Sound to Cape Farewell has been only surveyed in a general manner, the latitudes and longitudes of the more important points ascertained, the coast line filled in from the sketches of Messrs. Heaphy and Brunner, and an offshore line or lines of soundings taken. This was amply sufficient for all purposes at the time the surveys were made ; but now that the gold discoveries have drawn a large population to that part of the Colony, and steamers and sailing vessels of all sizes are continually passing up and down the coast, more minute charts with the inshore dangers and soundings properly laid down, are much required. If there be any good anchorages or any places capable of being made permanent harbours at a reasonable outlay, they should be surveyed on a larger scale. Many statements of (alleged) great inaccuracies in the charts of the West Coast have from time to time appeared in the public prints, and have engendered a feeling of want of confidence in the Admiralty charts, and this seems to make additional surveys all the more necessary. My own impression is that these reports are greatly exaggerated at all events; and that, when well founded, it will be proved on further examination that the error is more due to a misappropriation of names than to an actual error in position of any of the more important points. Whether this should prove the case or not, however, it is of consequence that the reported errors should either be contradicted or confirmed by some competent authority. A. —Among the minor matters which it is desirable to inquire into, the following may beinstanced: — 1. A rock has been reported off Waipapa Point, Foveaux Strait (No. 2,533). Two vessels have struck and given bearings, but they do not agree, and the general impression is that the vessels were much closer inshore than they were said to be. Captain Robertson, late Warden of the Marine Board, made some attempt to discover this rock, and failed ; but I am not aware that he had an}' experience in marine surveying. It is very desirable that some search be made for this danger. (Eeported position about three nautical miles nearly due South —true —from Waipapa Point.) 2. A rock has recently been reported, by telegraph, off Cape Saunders, due East —true —from the centre of Wickliffe Bay, distant 2f miles approximately. The report is not yet confirmed, but it requires to be inquired into. 3. An error is reported on Sheet No. 4of New Zealand (Admiralty No. 2,528). The captains of coasting steamers state that they make the distances between Cape Palliser and a point to the northward —the Kahau rocks I think, but am not at this moment certain — different from the distance measured on the chart. There seems some foundation for this report, as I have heard it from several men of great experience, who have made the passage very often. 4. The " Mau Bock " (Sheet No. 2 of New Zealand, Admiralty No. 2,543, in the " D'Haussez Group") is marked " doubtful" on the last edition. Captain Kennedy, one of our most experienced coasters, assures me that the rock is there, standing high above water, but much nearer one of the larger islets than laid down on the chart. Such instances might easily be multiplied. A considerable number are, I think, given in an original memorandum by Mr. Woods, which is filed among the Post Office records, but these seem sufficient for the purpose of illustration. It is very desirable to ascertain definitely the truth of all such statements and reports.