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Otago Harbor has been visited by several of the largest sailing vessels in the Mercantile Navy with perfect safety. Considering that there has been a large amount of shipping visiting this Port within the last fifteen years, and the unusually small list of casualties, proves that the Harbor, and the approaches thereto, are very safe.

Trusting that the foregoing particulars will prove to the Government that the statement of the Master of the late barque “Genevieve” is incorrect, and cause the withdrawal of the caution to mariners of the danger in the North Channel of Otago Harbor, as no such danger exists.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

Wm. Thomson,

Harbor Master.

Superintendent’s Office,

Dunedin, 18th April, 1863.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th December last, enclosing a report by the Mauritius Marine Board of the loss of the barque “Genevieve,” Turpie, master, at the entrance of the Port of Otago, on the 17th January, 1862, which had been officially reported to the Admiralty by the Board of Trade.

I now beg to forward a report from the Harbor Master of Otago, from which it will be seen that the Pilot did not state that no such channel as the North Channel existed, but that it was not desirable for vessels to take it; and further the Harbor Master reports, that “neither is it necessary, there being no less than nineteen feet at low water spring tides, on any part of the Bar, beyond one and a half cables’ length from Tairoa’s Head, a sufficient depth for the largest merchant vessel, making a straight course across the Bar, at the last quarter flood.” The Harbor Master also reports that the Pilots only use the North Channel when beating a vessel in or out of the Harbor, and that no wrecks have ever occurred there.

You will also observe from the report that had the Master of the “Genevieve” waited for the Pilot, or consulted his “New Zealand Pilot,” which shews that Otago Harbor is only safe to enter when the Red Flag is hoisted at the Flagstaff, which signal is never hoisted at night, he would have possibly avoided the danger into which he ran blindly. His statement also that the day after the wreck the North Channel was covered with breakers from side to side, is entirely refuted, so much so, that it appears small boats, not suitable for surf, were enabled to go alongside his vessel, and discharge a portion of his cargo without damage.

To support the character of this Port, which has thus recklessly and wickedly been assailed, by the Master of a vessel endeavoring to excuse himself from the neglect of losing his ship, I forward a copy of the Daily Times newspaper of the 16th February last, in which is published a Report from the Otago Chamber of Commerce, from which it will be seen that 24 vessels, of tonnage ranging from 1050 to 2340, have visited it during the year 1862, no less than 19 of which anchored at Port Chalmers.

The tracing which accompanies the Harbor Master’s report gives the soundings as taken by Captain Stokes, in red figures, in contrast to the soundings taken in March last, and I would beg to recommend for your consideration in publishing these latter soundings for general information, the desirability of leaving out the words “North Channel,” as tending only to mislead strangers visiting the Port.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

John Hyde Harris,

Superintendent.

Rear Admiral,

Sir John Washington,

Hydrographer to the Admiralty,

London.

[Note.—A new Chart, with plain directions for navigating the Lower Harbor of Otago, is being prepared, and will be published at an early date.]