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SNAGS IN THE MURRAY
River Captains Blame New South
Wales
It is not long ago since a steamer
having a heavy load of wool on board
struck a snag close to Kulcurna and
sank. Since then several steamers
plying above the New South Wales
border have struck obstructions in the
river. River skippers all state that
the state of the Murray in New South
Wales is a disgrace to that State, and
so bad have snags become in parts
that they never know the moment a
boat is going to hit one.
Captain Harry Brand of the s.s. In-
dustry put into Rertmark recently
with this fine vessel, and said that al-
though he had heard rumours about
bad snags upstream he preferred at
this juncture to say nothing. But he
believed his vessel would be snagging
shortly in the neighbour hood of Set-
ler's Bend. Another river skipper
made no bones about what he said.
"So far as I am aware", he said, "the
New South Wales Government have
not carried out any snagging work
above the border was becoming a seri-
trees, huge ones, are scattered about
the river, in some instances laying
in heaps at the bottom. I have seen
fresh snags lately which are a men-
ace to shipping. The Industry under
Captain Brand has done good work,
but he has not been snagging for a
long while. Settler's Bend wants
cleaning up badly".
The captain of a passenger boat
which arrived at Renmark last week
said that the question of the snags
above the border was becoming a ser-
ious one. The Devils Elbow was full
of them, and there were large trees
in Higgin's cutting.
Captain C. Payne of the S.S. Mar-
ion said that there were hundreds of
snags about. He had seldom seen
worse. The river from the border to
Wentworth should be cleared of them
at once. Paddle wheels and floats
often were broken said the skipper,
and they were a serious menace to
navigation. He hopes the New South
Wales Government will take the mat-
ter in hand at once.
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