The new channel across Wide Bay Bar, which was buoyed and lighted in
July of last year, maintains its depth and direction. Some changes have
taken place in Sandy Strait, notably at Stewart's Island Flats, where
the cutting has silted up; and a new channel to the eastward of the
cutting, carrying a depth of 18 inches more water, has been beaconed and
lighted. The gales and floods experienced during January and February
did very great damage; and the outlay in replacing lost buoys, and
repairing and replacing beacons, has been considerable. A perch buoy has
been moored at the northern entrance to Great Sandy Strait, in place of
the floating beacon which was sunk on the night of the 10th May last.
The work of raising this vessel was commenced, but had to be abandoned
in consequence of heavy weather coming on and ultimately breaking her
up. The buoys and beacons are in good order throughout this district.
When the cutting at Horse-shoe Bend is completed, there will be a depth
of 10 feet at low water, spring tides, through all the cuttings in the
Mary River, and vessels drawing 19 feet will be enabled to reach the
wharves at Maryborough.
The lightkeeper's cottages at Woody Island and one of the cottages at
Inskip Point require some repairs, but with those exceptions the
domiciles are in good order.
The steamer "Llewellyn" has been recently surveyed, and, beyond the
ordinary outlay, no expenditure is anticipated during the current year.
In June last this vessel was instrumental in saving the brigantine
"Hector," with eighty lives on board, from being wrecked on Breaksea
Spit. In Great Sandy Strait and the Mary River there are no less than 50
lights, most of which are leading lights burning day and night. These
lights keep two steam launches with their crews constantly at work
attending to them; the system is elaborate, but very costly.