The river course is now N.E. by E. and by ; bee]ling in mid-channel all dangers are avoided, j From Mutawherapoint (steep to) keep Hurd’s point (a long low point) on the starboard bow, to avoid the extensive flat formed by the Omanai. From abreast of Hurd’s point steer for the North •point of Narrows. To pass through the Narrows which are very deep, a vessel should have a commanding breeze or slack water, as the tide, sometimes of 4 knots, sets from point to point. The only danger in the Narrows, is the Kohatutakataka rock, which is covered at low water, and extends a third way across, from the North point of tiie upper end of Narrows, it is steep to from the Southward, but there is no channel between it and the North shore. From the Narrows'give the North bank a fair berth, steering for Motuti, (a low sandy islet.) Between this and Kokohu is the best anchorage, and vessels can proceed as far as Houraki, but no further, and even here she would require to moor short, or head and stern. The channel to Hauraki is betweenPutupapaka, alow Mangrove island, and the Mission Station point, keening the South shore on hoard after rounding within half a cable of the Mangrove point of the Mission Station. In beating down the river, as a general rule, do not get within the line of the point you leave, and the point yon are approaching as the mud flats (however deep, the bights) extend from point to point, and are invariably steep to. The Narrows should be passed with a leading wind, unless a Pilot understanding the set of the tides, should undertake to beat a smart vessel through. Kaipara and its Tributaries. Kaipara entrance maybe known by the sand hills at the North Head, being 200 "feet higher than along the beach ; before reaching the breakers, the sand cliffs recede inland, leaving an extensive level of sand and swampy ground. The land south of Kaipara is higher than that to the northward, and in clear weather the opening shows the dark hills on the eastern shores of the river mouth. But the breakers will he generally seen fromihe mast-head, long before the distinctions in the land are visible ; the S.E. limit of them being 6 miles from the North Head, and 44 from the South beach at the main channel entrance. The whole extent of the outer limits is 11 miles, in a semi circular form. Convex to seaward. There are at present four channels; the northern is very narrow, and has from 2| to 3 fathoms, and should never he taken except under difficulties, or when a vessel standing too far oyer to it lias been drawn into the channel by the tide; the “ Aurora” was lost here. The Fanny Channel, there is reason to believe, has opened lately, it generally breaks across, but in it there is 24 fathoms at low water ; vessels have lately taken this for the main channel, and been surprised to find such shallow water. Coming along the breakers from the northward, the Fanny Channel will be the first opening seen, but except near high water, or under very favourable circumstances, no large vessel should attempt it. It has this advantage over the main channel ; the course through to the North Head is direct. The i min channel is 4 miles from the south beach, ■he narrowest part is of a mile broad, the extremes of the banks on either side break heavily, and 5£ fathoms will be found at low water mid-channel. When at the entrance, the present land marks are—the middle green patch on the North Sand Head, N. 2° 30' W. mag., and the large green triangular tuft, elevated 430 feet on the south sand hills N. 74° 80' E. mag. The course in will be N. b. E. mag. As the outer extreme of the left hank is passed, which breaks heavily, th Tory shoal is seen, and the course will be N.W. pass either side of the Tory ; hut the north side is preferable. The courses are so subject to the tides that the eye will always he the best guide. Off the North Head a sand spit extends, making the passage between it and the, Tory 1-j mile broad; the water here is very deep, 20 to 25 fathoms. Through the main channel there is (until passing the North Head) water at any time of tide for any ship, and varying from G to 20 fathoms, sand. The south channel is intricate, narrow, and not well known. The Sophia Pate was wrecked In it. Having passed within the breakers the course up the Kaipara is E. 4 N., avoiding the spit which forms a tongue between the Wairoa and Kaipara, the extreme of which is generally breaking, steering for the first head land ; (red cliffs) after passing it keep the south shore on board for 2 4 miles, and anchor half-a-mile off the shore in an open before reaching Omokoiti, from which place the mud flats begin to extend, forming the channel between banks (which are steep to), which it is best to navigate at low water, when they are dry on each side. The general course from the anchorage off Gmokoiti to Aotea (a remarkable white cliff on the south bank) is S.E. for 7 miles, with the. channel a mile broad. When 2£ miles from the white cliff, the course wends to the southward, and the channel narrows, 'The anchoi'age off Aotea is the highest and safest in the Kaipara To enter the Wairoa after passing the North Spit, keep the land on board for 5 miles, until a mile from Pouto point, which is about 100 feet high, and its top flat (where a Pa has been). Then edge off,asaspit extends half-a-mile from the shore under Pouto point, which having passed, keep the shore on hoard again, and an anchorage off a watering place in from 18 to 6 fathoms will be found. This anchorage is under the second high cliff after passing a small islet joined to the land at low water, and the valley north of the cliff has the stream. A monotonous range of white cliffs extend 1G miles up the Wairoa. The river inns nearly parallel with the sea coast, at a distance of 5 or 8 miles until reaching Mongawhare, 24 miles above Okaru. Three miles above the watering place is Okaru, from where a native pilot can he obtained, the two at present are Tomati and Manakau, and until the river is buoyed, recourse should be had to their services in proceeding up this branch of the Kaipara, Ships at present take in timber at Mongawhare where there is sufficient depth of water for any vessel in the trade. From Mongawhare the river runs north-easter-ly, and becomes narrow and tortuous, but timber can and has been supplied as high as Omano in a vessel of 300 tons ; this station with the windings of the river is 21 miles above Mongawhare, From the heads there are deep channels into the Oruawharu and Otamotea River, which until buoyed should he shown by a pilot, (the chart will best define them at present). These rivers have undoubted advantage over any other branch of the Kaipara, being near the heads, free from banks and dangers, and their shores comparatively free from mud flats, with fine soil, and plenty of timber and their sources being within a short distance of Wangari, will, I think, eventually make them the most valuable branches ol this great estuary. The tides in the Kaipara and Wairoa vary m strength according to winds and freshes. They are strongest between the Tory and North Spit and off the north entrance, until reaching the first white cliff in the Wairoa, when the influence of the Otamotea and Orua Wham may be said to cease. The ordinary springs run 5 miles an hour, and during strong gales or freshes, 7 miles. The tides above in the Wairoa run 3 miles an hour and continue that strength until near the head of the river. Above Mongawhare, a bore of considerable strength carries up the first of the flood, breaking upon the northern hank ; although the tides of the river take the courses of the channels, they do not outside, hut set directly over the hanks and this must be studied in navigating these channels.
The Hood outside runs to the south and the ebb to the north, following the direction of the coast; but on striking the outer banks, they flow and recede over them, and a vessel should not stand far into the great semi-circular bight among the breakers during the ebb-tide, or she will be carried on the banks. Vessels leaving the Kaipara should be within 3 miles of the heads at the first of the ebb, if it is intended to beat through, and it is possible for a smart working ship to do so. If a fair wind is necessary, it must be remembered, the morning land-wind will rarely carry a vessel clear of danger, and will probably leave her becalmed amongst the breakers. Three K ings. The Three Kings are a cluster of islands extending E.N.E. and W.S.W,, 7 miles, the races and tides which run 5 miies an hour between them, frequently have the appearance of shoal water ; but the Pandora has sounded the different channels and no danger whatever was found but what was above water. The only detached rock is a little above water about three-quarters mile E. of the largest island, and there is a channel within it. The largest island was inhabited for two or three years by natives from the North Const, but it is now deserted; the landing is very precarious at all times. The south extremity of the Three Kings, bears N. G4£ W. (mag.) W. 21*9 miles from Cape Maria, Van Diemen. Variations of Compass 14° E. All bearings given are by Compass. High Water at Full and Change. Kaipara Heads 10 AoteaCliff( Kaipara Branch) Watering place (Wairoa Branch) - 10 Under Tokatoka 12 Omano (Mr. Walton’s) 02 Tangiteroris, (Mr. Butler’s).. High Water at Full at Ilokianga Heads (rise and fall 10 feet) 9 Abipara Bay 8 Cape Maria Van Diemen.... North Cape Parenga-renga (Coal or Kohau point) 7 Chora River and Bay 8 Awanui and Kangaounou Heads Mr. Southey’s 10 Maitai Bay.. 8 The rise and fall round the coast is about 7 feet at springs. Fifteen miles from the land will take a vessel out of the influence of tides, except of Cape Maria Van Diemen, A mile and half from the shore they are generally twice as strong as 3 miles off. OflT Cape Maria Van Diemen the tides run from 8 to 5 knots per hour, and we found them strong on the Pandora bank. Indeed the tidal influence here extends to the Three Kings, On the East coast the flood tide sets to the Northward ; on the North coast to the Westward; and on the West coast to the Southward. Latitudes and Longitudes Astronomically determined. Awanui(Tekotiatia point) 84 ° 53' 12" S., 173 ° 20' 04" E. Maitai Bay (peninsula dividing the inner bays) 34 ° 50' 05" S., 173 ° 26' 30" E. Oboro River (point Repirepi) 34 ° 49' 45" S., 173 ° 11' 20" E. Parengarenga (Kohau or Coal point) 34 ° 30' 40" S., 173 ® 02' 50" E. North Cape (islet off) 34 ° 25' 07" S-, 173 ® 05' 40" E. . Cape Maria Van Diemen (Cape islet) 34 ° 27 43" S., 172 ° 43' 57" E. Ilokianga Heads (flagstafl) 35 ° 32 05 S., 173 ° 24' 25" E. Kaipara (watering place, "Wairoa) 30 ° 19' 35" S., 174° 13' 00" E. Kaipara (a whitewashed cliff at extremity of the bav N. of Oxnokoiti) 36 = 27' 50" S.. 174° 18' 29" E. By itoN Drury, Commander of 11. M. S. Pandora.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18530108.2.13
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 703, 8 January 1853, Page 4
Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,987Untitled New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 703, 8 January 1853, Page 4
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
Ngā mihi
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries.