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CHE LATELY-DECLARED PORT IN SOUTH
EASTERN DISTRICT-PORT CAKOL1NE.
TO THB KniTOB.
Sir— From the circumstance of our long resi
lence— 18 years— ou a very singular and most
mportant part of the coast it devolves upon us
Un vnonnnkihilif.v in rApnpil unil mntrn tniii'h mnrn
prominently known than hitherto, with scrupulous
accuracy, detailed facts which will affect the in
terests of many. To South Australia it must he
in the most substantial sense interesting, as it will
extend her power and capacity at once by a very
Bmall outlay rightly directed.
ThiB is no theoretical statement-20 to 25 miles
of substantial roadway, and extension of jetty,
with the addition of some moorings, will do it
From Cape Jaffa's outlying reefs, miming north
wards in a Btraight line 21 miles, intersecting the
coast line, there is tvithiu one of the most extra
ordinary harbours known ; its maximum breadth
is five miles.
Without any protection to the eye, it is precisely
the same as if it were land-locked against the
ocean waves. To prove this, there is in all its
main points abundance of nautical, official, and
non-omciai evidence, but of necessity brief and
incomplete, from the absence to casual visitors I
and surveyors, of the test that experience of
years on the coast only will give in all weathers.
This is the duty imposed on us by our position.
It is beyond our ability clearly to explain the
cause of this apparent phenomenon-llie barrier
further than to state that there is at all times a
heavy ocean ground-swell outside the entrance to
Lacepede Bay. running its whole length, with an
under power stronger than any cro-s sea, the
strength of which is seen in its grandest magni
ficence 40 miles northward from i'ort Caroline, ou
the Cooroug beach.
Entrance.— Eighteen miles wide, -with a clean
sandy bottom. The depth of Itt of the IS miles
varies gradually from (i0 feet to 45 feet on each
side. When tho lighthouse now to be erected is
up ships can enter with perfect ease in tbe darkest
Bights without a pilot.
Capacity.— Seventy-eight squaro miles. Sufficient
depth aud smooth water iu all winds for the largest
ship afloat* including the Great Eastern.
Depth.— Sixty feet at its entrance, gradually
sloping to the shore. Forty-four square miles
contain a depth of 30 to b0 feet 23 ftiuarc miles
ir- to 30 feet and 11 Bquare miles under 15 feet.
There is 24 feet within three-quattcrs of a mile of
the shore in several places. The entrance, capa
city, and depth correspond with. Government
suivey.
Anchorage— Can only be proved by a comparison
with neighbouring bayB, or poits, of results, during
the worst weather, similarly exposed to the wind
blowing in shore, when vessel; and lives h;.ve been
ost there and saved in this bay on the same day.
We would rather avoid tuch comparisons, but are
obliged when human life and property are so
deeply concerned.
1. The schooner Gem, Captain Lindsay, rede
here in perfect security on the day the Adelaide
was lost in MacDonnell Bay. We arc not aware
thnt nnv \\vp-i WPTP lost.
2. The Bteamer Ant, m uecembcr, 1801, when
irholly unable to reach the shelter of the southern
2nd of Kangaroo Island, after two da\s' bard
Endeavour, during one of our most fearful gales,
ran at its height into Lacepede Bay, aud was
there preserved at the time the LHngslone
was wrecked in Guichen Bay, where the Alma
went to pieces a day or two before. On board
the Ant were many passengers, among whom were
W. J. Browne, Jisq., Mount Gambier, J. Browne,
Esq., Mitcham, J. C. Lyon, Esq., Special Magis
trate, George Glen, Esq., aud Robert Davenport,
Esq., Battungo. Mr. Davenport Kays:— '1 was
astonished during the height of the gale at our
passing into smooth water and anchoring about
two miles from shore in the open bay, It appeared
to me that the formation of the bottom broke the
force of the ocean waves and protected from a
ground swell. Our sudden transition from the
violent tossing of waves iuto smooth water, whilst
exposed to the full force of the wind, was a remark
able phenomenon to me. This safe anchorage
there, under the circumstance?, impressed oil me
the belief that it is a most valuable harbour of
refuge, open and safe, to any vessel under tho
greatest fit i ess of weather.'
3. In May, 18(55, it will be remembered, the loss
of lives and property tbat occurred in the Gulf and
at Port Adelaide. The schooners Pilot and Boome
rang anchored in this bay. The Pilot, though
dtagging her anchors, rode it out in perfect safety.
The captain stated he did not experience such a
storm on the Australian coast since 1852. The
Boomerang having arrived from the Cape Jaffa
reefs, 16 miles oil; with a hole in her bottom,
received not the slightest further injury to her
hull although on the beach ashore at the height
of tbe storm.
4. We need not burden this point ' by mentioning
ordinary cases of anchoring, further than to state
tbat the cutter Swallow, our own vessel, a regular
trader to Ibis bay for eix years, though dragging a
little in heavy storms, never sustained any injury
at ber anchorage.
» Safety.— No vessel can be wrecked or damaged
to admit water into her bull, from the causes
already explained, even when the wont that can
happen occurs, the shores of the bay being lined with
masses of drift seaweed, and no rocks in the bay,
The test of many yean' knowledge of it proves thu.
The Santipore. the Hannah Maria (10 months),
Saven, Gem, the Boomerang Gl months), and tlic
Swallow (by the parting of her fastenings from the
jetty)— that is to say, six vessels— the whole known
at different times to be aground or ou the beach,
gome in the worst weather, the wind blowing tvM
into the bay, without damage to cargo. Cupiain
Douglas, recently President of the Marine Board,
says 'a vessel with ordinary attention to her
cables will ride out in comparatively smooth water
Uie heaviest gales.'
Position of Lacepede Bay and Poit Caroline—
the centre of the South-Eastern District of
South Australia. When less than 2j miles
of made road, oa nearly a level plain, is
finisbed-a part of which is now left in a
miserably half-made state-Adelaide will com
mand, without doubt not only her own district,
but the greater part of the imports and expoitso
the western end of Victoria, so near and easy to
Adelaide by sea. This will be shown also by a
glance at the map.
Oceau Postal Service.— Adelaide can now, with
a lull knowledge cf this bay, Bhow unmistskably
the lighthouse only being up-where without
anchoring, in moderate weather, even during the
night our mails, &c, may be placed on board a
smaller steamer in an hour, thereby delivering in
Adelaide this important intelligence 24 houis earlier
(220 miles nearer) than Melbourne, besides a pro
bable saving to this colony of £10,000 a year. At
present we have to travel for these mails and
passengers along a dangerous coast 1,000 miles
more than we would then have to do at a cost of
£15.000 per annum to our country. With such
facilities demonstrated no power could withstand
any longer the geographical claim of South Aus
tralia, when it can be satisfied by a very small loss
of time to the ocean aoall steamers. - '-?*
Inland Postal Service.— By taking the use in a
similar manner of what is now clearly to be seen—
tbe generous providiuga of nature- w« can reach
our South-Eastern boundary lino right down Id
MacDonnell Bay, in a Mifeand permanent manner
on land, iu lens than one- half the time generally
occupied - the 'cryi.'g,' jolting, and losing
necessity of the day lor South Australia over
flowing to Victoria.
We huniU'.y add let tbe value of this boy and its
surroundings, bo self-evident be ventilated by tho
public, the press, and our Parliament
We ate, Sir, &a,
J. & A. COOKE.
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