Shoaling.

“Dalcroy's” Mishap Discloses Interesting Theory.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, May 29.

THE steamer “Dalcroy,” bound from Java to Tasmania with sugar, passed Goode Island signal station on May 20 on her way through the Great Nor’-Eastern Channel in Torres Strait, and at 7.30 the same evening ran aground on one of the reefs near Dove Island, about 60 miles from Thursday Island.

She was refloated next morning, with a hole in the bottom, but with the aid of the pumps the inflow of water was kept down sufficiently to allow her to get back to Goode Island. A diver made examination of the damage, and the hole was temporarily repaired with cement, after which the ship proceeded on her way south, but this time going down inside the Barrier in charge of a pilot.

It is significant that the Torres Strait natives, who know their own waters thoroughly by reason of con stantly sailing them in their cutters and luggers in working marine pro ducts, have declared for years that in many parts of the Strait the water is shoaling; and that whereas luggers were able to pass through certain passages 20 or 30 years ago, these passages are now closed to them at low tide.

Between Dove Island and Coconut Island (part of the great N.E. Channel) it is stated the water is shallower than it was; and the same thing also applies to a spot near Stephens Island.

It is many years since the Channel was surveyed, and it is quite conceiv able that the steady growth of coral during that period would account for the shoaling, although again it is pos sible that there is an upward move ment of the ocean bottom going on here as is said to be the case in the mid-Pacific. At Stephens Island, where a number of ships have come to grief, some of the old wrecks which at one time were only discernible be neath the waves, are now beginning to show above the surface at low water.

Not long ago it was stated by Professor Naulty, geo-physicist, who has been studying the oceanography of the seven seas over a period of years, that the expected upthrust of land (due to the steadily rising ocean bottom) would give to America, within this generation, a territory of consid erable importance among the various shoals and islands of Hawaii, and par ticularly in the region lying between Mauai and Midway, and round about the famous Penguin Shoal off Molokai.

Mr. M. Harper, of North Gela, Solomon Islands, who has been an inmate of Goshen Private Hospital, Hurstville, Sydney, for some weeks, has made good progress, and is now living with Dr.

Hornbrook, at 2 Butlers Road, Hurst ville. Mr. Harper has asked us to ex press his gratitude to Mr. Black (Burns, Philp S.S. Co., Ltd.), Dr. Hornbrook and Matron Teaman and Sister Brown (Go shen Private Hospital) for much kind ness received during his illness.