168 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
the Manukau Harbour, either by land or sea, and freedom from danger of 
all kinds. The distance, however, is some hundred miles greater than that 
from Ahipara—a fact which would probably be decisive against its adoption. 
Of other lines which have been suggested, only one seemsiito require 
notice, namely, that which would make Cape Farewell the New Zealand 
terminus. In point of distance from Australia, this line takes the third 
place, being about 1250 miles from Botany Bay, and some twenty miles 
less from Cape Howe. As regards the ocean-floor, the recent soundings of - 
the Challenger are reported as, on the whole, most satisfactory; the water 
gradually deepening to 2600 fathoms, “at which it remained very evenly — 
for a long distance,” and then gradually lessened to 1975, 1100, and then 
was quickly reduced to 400, 350, and 275 fathoms ; the last being at a 
distance of 200 miles from land. But, however satisfactory these results 
may be, it would appear that the ocean-floor on the northern line is still 
more favourable, inasmuch as in case of repairs being required, the depth 
at which the cable would be found is everywhere much less. It may also 
be justly urged against the choice of Cape Farewell that it is on the wrong 
side of Cook Strait—the capital of the Colony being situated in this island 
—and, therefore, all messages for the seat of Government would require to 
be sent through one more submarine cable than would be the case if the 
terminus was fixed at Ahipara, or some other point in this island. 
There does not then appear to be any advantage to be gained by the 
adoption of the line to Cape Farewell ; but, looking at the question from 
every point of view, Ahipara appears to offer the best site for the New 
Zealand end of the line, whether the nearest part of Australia be chosen as 
the point of departure, or the preference given to Botany Bay, on account 
of its proximity to Sydney. 
Arr. XI.—Improvement of Ships’ Life-Boats, By Rosert M‘Navonton, C.E. 
[Read before the Otago Institute, 28th September, 1875.] 
Plate Y. 
I may simply state that the whole arrangement consists of a deck floated upon 
light iron tubes. In bringing this matter before you, I do not claim any 
novelty in the idea of tubular floats, for, many years ago, a life-boat, some- 
ung after this fashion, was tried upon the English coast. Then the 
American life-raft, Non Parallel, consisted of a staging floated upon three 
air-tight cases. There are also a good many more patents and inventions, 
mostly based upon the same principle ; all that I claim for my adaptation 
