DESCRIPTION OF THE HARBOURS, &c., OF NEW ZEALAND.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 18, 19 August 1843, Page 4

DESCRIPTION OF THE HARBOURS, &c., OF NEW ZEALAND.

Having entered the gulf of Houraki from the northward, we now enter with ships from "the southward, after rounding cape Colville, which, like all other headlands of the gulf is bold and safe to approach to within proper sailing distance, passing about midway between the cape and Great Barrier ; the cortical rock Motu Takapou, may be passed on either side, and being bound to Auckland, they will haul to the south-west, until the peak of Rangi-toto becomes visible, as in coming from cape Colville, Tiri Tiri Matanga will generally appear shut in with the mainland, and shows no appearance of it being an island. Having steered to the southwest and then southerly, until the summit of Rangi-toto bears south-east-by-south, they will act as though coining from the northward, as before mentioned ; but in the event of stress of weather, or otherwise, a ship may be induced to seek shelter, running from cape Colville, and keeping seven or eight miles from the eastern shore of the gulf, Coromandel harbour will be on the larboard hand, if the island of Houtourou be in sight, it should bear north-west-and-by-north, and castle hill (which is a lone square topped hill, though not higher than the land on either side of it) will bear about east-and-by-south, haul directly in for it, and closing the shore, count four small islands upon the larboard hand, the north-eastern extremity of Waiheki bearing west-half-south ; the ship will be immediately in the fair way for Coromandel harbour, observing two rocks of about one hundred, and the other forty feet elevation ; leave them on the starboard hand, but if necessary, pass them on either side, or between them. Should the vessel overrun the entrance to Coromandel leave the island of Wai-hou on the starboard hand, running within half a mile of the shore, and about half a mile southward of Coromandel there is another small harbour, and in either x>f those places the ship will be land-locked in five fathoms water, about the same time that her sails are clued up. About one short mile further southward, is another email unnamed indent, where anchorage may be had if requisite, but the middle harbour is preferable of the three ; in all of them there is abundance of wood and water very readily obtained. -Should however, stress of weather compel the ship onwards towards the Thames, let her keep on the starboard side" of midchannel in the Thames, and having run as far as may be deemed necessary, she may settle herself on either side (if without anchors) in five or six feet mud, where nothing can damage her. Having rounded cape Colville, the wind not admitting her to fetch any harbour on the Coromandel shore, she will steer directly for the eastern extremity of the island of Waiheki, and passing,

side of the bay the wind may require. A boat will put off from the shore by the show lof any flag from the vessel. Off Poverty Bay the following notice has been published for general information : — I A reef, even with the water's edge, and about twelve miles off the nearest point of land near Poverty ' Bay, the following bearings from the vessel : middle of the reef, east half north one and a half mile distant, Gable End foreland, north half west, Tatu Mata, west half south ; these bearings assign the position about twelve miles immediately t off the northern head of the bay, and in fresh I breezes it may be readily discerned from j aloft. It is to be remembered that Poverty Bay, does not take its name from the nature of the country, but from the hostile feeling exhibited by the natives in Captain Cook's visit to the place ; had he effected a landing and a friendly intercourse with the inhabitants, the surrounding country would have merited the very opposite appellation to that conferred on it. From Poverty Bay there is no inlet of consequence or anchorage until reaching the Mahia, or Tcra-kako Peninsula on the northern side of Hawk's Bay. Anchorage at the Mahia, can only be used in western weather. Some years ago, when a station was established here for the purpose of collecting flax, it was customary for the vessels to anchor on either the eastern or western side of the Peninsula, and shift themselves round as the weather might require. In Hawk's Bay, although there is an excellent extent of fine country, there is no harbour for a ship to run for. Tho Wye-roa on the north side of the bay, can only be termed a boat harbour, although it is a beautiful stream of water when entered ; and Hou-rida is little else than the estuary of a lagoon. This place is marked on some of the late charts M'Donnell Cove ; the largest vessel we have known to enter this place, was the brig " Tranmere," about two hundred tons burthen, and drawing perhaps ten feet water ; there is a bar at its entrance, and the " Tranmere" did not ride very comfortably at her anchors , during an easterly gale which she experienced there ; still it is the only place where a ship embayed might be saved from total wreck ; but in the easterly gale that would force a ship so far in the bay, it would be difficult to make out its entrance, as she would encounter thick weather. Should the entrance be discovered in extreme weather of this kind, both anchors would be necessary to stop the vessel almost immediately after clearing the broken water. The south side of Hawk's Bay affords good shelter in southern gales, but is seldom used by any but whalers, or ships touching for a few hours to refresh. The whole of this bay is the resort of a large number of black whale during the winter months. ( To be continued.)

it about one mile, leave a bold rock, or small island lying to the southward of Waiheki on the larboard hand, the eastern end of Wai heki being on the starboard quarter, with a good look out, at a fair berth from all that is sees above water, the ship will be landlocked in seven fathoms water, stiff blue •clay, the eastern extremity of Waiheki being shut in with small islands passed on the larboard hand. Should tho vessel proceed through tho Waiheki passage, she must be under eighteen feet water, and must be aware of a shoal on the southwestern shore, about three quarters of a mile off Waiheki, readily seen from the mast-head, or with the lead. In working through Waiheki Channel, or Prince Regent's Inlet, it will be necessary to keep the lead going ; pass on either side of a rock high out of water, keeping the island of Waiheki most on board, pass to the northward of Motu koria, which is a lofty island, avoid a reef off its northern extremity a long half mile ; work up directly for the north-head of Auckland, keeping nearest to Rangi-toto shore, leave the beacon to the southward, work into Auckland as before directed, and no danger can happen to any ship-master who is master of his profession. The whole way of this channel, as also in the port of Auckland, the anchorage is upon excellent holding ground, and with plenty of room to cast a ship of any size. Should the vessel enter the Tamaka channel, or Prince Regent's Inlet, by the middle, or Motu tapu passage, if from the eastward, keep within two miles of the island Waiheki, pass close to, or within the Bird Island ; if Bird Island be in a line with Castle hill of Coromandel harbour, look out for a rock level with the water-edge, upon which the sea breaks heavily in fresh winds ; avoid by a good look-out, the reef off the north-west extremity of Motu-ihe, and anchor under the lee of the island, or proceed onwards, as circumstances may suit. Having now entered Auckland in its different outlets, into which one of the three, a ship must always find a passage with 'any wind, and with almost any kind of weather, on having entered the gulf of Houraki, either from the northward or southward, the shipmaster will observe by the foregoing directions that there is a harbour to run for in any one direction he may think proper, or be forced to proceed under the lee of Houtourou, (which from its boldness is next thing to a light-house) we have found shelter for a night, during dark squally unsettled weather, the wind being strong from the northward, the night too dark for running up the gulf, the vessel was hauled within one mile of the island, sails were then all furled, but sufficient to keep steerage way, the lead was dropped in twenty-seven fathoms to ascertain her drift, nearly the same position was retained until day -light, when sail was made. Should the vessel be driven past the Waiheki-passage she will find shelter under the Paroa Island, bringing its eastern extremity about north-east, small islands to the westward about west, in six or eight fathoms, in this position she will have room to move with a southerly wind, and will have shelter from all western and northerly gales. In summing up the whole navigation of the gulf of Houraki, we shall find it a place wherein shelter may be had from all winds, | and by all classes of ships, little or no danger is to be feared, with the wind between north and east, foggy weather with rain may sometimes indeed, generally be expected, it is therefore adviseable to crowd all sail during the day, and remember that the harder it blows from the northward, Barometer ranging at 29, 30 and 29, 50, the sooner it will be in the opposite quarter, the northerly gale veering rapidly to the westward or southward. Barometer rising, the north-east gale veering to the south-west ; and not unfrequently blowing with more violence. . In speaking of thick foggy weather in this part of the world, the mariner will seldom be discomfited with long continued dense fog, such as are to be met with in the English' Channel, North Sea, or Banks of Newfoundland ; more than a few hours thick weather seldom prevails. From Cape Colville southwards the islands off Mercury Bay present themselves, and when properly surveyed, they will exhibit both harbours and anchorages. From Mercury Bay (with the exception of Tauranga) there is no harbour of any note until reaching Poverty Bay, although in the Bay of Plenty, which forms nearly the whole of the intermediate space, there are several small harbours for coasters, and no part of New Zealand requires surveying more than from Cape Colville to the East Cape. Poverty Bay, being as yet unsurveyed, should not be approached by strangers with the wind blowing strong upon the land, yet it affords good shelter when it can be entered ' in moderate weather, so as to allow strangers time to choose a good berth, on which ever