Biddulph, John Burnet

Bathurst 28th. Oct.r 1820
Dr. Sir
Should you not have seen any sketch of the mouth
of the Kowie, I presume the enclosed will not be uninteresting, more _
especially as the Success of the new Settlement so much depends upon the
navigation of this River
I feel particularly interested in this business myself as my Father
having opened a General Store, it would prove a material benefit _
not only to ourselves, but the the Settlers in general to have our Goods brought
up the Kowie, under this impression & from the promise of Mr Routen
to give me any assistance in his power. I was induced to pay
particular attention to this business & to make several visits to the mouth of
the River for the purpose of making observations relative to the Tides, surf-depth
of water & & And I am happy to say that with the assistance of a
Person of the name of Weeks who was formerly a Pilot at Ramsgate & who appears
to be to be a Sober, Steady & fearful Man & I think is worthy of every encouragement )
I have been enabled to take pretty caveet soundings as marked in the sketch)
These soundings were taken at low water, but the Tides rise from seven to
ten feet, so that at high water, the depth of Water on the Bar my be
calculated at the least Ten of twelve feet, which is sufficient to admit _
coasting Vessels of from Eighty to one hundred & Seventy Tons with great Safety.
but even these vessels would find great difficulty in getting up to a _
sufficient depth of Water to Float _ at low water unless there was
a Bank thrown up along the large Sand Flat in the direction _

marked from A to B and the other chanels stoped up so as to confine the
Course of the River to one Chanel only, this would not only preserve a
good clear chanel, but I think would tend very much to open & deepen the
Entrance of the River
I had paid several visits to the mouth of the River previous to making
my Report to Captn. Trappes on the 29th. Septr in consequence of which
he gave me an order for a Waggon & any other Assistance I might require
for the conveyance of the Boat drifted on Shore at the Mouth of the Karega
to the Kowie. On the 13th Octr I accompanied Captn Trappes down
to the River; A Mr Smith, Weeks & Myself went in the Boat and partially
sounded the edge of the Bar, but did not then venture out _
On the 20th. at 9 oclock in the morning it then being low Water,
myself, Weeks, & two Men in the boat ventured over the Bar & out to the Sea
about 2 miles and found the Soundings as laid down in the Sketch, between
the two Reefs of Rocks which I judge to be about 3 Miles from one Reef to the
other and I think offerd a good Protection to the mouth of the River _ On
going out I observed that there was little or no surf on the Bar But
that the Surf both rises and breaks in deeper Water ouside the Bar
I am decidedly of opinion that if mooving Boys wer put down in
propper situation and other necessary preparations _ made in the _
inside of the River that Vessels of the before mentioned description might
immediately commence a Brisk Trade
Should this Plan meet with your approbation and you think it
worth the notice of Goverment I shall be obliged by your presenting

John Burnet Biddulph