Page 3 Advertisements Column 4

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 703, 8 January 1853, Page 3

cliomge in 5 to 12 fathoms in'moderate Wester’y winds, bnt the back swell rounding the North Cape would render them had anchorages in strong breezes. Off the North Cape islets foul ground extends for one third of a mile N. E. by E., at the extreme of which is a rock which is only uncovered at lowwater. After rounding it, the steep red cliff rising at the Cape to 740 feet, gradually slopes for three miles. An open Bay (Tom Bowlin’s bay) has been a temporary anchorage for whalers receiving supplies from a native of that name ; but it is a very exposed anchorage. The coast now takes an Easterly direction, bold and precipitous, with bare hills rising to 900 feet. Midway to Cape Maria an islet extends from a rocky point, within this a sandy bay stretches AY 1 S. W. for 3 miles having a small stream at each end. From thence to Cape Rcinga the coast is rocky and precipitous, but apparently free from dangers if we except a whirl-pool which is spoken of, but which we have not yet seen. From off Cape Beluga, Columbia reef extends Eastward 2 miles, constantly breaking. There is a channel within it and the main for small vessels. But the soundings on this coast will undergo a closer examination this season. Off Cape Maria is the Pandora bank (officially reported on December 11th, 1851). It is 8 miles from S. | E. to S. by W. from the Cape, having 5 fathoms and generally breaking. Within it and the main is a channel of 15 fathoms. Cape Maria Yan Diemen is a projection from a sandy isthmus, and appears like an island, and not metre than 100 feet high. Immediately N.E. of it is a double islet about half-a-mile in circumference, but no channel within. The long beach from Cape Maria Yan Dieman, South, is an uniform hard sand. Twelve miles down is the small rocky islet of Motu Pea, 50 feet high, 24 miles from the shore; it is the only unconnected spot on this coast, there appeared to be deep water within it; but the constant rollers t would prevent a vessel from taking the channel. The rocky (almost islet) of Mouganui connected with the sands at low water, and about 10 miles S.E. of Motu Pea, are the only varieties in this monotonous sandy beach of 45 miles, ending at Ahaipara. Ahaipara is not sheltered from West winds, hut in Pair weather coasters anchor or lay off, and boats find good landing in Ongonga bay. Reef point is a long and table projection. The ishoal water extending from reef point appeared nconsiderable, but this we also hope to approach seaward. A mile and a half South is a remarkably sandy ravine. The sea is said to be encroaching here fast. Herekino, or False Hokianga (nine mile South of Ahaipara) is only navigable for boats at the finest season of the year; at the mouth 9 feet at high water. There are sand hills chequered with green patches on the North shore; from the South head the bare hills rise suddenly to the height of 800 feet, and. continuing the same level to Wangape with a table summit, and deep ravines to seaward. Forty feet of timbers of H. M. S. Osprey are left on the North entrance. * Wangape is 5 miles to the Southward of Herekino. It has bold heads, but a rock is at the entrance which we have not seen, called Maniawa, and the channel is not more than a quarter of a mile in breadth. If a ship came in here with a strong flood she must inevitably go on shore one side or the other at every turning the tide sets to the opposite shore. There is however 5 fathoms in the channels. It must he a decked vessel of small tonnage to enter under canvass. There is a sunken rock in the channel, but no Bar, and the North Channel is the best. No vessel drawing more than 7 feet should approach Herekino. From Wangape to Hokianga is 11.r miles, S.E. about 5 miles brings you to the sand hills extending to the North head of Hokianga. Hokianga. The entrance to Hokianga from the Northward is known by the North head of the river being the termination of a sandy range extending for 8 miles, varying from 100 to 800 feet high. To the Southward of Hokianga no sand hills are to he seen until passing Mouganui bluff when it is all sand again to Kaipara. Mouganui bluff is very high land falling abruptly to the water 20 miles south of Hokianga and on a tolerably clear day will he seen long before reaching Hokianga. There is no land like it on the coast, and is a good mark to make at any time for vessels—approaching ports on the West Coast. A constant swell from the Westward breaks heavily on the beach, and the bar is almost always breaking, and when this is the case a vessel should be prepared for shipping a sea. Three rollers and you are over it. No vessel should approach without a leading wind. She should be there so as to carry the flood into the harbour. But should the first of the ebb have made and the bar should appear to be passable, it must still be borne in mind there is a tide of 5 knots per hour to contend against with a chance of the wind failing; and the anchorage between the bar and heads is very bad. Steering S.E. until you are within 4 or 5 miles of the heads, keep over to the Eastward until you bring Martin’s White Cottage on with the South head E. by N, -} K. keep this Cottage (which may he seen 5 miles) a cable open for the deepest channel. The outer edge of the bar is 1| mile from the heads, it will be found to shoal from 8 fathoms to 34 at one cast. Mongonui bluff is then in transit with a low point about six miles distant, and the shoalest of the bar is when Mouganui bluff is in transit with a nearer point, and when three points are in transit the bar is crossed, and the water deepens. There arc then two dangers (North of the channel) to he avoided, the nine feet rocks and a patch off the North head, making the channel at the heads narrow, hut by keeping the South head on board, and the cliffs extending from it to Martin’s bay just open, they are avoided. It must be remarked, the ebb sets directly upon the South head spit, and in going out due allowance must be made for weathering it. On it the City of Edinburgh lost her rudder, and small vessels have drifted on it during light winds. There are no dangers in Martin’s bay, and tlie holding ground is very good, but there is generally a considerable swell. It is therefore better not to anchor until passing the middle ground. N.B. — Vessels anchor in Martin’s bay to wait an opportunity of crossing the bar which might be lost by being further up. There is a good channel either side of middle ground, but the East channel is the broadest. There is foul ground off’ the Wairohea, which frequently causes a race, and the outer ledge is only dry at springs. When the South head is S.S.W. steer N.E. until Young’s point bears N. 4E. Steer for Young's point until midway between the low sandy point Rangi and Young’s point. Then edge over to Westward to avoid tlie bank South of Young’s point, hut do not shut in the North head with point Rangi. After passing Young’s point steer for tlie next, Kowwarri. Abreast Malienna island will be found the least water. Keep a cable off Kowwarri point which has rocks off it covered at half tide. When Kawwarri point is abreast steer for Tekaraka point, to avoid an extensive flat between it and Onoki, but when nearing Tekaraka edge away for Direction head, not corning within a cable of Tekaraka, as rocks dry at low water extend from the Southward of it.