Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/74

52 magnificent harbours to the southward, is a fine crescent bay of considerable depth, and with a long-extending shelter on its north side, consisting of a line of table land, terminating in a low spit and a reef of rocks. It is possible for a mistake to be made as to the identity of the two bays, going by the chart of the mere coast-line; but Big Bay is distinguished by a low conical peak inland, and by its greater depth. Martin’s Bay has also its conical peak, but further inland.

A circumstance involved in the entering of Big Bay was the loss of high water on the bar of the Hollyford, but when we got abreast of it, the tide was still running in. In fact it usually does so for an hour or so after high water, in several of the rivers and lagoons of the West Coast, though the tide may have fallen on the shore. Captain Thomson was in the rigging for the purpose of informing us as to the appearances. He considered the entrance to be well defined, and straight, with the dangers sufficiently visible, or well ascertained to be avoided, and that there is breadth and depth enough of water for such vessels as the “Geelong.” Of course, the conditions are much more favourable for steamers than for sailing vessels, and apparently, there are few rivers, if any, on the West Coast into which steamers like the “Bruce” and “Kennedy” could enter under such favourable conditions, as, on the average, they would be able to do here. With a S.W. wind there is probably a heavy sea on the bar, but with winds with a northerly point in them, there should be considerable shelter afforded by the high bluff land which forms the northern shore of the entrance. A sailing vessel would have difficulty in getting in without a leading wind from the southward, but a light breeze would probably be sufficient; although there is a heavy body of water in the river, it does not flow with such impetuosity into the sea as to make much debatable ground between it and the tide. The natural effect of the existence of the Lake must be to reserve the water for a time on the occasions of storms, and to feed the river more gradually than if it flowed directly from among the hills. The holding-ground in the bay is apparently good. The “Geelong” anchored in five fathoms, or four and a-half fathoms at low water, and during the three days she lay there, with a considerable breeze blowing for part of the time, the anchor never seemed to have moved.

The landing was effected in the three boats which accompanied the steamer. To the digging party, who had rejoined us at Milford Sound, one was devoted. In the other, the Superintendent, the Secretary for Lands and Works, and the Surveyor, had seats, and as much work as they were pleased to undertake, in conjunction with the other passengers; and it was a satisfactory characteristic of the three days’ stay on shore, that there was a very large amount of willingness of spirit, and infinitesimal indications of weakness of flesh. The third boat remained for the use of those on board the steamer, and, while we were “girding our loins” for the exercise that was before us, her crew found exercise for themselves in picking up some hundreds — positively bucketsful — of the eggs of the sea-swallow, which the innocent bird deposits in little holes in the sand, and occasionally in localities not free from the incursions of the surf.