3-008-415 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Volunteer lying inside the bar of Kowie River, Port Alfred, near Graham's Town, Cape Colony, 1862. Engraving from a photograph of the steamer '...having crossed the bar successfully on the 11th of December last...The Volunteer is only just inside the mouth of the river, a short distance from the open sea. Subsequently she steamed further in, and eventually anchored close to the building (Mr. Cock's steam-mill) shown in the Illustration. For many years past the colonists of the Cape of Good Hope residing in the eastern districts of that flourishing colony felt the necessity of securing a safe harbour for the numerous vessels visiting the south-east coast of Africa...a company was formed, recognised and assisted by the Colonial Government, to co-operate with Mr. Wm. Cock [an enterprising colonist], when a sum of £50,000 was raised to carry on the work. Mr. Rendall, the eminent engineer, was consulted, who, after sending Mr. Tucker, one of his staff, to inspect and report on the practicability of clearing away the sand at the mouth of the river, prepared plans and pronounced the work to be practicable. Mr. Rendall's plans have been almost rigidly adhered to'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.