120 



Account of the Operations 



[July 



is not subject to any considerable error, the work being simple, the 

 operations certain, and results known. 



The reef, or bed, to be cut through, extends about four hundred yards, 

 from N. 10 S., double what has been previously stated. The mistake 

 has taken place, from the centre having only five feet at low water, and 

 the flat bed of the rock, both above and below, from six to six and 

 half; vessels being obliged to reduce their depth to five feet water felt 

 no inconvenience from the previous obstacle, but the case will be to- 

 tally different when the centre reef is removed to ten feet. This is now 

 in progress, and has been gained on in an extent of about eighty yards 

 in length, by twenty feet in breadth, and will be completed to those 

 dimensions, through the whole extent, in one month from the time we 

 have been fully at work. 



I have adopted the plan of cutting a narrow channel, through the 

 whole extent in the first instance, rather than working on the breadth, 

 as I found the current swept this long narrow cut, and prevented the 

 lodgment of any substance which might be brought in by the current, 

 whereas the other method only produced a pool for its lodgment. It 

 will also enable the Government to proceed to the extent they may 

 think proper, a positive advantage having been obtained, be the chan- 

 nel broad or narrow. A certain breadth is necessary for the conve- 

 nient passage even of small vessels, and this season I do not think it 

 can be extended to more than fifty or sixty feet — there being at present 

 about seventy days remaining, if it be certain that wark cannot be car- 

 ried on after May (a fact I do not think yet established). The Govern- 

 ment will, I trust, permit the detachment to remain at such a distance 

 as to allow their returning to the work in August, when the season is 

 known to be favourable for two months. It will be a great subject of 

 regret if the object is not now obtained, or if it should be imperfectly 

 executed, when the success is positive and the expence inconsiderable, 

 in comparison with the advantages to be gained. A jmall party can 

 be left with a non-commissioned officer to take charge of the boats, 

 stores, &c. — they may be the seamen. 



17th. This day fired twenty-three charges, in 102-lbs. of pow- 

 der, with very good effect. The boats carried off" 800 feet of stone. 

 The work of the convicts under the boatswain equal to any others. 



18th. This being the last day of the Buckreed festival, no work 

 could be done. The few Roman catholic divers we got to replace the 

 others, were not equal to the work ; eight holes made by the two rafts» 

 and 509 feet of stone removed. 



20rh. Fired 63 lbs. of powder, in fifteen charges ; two failed from the 

 pipes having been cut, and were the remains of what had been fired be- 

 fore j it being necessary to spare as much as possible the tubes, all the 



