The New York herald., 1874-12-30
The American Scientists and Their Work
at the AntipOdeS.
Everyday Life on Board Of
the SWatara.
The New Zealanders' Welcome to
the Flag Of Freedom.
Landing the Instruments-Co
pairing the Notes.
UNITED STATES SHIP SwATARA.

UNITED STATES SHIP SwATARA
HOBART Town, TASMANIA, Nov. IT. 1874.
The United States screw corvette Swatara hav-
ing finished the work Of landing the New Zealand
Venus transit observation party with their houses
ana instruments, sailed from Blun Harbor on the
18th OF November tor the Chatham Islands. the
destination OF the fifth and last OF the American
transit parties; and as these islands were but
700 miles distant, and situated in comparatively
low latirude we rather anticipated pleasant
weather, with quick run and a speedy return to
civilization. The chart OF these ISLANDS being very
detective and inaccurate, and the information
supplied by the sailing directions very meagre and
unsatisfactory, Captain Chandler used every en-
deavor, both at Hobart Town and at the Bluff, to
secure the services OF pilot and to learn from all
what information he could Of the lay of the
land the best harbors, &c. He failed, however, to
ind any one sufficiently well acquainted with the
country to act as pilot, although we touched at
Port Chalmers, place OF considerable Importance
on the western coast of New Zealand and one OF
the points nearest the Chathams, for that pur-
pose alone, and besides, whatever information was
obtained was very contradictory and, as 1t turned
out, almost altogether wrong. Indeed, SO little is
generally known OF them that when we LETT the
United States t was thought that an armed guard
would be necessary to the safety OF the Observing
for the purpose. The inhabitants were represented
rs very fierce and warlike race OF cannbals,
similar to the native New Zealander-the Mao
ries-who gave the English settlers SO much
trouble.
OFF THE COAST OF NEW ZEALAND
From Port Cnalmers the seaport OF Dunedin,
the largest city IN New Zealand, we were only
$40 miles from Chatham Islands, and the passage
was made in a little longer than two days, or.
m n han roiap dow
as we crossed the ls0th meridian en- route, and
conseq uenty had two Mondays in succession, two
20tns OF October much to the annoya and per.
plexity OF honest Jack, who couldn't be made to un
derstand why he should have TWO pork land bean
days In succession. We sighted the main Isl ana
on the Goth, and, running in close to the shore,
We discovered considerable settlement which
proved to be the county town, the headquarters OF
the Postmaster and Custom House Of1icer. We
lay off this village, which they call Waitangi, tor
some time making signals for pilot but, receiv.
ing no answer, we stood over toward a small bay
to the Eorthward, and very soon afterward came
to anchor in Port Hutt Harbor. In what proved
to be one Of the snuggest and most secure harbors
We had met with anywhere.
SNUG AT ANCHOR.
Here, despite the terrible stories we had heard of
storms and shtpwrecks, we we're very comfortable,
and rode out two heavy gales without tho least
difficulty or danger. Still IT, is Q very dangerous
place, we were bound to admit when we discov-
cred that three ships had been cast away in this
very Port Hutt. or WaDgeroe Bay, as the natives
called 1t. Indeed, we could see the broken spars
and tImbers scattered along the rocky shore, as
well as hut that the survivors OF one of them
the American whaleship Indian Queen, had built
for shelter. And another proof that King Eolus
keeps his court here occasionally is seen In the
TACT that large proportion OF the inhabitants
or The island are shlpwrecked whalemen
for In the palmy days or whale fishing the
waters In the vicinity OF the Chathams were
tnc resort OF immense numbers OF sperm whales,
and thirty whale ships have been counted at an
chor In Waltangi Harbor at the same time. Now,
however, that the sperm whale has become so
scarce. what few whaleships remain are oblg ed
to cruise In the Polar regions, and content them
selves with the less valuable varieties OF the
Ordcr cetacea.
WELCOMED BY THE NATIVES.
AS we approached the entrance OF the harbor we
deserted o wild looking cavalcaue galloplng
along the slope that borders the beach, folio wing
and apparently watching our movements. From
their appearance at this distance and the rapidty
OF their mvtions they might have been either Mao.
Ties or Bedouins. Shortly after ward they came on
board ana welcomed US to Chatham. They proved
TO be English STOCK farmers, or .'squatters," as
they are termed here and IN New Zealand, one OF
them holding q sheep run OF over sixty
thousand acres They we're very KIND and
hospltaDle, Offering us every assistance Tor
prosecuting the transit work. They told US that
time, and that we had hit upon The best and safest
harbor In the island. From them we learned that
the Cannlpas were myth, tue last one having
disappeared more than thirty years ago: that the
tslsnd was all taken up Tor sheep ranches, or
sheep 'runs," as they are called; and also that
the populatlon oil the island was composed almost
altogether OF whites. English, American and Ger
man, there being aoout $50 altogether. The sheep
farmers lease their land from the Maories, paying,
however, only nominal sum. as the English law
does not permit the squatter to take absolute pos
In New Zealand. where the Maories made such
desperate resistance against the encroachments
o. the settlers ,nat IN treating Win awt them ior
grants OF land-among them the Chathams-being
reserved TO their use forever; There are very few
they are said TO be disappearing very fast.
FIXING THE SITE.
The next morning the site Tor the observatory
was chosen and all hands were busly en-
gagged in landing the stores and equipments OF the
Gay the transit house was up and the @ transit IN
Strument IN posttlOn provisions and instruments
in ns9 ne ay Sa nser
the equatorial nor the Photographic apparatus
were yet in position; put tney would have plenty
O leisure and o su1lcient force In their own num-
bers TO arrange these instruments after our de-
parture; but as TO the transit instrument, 1t was
necessary to arrange " at once for observations
order to rectlly the rates Of the Chatham cnro-
nometers and to furnish with data to be used
stations For now that the observing parties are
established, our time IL to be spent in running be-
tween the stations and thus connecting, SO to
speak, the Greenwich or cEronometer time kept
NJ these observatores and to enable the parties to
establish their Longitude with the greatest attain
able accuracy.
THE WORK.
For example, the longitude OF the observatory at
Melbourne, Australia, Is known with great precise
ness; II having neen determined by long series
Of careful observations extending over a number
0f years. and there being telegraphc cummunica-
ton between Melbourne ana Hobart Town. the
longltuuc Of the latter city has been ascertained
Wltn exactness; and chr0nometers can therefore
De rated with absolute precision. Unfortunately