NOTICE TO MARINERS.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 587, 29 November 1851, Page 2

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

A sunken Rock, between brown's Island and Rangitoto, about a quarler of a mile from the Litter, should be < avoiuVd by vessels taking t))o Woiheki pa^snge. A temjioraiy buoy Las been placed upon the same. Magnetic beatings: — From Southern extieme of Motutapu, S.W. jS. , centre of Biown's Inland, N.W. N.j and Peak of Itangitoto, S.E. by E. J E. Isaac J. Burgess, Acting Ilaibour Master.

To the Editor of the Wellington Independent, Port Nicholson, October 21, 1851. Sir,—As my opinion respecting a proper site for a Lighthouse, which was published in the New Zealand Gazette in the year IB<M, has recently been referred to, I beg to state that I find no reason to alter my opinion, more especially as it appears to be confirmed by many of greater locnl experience than my own. I therefore repeat with more confidence, that the first light ought to be exhibited on Fencarrow Head, at a sufficient elevation to become both a sea and a harbour light. I further puggeat that it should be a fixed light, showing its brightest face to seaward, and changing to some other bright colour, say green or blue, at the moment of a vessel having passed the Narrows, thereby combining a Sea and Harbour Light in one building. Having inspected an Iron Lighthouse at the Establishment of Messrs. Robinson and Co., Engineers, at Pimlico, I can speak in the highest terms of that mode of construction, as it lias been tested in various parts of the world. I consider it to be very durable, and not liable to derangement from the accident of earthquakes, fire, or high winds. The cost would be at once ascertained, and the whole building sent out in a very short space of time. As only a moderate kindof baeeraent and Lantern are required, the building would be extremely simple. Expecting to arrive, with the Simfoh, in England about ftlny next, 1 should be happy to afford to the constructors any other information that might be considered useful. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Ciias. Robertson, Master of the Barque Simlah

Light at the Mouth of Nelson Hakbour. The Nelson Harbour Light will be known to Mariners as a fixed Ked Light. The light will be visible in a south direction from N.N.W. round to N.N.E.; the lantern is elevated 160 feet above the level of the sea, but the light being red will not be seen at a greater distance than about eight miles, and at a lesser distance, according to the state of the atmosphere. Vessels running down the Bay should bring the light to bear S.S.E., with the lead going until they get within ? fathoms, when they should anchor, and wait for a Pilot. The light is in south lat. 41 deg. 15m. 30aec, and east long. 173deg. 16m. ssec. Jamis S. Cross, Harbour Master.

From the Nelson Examiner, we learn that Messrs. Monison and Sclanders have chartered tbe barque Columbus (now daily expected) to load for wool at Nelson and Port Underwood, and to proceed from thence direct to London. This will be the first wool ship that has ever cleared out from the Port of Nelson.— Wellington Independent, Oct. 22.

Line of English Steamers. Established at length under a new form, tbe important service of the Steamers of the English Royal Mail Company, which up to this time has managed the communication between Southampton and tbe various points of the Archipelago of the Antilles, of tbe Gulf of Mexico, Costa Fume and Central America; it ia of vast interest to the commerce and governments of all maritime nations to know with some precision the organization of that service. The steamers of -the great line No. 1, say that which commences at Southampton and terminates at Snn Juan, Nicaragua, a distance of 4937 miles, starts from Southampton, as 6 a.m., on tbe 2nd atid 17th day of each month ; calls at St. Thomas, Santa Martha, Carlhagena, and Chargrtiu, ports of New Grenada, and returns from St. Juan de Nicaragua, by the same places except St. Martha, Cbargres, Carthagena, and St. Thomas, will thus be visited four times a month by these steamers, and the Republic of New Grenada will receive by the nearest ports the benefit consequent on a communication so frequent and rapid with foreign markets. The Isthmus of Panama and Nicaragua will bo especially favoured, for by them will travel all the passengers, all the correspondence, and a great part of the merchandize and money which pass from the Atlantic to (he Pacific and vice versa. Chargres will thus be distanced from London only twenty-four days, and San Juan Nicaragua less than twenty-seven days. But tbe point on which this immense movement will be concentiated is the island of St. Thomas. There the steamers of the lines from Mexico, from Honduras, from Barbadoes and Demerara, from Trinadad and Nassau, will all meet. It may be remarked, that these extentions will be available twice a month at Jamaica, Demerara, and Nassau, which are English possessions, and the intermediate places which are also called at are British. The second lines, or rather call them extenaions of the first grand line, all take their departure from the Island of St. Thomas, the favoured centre in that part of the world of this grand movement. The first of the said extension, according to the order of the tables, is from St. Thomas to Mexico once ia each month, with a delay of two hours at Porto Rico, fifteen hours at Jamaica, eight hours at Vera Cruz, and it remains three days and fourteen hours at Tampico, which may be called the terminus of this line, and which is distant from St. Thomas 2030 miles, counting the calling places. The second extension, or it may be called the third route, according to the order of the tables, although it is there called the route of Jamaica and Havannah, ought more properly be called the route of St. Thomai and Honduras, for these are the extremes of the line. The steamers of this line make once a month a call of two hours at Porto Itico, two houri at Jacmel, 13 hours at Jamaica, sixteen hours at the Havannah, and are detained five days at Honduras, which is distant fiom St. Thomas 1950 miles, counting the calling places. Havannah will receive by this line the correspondence of Europe in 25 daya 21 hours, or say nearly 26 days from the departure of the steamer from Southampton. The American 1 ; line of steamers even diminish thii course of post, for by the lines of Cunard and Collins it has been proved that news from Math id can be received at Havannah in 25 or 26 days, from Paris in 22, and from London and Liverpool m 20 days. The third extension passes between St. Thomas and Demerara, in British Guiana, with stoppages at various English Islands to windward, and calling for a few hours at the French settlements at Martinique and Guadaloupe. The distance traversed by this line is 919 miles. The fifth and last extension runs from St. Thomas to Nassau, capital of Bahamas. This steamer makes the passage without stoppage of any kind, the distance being 860 miles. The object being to keep up a communication with the Bahama Islands, which, though unproductive and almost a desert, are of value to Great Britain in a military point of view. The second or grand line, No. 2, which crosses the Atlantic, travels over a space of 3250 miles, from Southampton in England to Rio Janiero in Brazil, with stoppages at Libbon, the Islands of Madeira and Teneriffe, and at Pernambucco and Bahia. The length of the voyage is 25 days, inclusive of stoppages. 'Hie only extension of this grand line runs from Rio Jameioto Buenos Ay res, with a stoppage at Monte Video, a voyage of 1170 miles, which the steamer makes in 7\ days ; or say 38 days from Southampton, including the time at sea, aud at all places at which thero are stoppages in the principal line. It may he stated that, in addition to the £240,000, sterling per annum which the British Government pays for the Royal Mail Communication between England and the West Indies, the sum of £30,000 sterling per annum is paid for the extension to Rio de Janeiro and tiie River Plate. The whole contributions in aid of these vast advantages to the countries thus brought near to Europe amounting to one million three hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum. From the above simple statement any one versed in the matter will recognise the vigilance and forethought with which the Bntuh Government tahes care to stimulate mnd tojuvour the general commeice of the nation. It is impossible to overrate the importance of these groat enterprises. It behoves us, and all foreign countries to intimate the grand example set by Grqat Britain. «— EI Meicuuo VulpuiaisOf July 14,