AUCKLAND HARBOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2719, 26 January 1910, Page 2

AUCKLAND HARBOR.

THE RANGITOTO CHANNEL.

“SAFE FOR A DREADNOUGHT.”

Whatever.-may be the cause of Friday’s mishap the harbor authorities afiirin the emphatic belief that itangitoto Channel affords perfect safety for the passage of vessels of even greater draught than the Kaipara. On being interviewed on the subject by a iNew 'Zealand “Herald” representative the harbormaster (Captain Duder) instanced how the American lleet of 16 battleships was brought into Auckland Harbor in August, 1908, under the supervision of the Hoard’s three officers, in perfect safety. “Yet,” said Captain Duder, “that was done at three-quarters ebb tide, and on a hazy, foggy morning, and the last ship was anchored at nearly low tide. Not the slightest hitch ocurred, and not the slightest symptom, such as of touching the bottom of Itangitoto Channel, or of anywhere in the harbor, was ever felt. And yet some of those battleships drew a little over 28ft of water, as against the Kaipara’s 27ft.” “Have any vessels drawing-a greater depth of water than those battleships ever entered the harbor?” Captain Duder was asked.

“Yes,” replied Captain Duder, “H.M.S. Powerful. She has drawn the greatest depth of water of any vessel during my experience here. She draws a few inches over 29ft when she goes out after taking in. a large quantity of coal, and she, as you know, has been in and out time and again without experiencing the slightest mishap. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Ot-aki left the Railway \Vharf about a year ago. drawing 29ft aft, but not so much forward and she got out safely enough. She did not, however, go out at low water.” “What is the depth of the channel?”

“In the deep water section of the channel there is not less than 31ft of water at low water spring tides, and it is only in a short length of the channel that there is as little as that. That is at, and about, where the Kaipara is now lying. She lias sunk in 31ft of water, in one of the shallowest parts of the deep 'water channel. After that the channel steadily improves to six or seven fathoms out towards the beacon. The deep water section of the channel at low water spring tides also is .not unduly narrow. It lias a width of not Jess than one-third of a mile, or something like 2000 ft. That third of a mile of deep water in width would be considered a magnificent channel in many large ports. The Sydney deep water channel is not bait as wide as that.”

The harbormaster pointed out that though possessing such a great length and breadth of deep water it has been made safer, and easier. “The Board has recently,” lie said, “with the approval of the Marine Department, put down two luminous buoys, one in 23ft of water and t-lie other in 30ft of water,'with half a mile between. The Admiralty directions give full and adequate information how to navigate the channel day or night, without these buoys. Furthermore Itangitoto beacon has been lighted within the past few years, which coupled with the iact that the lntoys are a mark day and night, and the other particulars I have already mentioned, makes the channel perfectly safe for navigation at all times in clear weather.”

Captain Duder added that there was quite enough water in the channel for the passage of the Dreadnought or any of the P. and 0. steamers. About that there could be no .possible doubt. He reiterated his opinion, in reply to a question, that the Kaipara did not strike where she is now lying, but lie declined to say where he thought she did strike. Mr A. J. Entrican_ chairman of the Harbor Board, ua.s equally emphatic as to the safety of Kangitoto Channel. “Vessels,’’ he said, “drawing a greater depth than the Kaipara, have passed in and out without- any difficulty. The chart shows live and a-half fathoms of water at low spring tides, and is perfectly safe.”