PORT OF AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. SAILING DIRECTIONS Compiled by Thomas Kerr, Esq., Master of II. M. Surveying Vessel "Pandora."

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 687, 13 November 1852, Page 2

PORT OF AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. SAILING DIRECTIONS Compiled by Thomas Kerr, Esq., Master of 11. M. Surveying Vessel " Pandora."

Easiness of Approach. This only reasonable objection to Auckland Is the fact of having to bail through the Ilouraki Gulf to gel at it ; that this difficulty has hcen j much overrated, will he readily admitted, when it is known that there aro only two hidden danger : — th c Shearer and Hough rocks : and both are buoyed Tides. High Water, full and change, 7h. sm. at Auckland, Rise, 7to 11 feet ; strength, 07to 1 5 miles per hour. Northward of Point Rodney and Mount Many-Peaks, ilood nina to the northward ; to the southward of these points the ilood runs to the southward. The Bearings are all Magnetic— Far. 13° E. Makhq the Land. Strangers without the late surveys of IT. M. S. Acheron .should make the land either about Cape Colvillo or C.ipc Tow am, both remarkable objects and not easily mistaken. From the North. — Cape Brett. From the northward vessels would probably ,ight Cape Brett in hit. 3.1° JO' S., and long. 174° 2.7 E., which would be easily recognised from its rugged appearance and island oft it ; it may be seen %% r > miles oft", From Cape Brett the coast trends S.S.KJH., »J3 miles to Cape Tewara or 13 ream Head, a liold precipitous coast nearly the whole distance. 'J'awliitiralif Tslunds. From Perry Island, the small islet close on" Capo Brett, to the noith point of the Tawitirahi Islands, is E.b.S.^S., Southerly, 2(i miles : steer for them. These Inlands consist of two close together, each a mile long, laying north mid south of each other, and lour small islets, '.', miles to the southward ; they may be seen 10 or 12 miles from the deck, and passed on either side : then steer S. b. JO. for Morotiri Islands. Cape Tewara or Bream Head. Bream Head, the noith point of a large bay, (Bream Tail, the south point, bearing S.b.E., Ji miles distant) isinlat. 35°48'5., long-. 174° 34' E. Bream Head will be readily recognised, from its most remarkably ragged and castellated appearance, it has also n high hill 5 miles N.W. of it. North point of Tawhitir.ihi Islands to Bream ll end S4"\V., 24 miles. South point ditto ditto, S. ,]W., 17 miles. Morotiri Islands. The Morotiri group, or as it is more commonly called, the ilen and Chickens, will be another guide to Bream Head or Cape Tcwara. The Morotiri Islands extend from east to Avcst for a distance of .5 miles, being composed of three islands to the eastward, with several small islets to the westward of them ; westernmost or inshore one bearing E.S.E., (i miles from Bream Head, and S. jjf E., 21 miles from southernmost of Tawhitimhi group. They may be seen 15 miles off. Taranga Island. Taranga Island, the Hen of the above Chickens, is a larger island (being 2 miles from E. to W., and one from N. to S.), it is 2\ miles to southward, and has two small peaks, not unlike cows' teats, which may bo seen 20 miles off", Toutouroit Island. Toutourou Ibland, or Sail Rock, so called from its resemblance to a fore-and-aft schooner, is 3 miles S. fW. from the double summit of Taranga. From hence to S.W. point of Mount Many-Peaks Inland, N.W.b.W. jfW. 22 miles, and Point Rodney, S.E.b.S., 1« miles. Entrance of the Gulf. These Islands may be passed close to on either side, and the main land approached anywhere within half a mile; passing them, you enter the Ilouraki Gulf, having Mokohinou, the Fanal Islands, &c, &c, to (he eastward, distant five leagues. E. end of Morotiri Islands; to N.K. of Mokohinou Island, E. by N. j N., 14 miles. Mohohinu and Fanal Group. — JToittourou, Little Barrier, or Mount Maw/ Peaks. These Islands should be avoided by strangers without a charl, by keeping to the westward of Houtourou, Litlle Barrier, or Mount ManyPeaks, as tin's island is indiscriminately called. It is 3£ miles from E. lo W., and 4 miles from N. to S., and is happily named Many-Peaks, having several peaks, the highest 2400 ft. above the level of the sea ; and therefore the Island may be seen from a great distance :—: — From its summit, in lat. 30° 13' S., long. 17/5 ° 4' E. (8 miles distant from the Great Ban ier Island.) Cape Tewarn, or Bream Head, bears N.W. by W | W., 33 miles. Rodney Point (nearest point of mainland), S.W. by W. £ W., J3 miles. South Point of Kiahou or Kuwau Island, S. by Wf W, 17 miles. South Point of Tiritirimatangi, [sland, S.^W.Sly. 20 miles. Riingitolo Peak, S. W., 37 miles. Cape Colville, S.E. A E., 20 miles. Takoupo Ibland, S.fi.. ? E., 17 miles. Cuvier Island, 1). by S., easterly, 32£ miles. North Point of Otea, or Great Barrier, N.E. by N , , 17 miles. C. Barrier, S.E. Point ditto, E. \ S., 21 miles. Coast from Bream Tail lo Takutau Point. j From Bream Tail the coast trends S.E. f E., 10 miles to Point Koduey, where the tide divides. Southward of Point Jtodney is Omaßay, Point Takatau, the S. ]>oiut of which, bearing S.E. £ S., distant (> miles. Kihan or ICawau Island. • From Takatau Point, the coast really falls back 1

to west, but the apparent Southerly trend is kept up by the Island of Iv.iwau (4 miles from N. to 8.), forming nn iuk borage between it and the main — tlie noitliern ( l.annol to which (immediately to the southward of T.ikatau Point), although narrowest, is the best, the dangers being visible ; but it loquircs u pilot. On the western side of the Island is a bight, on th^ shore of which is a copper mine. Takatau Point to South Point of Kawau ib S.S.E., Easterly, 5 miles. Flat Rod. N.E. by E. \ E., nearly 2 miles from the South Point of Kawau, is a flat" rock, 30 or 40 feet over, an 1 only 4 feet high ; it is steep, too, and if there is any sea it may be heard 2 or 3 miles ofF. Southward of Kaivati. Between Kawau and Tiritirimatangi is a deep bi»ht running in to SAY. by S. 12 miles, with no oft-lying dangers. This bight is bounded on the so ith by Wauga Peninsula (Wangaproa) and the Island of Tiritirimatangi, between which there is a passage i \ miles broad, with 17 or 18 fathoms, ami no dangers but what may be seen lying close to the shores. From the South Point of Kawau, a S. J E. course will take you through the Wanga passage right down to the Rangitoto channel. Tiritirimatanga Island. Tirilirimatangi, the Tiritiri of the charts, is a flat Island, about 200 feet high, laying N.VV. by W. and S.E. by E , 3 miles long : it may be known by the table-lnnd behind it, which, from a distance, may ho mistaken for the Island itself S.IS. Point of Tiritiri is S. by E. £ E., 9.V miles, fiom South Point of Kawnu. Shearer Hock and Buoy. OfF the S.IS. point of Tiritiri, nearly a mile is a Sunken Rock, which shews at low springs ; there is a red and white buoy outside it, but being in deep water is ensily washed away, therefore go through the Wanga pa&sngo or give the point a berth of 2 miles. Tofino Bay and Coast to Southward. From Tiritiri Island, South point, the, coast trends S. W. by W., £ VV., 8 miles to the bight of Tofino Bay ; this lino passes the Wanga channel (as above) and the Wanga Peninsula. From the bight of Tofino Bay, tlio coast trends with a slight curve, S.E. by S., II miles, to the North Head of Auckland, and may be approached anywhere within half, ii mile. Anchorage. With the wind from tlio southward, or westward, you may anchor with safety in this Bay in B or 9 fathoms. Mount-Many Peals"J,o Rangitoto. Leaving Mount Many-Peaks Island to northward, and steering south, with a fair wind, you will soon distinguish Tiritirimivtangi (as above) and Raugitoto Peak, the summit of Rangitoto island on the eastern side of the Jiangitoto channel to Auckland ; fhe western side of the channel being formed by the main land, on which side Mount Victoria, 280 feet high ("with a signal staff on it) and the North Head Hill, two conspicuous round -look ing hills, will warn you of your approach to Auckland. Rangitoto Txhnd. Rangitoto Island will be easily recognised, rising gradually from the sea with a gentle slope, to a peak 500 or (5(10 feet high ; which on a nearer approach re&olves itself into three smaller ones. /focfa. The Island is .') ] miles from E. to W., and 4 from N. to S., being nearly lound. Off its west end are sonio rocks, all above water, extending one-third of a mile o A" shore. Waihcli, dc. Passing Tiritirimatanga to the S.E., a\ ill be the Islands of Rangitoto, Motu Tapu, and Waihcki with a number of off-lying small Islands to the northward of them, which may bo approached asconvenient, having no sunkcu dangers. OtanOii I,sla,ul. Of these Otatou is the outer and beais from the south point of Tiritirimatangi S.K. I !£., (5 miles; it may lie known by the rock like a hay-stack, \ a mile S. bv W. of it, Otatou to N.E. point of Waiheki, hi. \ S., 12 miles. Otatou to VV. point of Rangitoto S.W. by S., 0 miles. Motutapu. Motu Tapu is joined to Rangitoto by a bench, is 4 miles from N. to S., and 2jr from "E. to W., having the small Islands of Rukinoand Otatou to northward of it. J/ieh Channel. To the eastward of Motu Tapu is the Tlich channel, bounded on the other side by Waiheki. Waihcli Island. Waiheki is 11 miles from E. to W., 2\ miles from N. to S. at its western, and 7 miles at its eastern end. Coromandd Harbour. — River Thames. Twelve miles to the eastward of Waiheki is the harbour of Coronmndel, and 25 miles to the southward the River Thames. Tiritirimatanga to Rangitoto. From the Wnnga channel, S^ £ E., TO miles will take you into the channel, from a berth ofF S. point of Tiritiri (to avoid tho Shearer Rock,) nicer S.S.W. or S.W. by S. S.K. point of Tiritiri to W. point of Rangitoto, S. % E., II miles. ditto N. point ditto South 0& miles, ditto N . K. pt. of Waiheki E. by S. £S.l (5 " ditto Cape Col \illo, N.lfl. l>v H. 28 " ditto Takaupo J (1. or Roclc, N .E. {E. 23| " ditto Cape Barrier, N.E. 34 " Rangitoto Channel Having passed the western (rocky) point of Rnngitoto you will bo in tho channel, course through being S.E., 2 miles ; it is J^ miles wide, with a general depth of 6 and >7 fathoms ; you will have 4 fathoms anywhere at two cables from the shore. Rough Rock and Buoy. The only danger in this channel is the Rough Rock with 7 feet; on it is a red and white buoy bearing from the North Head S. £ W., % mile — it ' may l>o passed on either side, but inside is narrow. A uckland. Auckland is built on tho South bank of the Waitemate River, commonly called Auckland harbour. The river runs E. and W., and is about 1 mile broad. North Head. North Head of the harbour is the Bushy Point of the round hill ('before mentioned) with a while beach immediately to the northward of it ; passing this point, which is steep too on the west side, you cuter the harbour ; the town is 2h miles from the North Head. Bean Rocks, Beacon and Bvoy. ft. byS., nearly a mile from the North Head, are <he Bean Black Buoy, and Beacon with btaff and ball on a reef of rocks extending from the South Shore. Auckland Harbour and North Shore. Keeping ] mile' to the southward of North Head you may steer for the town, keeping out»ide the white buoy on a spit extending from Depot Point which will he known by the white Storehouse on it ; above this the North Shore is pretty bold. South Shore. The South Shore should not bo npproacl'cd nearer than mile, being bounded by mud banks and Rocky flats. Anchgragc. Anchor oft" the town as convenient, in 0 or 7 fathoms mud,

Muling the Land from the, Eastward. — Cuvier Island. Enteiing- between Cnpe Colville, i>nd C;ipo Barrier iin'ikc Cuvier Island, a small ishnd (12 miles from the main hind) rising gradually to ilio snuiiuH, N. point in hit. -S(i° 25' S. long-. '17.j" 42' E., i( is 2 miles from N. to S., ami J fioin l<], to W. N. point of Cuvier Ishmd to Takoupo | lolaud Hike n h.iy cock, 2 miles N. of -Capo | Colville), the con i so is W. by S. \ S., I!) miles. N. point Cuvier Ihlarnl toCnpuJianitTihW.M.W., 12 miles. Ditto to eastern point of Ilanssoz lsl.indb, S.E. by E. 17 miles. Otea, or Great Barrier Island. Capo Ban-iev is the S,IO. j)oint of Otca or Groat Barrier Island, which extends S.E. \ S. and N. K. % N., \\) miles, and is (i miles wide; it lias a very rugi>ed appearance, and its summit, Mount Ifobson, is 2 1 Of) loot high. Cape Cohille. Cape Colville is on the main land, and may be known by the high hills to the southward of it (one oi them is 2000 toot high), and the turreted hill to the southward near Coromandul harbor, seen over. Cape Colo'dk to Tiriliriinulanga. From Capo Colville iho coast trends lo eastward, indented with nuny bays, and from thence E.S.E. towards the Ifaussez Fslands ; inside the Cape, the coast runs S.S.E., 35 miles to thcliivei Thames. Between C.i])o Colville and Capo Barrier would bo good entry tor a stnmger ; as with Cuvier and llau'-MV. Ids. and thehig-h bills of Cape Colville lo Hd., and Mount lfobsou to northward, he might make sure of his land full, the passage is 11 miles wide, Cape Colville to Cape Barrier 5.W. ,/ W., 14 miles. Advancing-, Mount Many-Peaks would be recognised. CapeColviJle to S. point of'Tiiitirimjitangi, S.W. by W., 2.3 miles, would bo a good course until ltnng-itoto or Tiritirinmtanga arc feccn, when proceed as above.