Westland Institute. | 449 
mentioned before, and from all the evidence which we have laid before us, 
I am of opinion that the portion of wreck in question is none other than a 
piece of the hull of the wrecked ship ‘‘ Schomberg.”’ 
Supposing this to be the ease, the question then arises, how did it reach 
our shores? There can be but one answer, that is this, the currents of the 
ocean brought it to us. And by which route did it come? Did it come 
down to the southward of the West Coast of Tasmania, or did it come to 
the eastward, through Bass Straits, and thence down to the eastward of 
Tasmania, and reach the coast of New Zealand ? 
I am inclined to think the latter course is the true one, because, in the 
first place, from the position of the wreck on the coast of Australia, near 
Moonlight Head, the currents are found to set along to the eastward round 
Cape Otway, and thence to the eastward through Bass Straits, and then to 
the open ocean of the Pacific, there meeting the great Australian current 
setting down the coast to the south and east of our shores. 
In proof of the actual existence of this current setting south, I have 
examined the logs of several vessels from Melbourne to this port, and find 
that in moderate, variable weather and winds, the currents set to the east 
of south in accordance with the amount of wind. Thus in one case a vessel 
was set 18:6 miles per day during a passage of eleven days from Banks 
Straits to the West Coast ; another vessel was set 14:5 miles per day during 
a passage of ten days; whilst another, which experienced heavy weather 
from the N.E. to N.W. showed a drift of 21 miles per day. In fact, I have 
not, as yet, found an instance of vessels meeting a set to the N.E. and N.in 
the middle passage, and I have no doubt that during stormy N. and N.W. 
weather the current will be found setting with a much greater velocity. I 
should mention here that Thomas Shannon has referred to having seen 
cedar logs on the coast south of Milford Sound, and extending as far up as 
Windsor Point. I am not aware that cedar is found in Tasmania or New 
Zealand, and as neither of these colonies produces such timber, the only 
conclusion must.be that the cedar came from New South Wales, and that 
the great Australian current was the power by which it was carried to the 
shores of the Middle Island, and that the same current carried to our shores 
the piece of wreck in question, which was found amongst the scrub near 
Arnott Point. 
It may be asked how the wreck came to be found so far inland and 
amongst the small timber. I am of opinion that during a heavy gale from 
the N.W., the water of the ocean is forced up on our coast, and rises to a 
much higher level than usual, instances of which have come under notice. 
At Hokitika, on the 4th of August, 1874, when a heavy sea from the N.W. 
and a high tide occurred at the same time, the whole of the _ side of 
H 
