STAR ROCK,—BLIND BAY.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 6, 12 July 1845, Page 2

STAR ROCK,— BLIND BAY.

Star of China.— Sunday, March 23, 1843, wind N.E. liyN., beating out of Blind Bay, at 1 p. m . observed u rock nearly right a-head; stood on heading N.W. by N., kept the deep sea lead going, had 19 fathoms regular soundings, when abreast of it, true bearing east, distance about Iwo miles, and took the following bearings from the ship: .Point Liardel, by compass, E f 8.; Pepin Island in a line with the highest land visible over Cape Farewell, hearing N.W. £ W , and open a ship's length of Separation Point, the northern extremity of D'Uiville's Island NE. £- E. The above bearings place the lock on my chart abirit nine miles due east from Port Adolphe, the north side and entrance into Astrolohe roads. This rock lies about one third of the distance across the bay, and in a fair way track to Nelson, bearing from the entrance into the harbour, 8. \ E ; when 1 passed, it was low water, and flood making, appeared to cover it very fast, and I should think it would be covered atone third flood, and not appear at low water neap tides ; the rock lay about east and west, with two small pinnacle rocks at the apparent extremes, and I should suppose it to be about ISO feet in length ; the water did not break over it, although there was a strong N.W. swell, and 1 am inclined to think that the sea never breaks over it, as I mus>t, on former voyages, have passed close to it, and what would fuither my supposition is, that the authorities at Nelson have no knowledge of its position. I know they have heaid ot a rock being in existence in that direction, but up to the time of my leaving, they did not know Us exact place, o» in point of fact, whether there was one at all. 1 cannot too stiongly recommend all masters visiting Nelson 1o keep a good look out for this rock, as it lies in t lie fdir way track, with apparently deep water, dose to, on the N.E. side, and I would suggest to all inasteis visiting Nelson, (at least those who may be strangers,) that after rounding the sandspit, which extends about 20 miles E. \ N. from Cape Farewell, to steer down B.E. by S , until they are more than half way across the bay, then thy might haul a little more to the southward, and higher up the bay to the southward and "\ve»tttcud. THOMAS TIN LEY. Master of the Star of China.