The approaching departure of H. M. S. Fly from the colony, on her return to England from the arduous voyage on which, with H. M. Schooner Bramble, she has been employed, induces us to give our readers a brief sketch of her services, in order to impart to them some idea of the benefits that have been conferred upon the commercial interests of the colony by Captain Blackwood and the officers tender his command.

The "Outer Route" through Torres Straits, as it is generally called, which has been of late years so generally followed by vessels bound to India, has hitherto been but imperfectly known, and only could be considered safe for those ships whose commanders had already passed that way. The rough, and little more than eye-sketched, plans of the different passes through the Barrier Reef, which were procurable previously to the Fly's voyage, were sufficient to lead a stranger into danger, but not to extricate him from it ; and many have been the melancholy and distressing losses of fine ships in consequence. During the last year, even with the advantage of Capt Blackwood's chart, the loss of the Hydrabad, with a valuable cargo of horses for the East India Company's Service, which by missing the beacon on Raine's Island, was thrown to leeward, and was obliged to run through the first opening that offered, in doing which she struck on a rock, and sank almost instantaneously, in deep water - is a proof, were one wanting, of the difficulties of these passages - and fully shows, when under circumstances of unfavourable weather, or an error in the reckoning, the passage intended to be taken is passed by, or can not be recognised; and it becomes necessary to make a dash at the first opening - how critically the safety of the ships property and lives of all on board are jeoparded (sic).

In this state of things, however, the voyage of the Fly has conferred a very great benefit upon the colony. It has lessened the risks and dangers of the "Outer Route," and so rendered a very dangerous, and at the best a very anxious voyage, one of comparative safety.

Secondary to this, but not less important, is the detailed survey of the channel round Darnley Island, between it and the coast of New Guinea,- a route, although more to the northward, far preferable to any entrance through the Barrier, inasmuch as the passage will not be lengthened more than twenty-four hours, and is many miles in width, and quite free from difficulty and danger of any kind. It is evidently the principal passage through Torres Strait.

Endeavour Strait has also been completely surveyed, whereby Captain Stokes' passage in the neighbourhood of Wallis's Islands has been made available for ships of heavy burthen. The services were performed by Lieutenant Yule. in the Bramble, under Captain Blackwood's directions, who also continued the survey of the Barrier Reef from Lizard Island southerly to the latitude of 17�, by which a continuous survey of the sea board of the Great Barrier has been made, extending between the latitudes of 9� south, and 22� south, and comprising a distance of 780 miles.

One of the chief objects of Captain Blackwood's instructions was to erect a beacon in a convenient spot to direct ships to the best channel through the reef - and this has been most effectually performed. The passages generally used lie in the neighbourhood of that part of the "Barrier" situated to the north of 12� south. In the latitude of 12� 21' the Ferguson, with a detachment of the 50th regiment was wrecked, and in 12� 9' 11" the wreck of the Martha Ridgway serves to point out the entrance round the "Black Rock," in 12� 12',- a favourite passage, and perhaps the best amongst the bad. It is not known to us whether any ship has been lost in this passage ; but, if not, chance has carried them clear of a very dangerous sunken patch, having only ten feet upon it, in the direct track of the course. Here there was no possibility of erecting any mark, as heavy breakers lashed over the reef, and there is no rock or island where a party could be safely landed. To the north of this there are several openings in the reef, such as "Nimrod's Entrance," in 12� 5' 30", about a quarter of a mile wide. The "Single Rock Entrance," in 12� 2', scarcely so wide ; and "Head's Passage," considered a safe one by Captain Blackwood, in 11� 55', but equally contracted. No beacons could be erected at any of them; but at Raine's Island, in 11� 36', every facility was afforded, and the beacon was constructed, and serves to point out the safest and best passage that exists; and according to the direction given by Captain Blackwood, there will be no difficulty in making It.

During the progress of building the beacon, the Fly and Bramble were employed in exploring the relative situations and extent of all the reef's between Raine's Island and the coast, as well as the exact positions of the more southern entrances above noticed, so that through whatever passage a ship may enter, the chart will be most useful in leading her clear of all danger to a safe anchorage.

A chart of this part, showing the whole detail of the Barrier Reef, and of the new passage round Darnley Island, and embracing the track to Booby Island, has been put into the hands of the engraver, at the expense of the colonial government, and will be completed before the ensuing season, by the use of which ships bound to India may proceed on the voyage with confidence. In thus leaving for immediate use the most important result of his voyage, Captain Blackwood is entitled to the thanks of the colonists, inasmuch as no small portion of the éclat of his labours will be lost in England by the previous publication of his work in the colony. The Admiralty will doubtless republish it in England, and probably with improvements; but in the mean time the public will derive the advantage of an earlier possession of the information it conveys.

A more particular description of this part of the voyage would be out of place here - nor indeed is it at all necessary, because the chart in itself will be a description, which those who consult it will perfectly understand and be satisfied with ; but it is due to those who have rendered this service to be assured that their labours are valued and duly appreciated by those who are capable of judging of the vast importance of this survey to the large and rapidly extending commercial intercourse between the Australian colonies and India.

Although the principal object of Captain Blackwood's voyage was confined to the "Great Barrier," yet there was another of less immediate importance attached to his instructions - viz., the exploration of the Coast of New Guinea - the one of labour and intense anxiety - the other full of interest and novelty - in fact the cream of the voyage. The time, however, expended upon the survey of the "Barrier," the progress of which was materially interfered with by the erection of the beacon, precluded anything being done there until within the last few weeks of the last voyage; but sufficient was seen of its coast and inhabitants to cause the greatest regret on leaving it. The portion of coast explored, which embraced about fifty or sixty miles to the west of the meridian of 145� east, was formed by a low coast, intersected by numerous inlets running many miles into the country, and forming, as was supposed, the deltoid embouchures of a considerable river or inlet of the sea - its shores were densely populated - villages of considerable size being passed at intervals of every two or three miles, at some of which they landed, and were enabled to look about them; but at some they were prevented, and their intercourse fiercely opposed.

There were no signs of any previous intercourse with white people, and they were evidently ignorant of the use of fire-arms ; but they possessed some of the refinements of a civilized life, which showed that they were a people of superior intelligence to the generality of savages - particularly to their neighbours of New Holland.

Lieutenant Yule of H. M. schooner Bramble. with the Castlereagh as her tender, under Mr. Aird, remains to carry on the survey of the outlaying reefs, and of the coast of New Guinea. This important service could not be left in better hands.

SG & SGTL 20 Dec 1845

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