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tion of these surveys; but in anticipation I have
furnished tradings of the Waimea, French Pass,
the Sumner, &c., to the Provincial Authorities,
as having details more particularly connected
with their localities, and shall therefore confine
myself to what should be generally known.

Survey of Waitemata.

His Excellency having granted the Survey &
small vessel, two Assistant-Surveyors, Messrs. J.
H. Kerr and George Stanley, and crew from the
"Pandora," remained in the North, and during
the "Pandora's" absence, a survey of the channels
on this side of Cape Colville, the Thanes, and
Waron, &c., lins beda completed up to the North
Head, and in addition, a new survey of the
whole Waitemata will be continued from Septem
ber next, if the "Pandora" is on the station.

Waimed River-Nelson.

I have already furnished a report on part of our
proceedings at the earlier part of the season. From
Mahurangi we sounded the coast round the North
Cape to the Waimea River, Nelson. This river
Was surveyed for the purpose of indicating a
channel by which a vessel, in case of necessity,
could take up a secure anchorage in the Waimea,
before she could get into Nelson Haven. I am
assured by his Honor the Superintendent that
stops will be taken to lay down buoys as récom
mended.

Short Routes.

In November we surveyed Current Basin and
the French Pass. Since steam navigation had
commenced between the various Provinces, it was
very necessary to ascertain the shortest rontes:
and no doubt a saying of two hours between
Nelson and Wellington, independent of a smoother
channel, would result from the practicability of
the passage between D'Urville Istand and the
Middle Island. The result of this investigation
was published by his Honor the Superintendent
of Nelson, to whom I addressed a full account.
The following are extracts regarding the naviga-
tion:

French Pass.

"Between D'Urville Island and Middle Island
at the narrowest part there is a distance of 540
yards at high water; but from D'Urville Island,
rocks extend across this distance S. by E. upwards
of 400 yards, leaving a clear and straight channel
of 117 yards between the the low water of the shore
and the extreme rock, both being perfectly steep
to.

Fron Perck in the Pass.

"Upon the extreme rock we have with some
difficulty erected an Iron Perch 15 feet long at
low water; it is drilled 3 feet into the solid rock,
and set up by four chain stays, so Armly fixed,
that I have no reason to fear its being washed
away. The rock upon which the perch stands
only uncoversat spring tides. I should therefore
recommend that this perch be kept in repair, if
not replaced with a larger one, for it is absolutely
necessary for the safe navigation of the Pass

Bank near the Pass.

The S.W. point of entry (Rock Cod Point)
huo Tooke cxtending, S. by E. 100 yards. Before
reaching the Pass from the Westward there is a
shell bank with only 8 feet at low water, 3 cables
long from N.E. to SW. and 2 cables broad; it is
not more than 2 cables Westward from the Perch.
Marks to avoid it would only lead to error where
tides are so rapid and objects so near, so I
recommend it to be buoyed it leaves a channel
of 1½ cable between it and Rock Cod Point-the
channel being between the bank and the point.

The Channel.

"The Pass is perfectly straight; it is suffici-
ently broad and deep for the largest vessel ever
built: we have proved it twice the width of the
entrance to Nelson; there is never any sea, and
anchorage can be found on either side, but not in
the Pass, where the depth varies süddenly from 7
to 54 fathoms.

Disadvantages of the Poios.

"But against these advantages, the chances of
hitting the correct time of tide, the possibility of
having to anchor, and of the wind failing and con
sequent risk of being set to the rocks by the
current convince me that the advantage gained
by a large vessel by saving 12 to 15 miles is not
adequately compensated.

Advantages for Coasters.

"But Coasters wishing to avoid the cross sea
off Stephen's Island, might and do anchor in
Current Basin, running through the Pass at
slack water; the slack high water being profera-
ble rumming from West to East, and vice versa.

"It was my intention to take the "Pandora"
through, and I was disappointed that continued
S. Easters prevented it; whereas the ordinary
summer breeze leade through.

Steam Navigation.

"With regard to steamers, a vessel that can
command a speed of 8 knots, would in my
epinion pass through at springs, and ordinarily at
any time, the narrowest channel being 117 yards,
and passed in about 5 seconds.

Tides.

"I wish particularly to refer to the set of the
tide in the pass as shown in the plan; instead of
setting through the channel they set across from
the S.W. to to the NE. point, and sice versi.

"The ebb stream runs to the Eastward, two
hours before the tide has ceased to rise in the
basin."

"Zingari" threads the Pass.

I concluded by advising the captains of steamers
trading, to visit it, before running through, that
they might not be flurried. I am not aware that
the "Nelson" avalled herself of these directions,
but the. Zingari" went through on her second
trip.

Abundance of Fish.

Current Basin (and the Pass especially) abound
in fish; it is equal to, if not surpassing, any place
in these seas. Boats could load with Hapuka and
Rock Cod in an incredible short time. Our crew
caught fish with hand lines, and dried suficient
to last them for weeks. This must eventually
prove a source of considerable trade to Nelson and
the Straits in general.

Rock discovered.

I have to report the existence of a danger at
the entrance to Current Basin. The "Pandora"
purposely took the channel North of the Chicots,
as it had not been sounded, and in doing so, we
påssed within a ship's-length of a rock, about 50
feet in diameter, only visible at low water, and
steep to, there being 11 fathoms between it and
D'Urville Island, and 12 fathoms between it and
the Chicots.

This rock bears N. 74° W. 5 cables from
Sauvage Point, D'Urville Island, and N. 73° E.
7 cables from the largest Chicot. When the
high-water marks of Lebrun Point and Sauvage
Point are in one, the rock is just without that
line. Bearings Magnetic.

The above names will be found in D'Urville's
Plan, but we have made another survey of the
Basin.