SAILING DIRECTIONS.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 747, 11 June 1853, Page 2

SAILING DIRECTIONS.

(From the "Auckland Governmcnl Gazette.") AIIAIPARA BAY. At the extreme of the 45 miles sand beach extending S.S.E. from Cape Maria Van Dieinan, is Abaiparabay, in which under favorable circumstances a Vessel of any tonnage could ship the produce of tin! Victoria planes, and of the fertile country at. die foot of tin 1 Mountain range extending from reef point to the Eastward. There is a small buy (Ongonga) within, where boats can s!dp cargo. The. approach is clear, and the anchorage is after bringing Taw-roa reef point, to bear S.VV. and the soundings will be found to decrease gradually from 10 fathoms—the bottom fine sand. Reef point (improperly so called' is a long low point sloping down from hills chequered with sand. A spit of sand extends from it westward which generally breaks, but does not run out above balf-a-mile from the point.

, A mile west of the point, we found 16 fathoms the [ tide which runs from 2 to 3 knots, la imperceptible n A, S W ra and y S.R. winds are favourable for laving at this'anchorage. It would appear also sheltered i.om N.E., but as tie ga'es from this quarter generally veer to N.W.'it would not be prudent to remain. H M.S. Pandora weighed at the commencement ot a N.W. gale, and had ample time to get a sufficient oiling. ("Ear. 33 10 30 iS. Reef Point A Long. 173 7 00 E. [ H.W. F.& C. Bh. 45m. Rue 8c fall 7 feet TAURANGA HARBOUR. Between Mercury River and' Wellington, Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty is the only safe anchorage in all winds for Vessels of burden. There is room for a fleet. The approach to it is remarkably distinct. Ihe difficulty of entering this harbour in its deepest channel, is the somewhat tortuous course and the liability to eddy winds on rounding Mount Monganui, and the channel at one place is only half a cable wide, but during those winds which would cause the Bay ot Plenty to be a lee shore, Tauranga is most accessible, and the following directions are the results of tbe Survey of 11.M.5. Pandora, in November 1852. * On approaching Tauranga from the Northward, the Mayor island should be brought to bear North, when a high flat topped hill (Monganui) will make at first like an island. It rises abruptly from the sands, and forms the eastern head of the harbour. On approaching nearer, an Islet (Motu-otau) and a hummocky projection from the sand, both within a mile East of Monganui, are the only interruptions to a uniform sandy beach, extending sixteen miles S. Easterly to Maketu. The west entrance of Taurauga is formed by low undulating sand hills. The island of Karewha (a rugged island about half a mile in circumference) six miles N.E. by N. of Monganui, is two miles off this sandy beach, having a channel on either side, of 12 to 15 fathoms. The soundings decrease gradually towards the harbour, from abreast of Kart-wba, 15 fathoms, and 7 fathoms a mile from the heads. The course in, will now b& S. 7- 45' E. or S. § E, avoiding a spit that generally breaks more than a mile out and extending a mile off the west shore. Monganui at fiist is bold. The channel in is one third of a mile wide, deepening from 4 to 7 fathoms, until reaching the S. W. extreme of the Monganui, from whence a stony point extends two-thirds of a cablp, which although generally visible, is covered at f-'s flood. If it is intended to haul round to the East channel (where there is an excellent anchorage under the mountain) the extreme of this spit should be seen, fcr the channel here though deepest is not much mo:e than half a cable. After Stoney point is passed, Monganui is quite steep to, and a good anchorage is found in the first sandy bight in 6 fathoms, a cable from the shore. Vessels of any size can proceed a mile and a half above the channel, having 5 to 7 fathoms; it is best to keep about a cabin off tbe H.W, and he line of bank opposite (which is steep to) will almost always be distinct. Here will be s'een a small rise of ground, immediately above which the channel divides, one running to the Westward with irregular soundings, and the other continuing towards Te Papa gradually shoaling. A Vessel could moor half a mile North of Te Papa having 17 feet at low water springs, and she Will then be near three miles from the harbour's mouth. There is another anchorage near the Western entrance to Tauranga, which if buoyed would be generally the simplest. It is by keeping on the same course S. £ E, and passing along the Western until IVO iganui is shut in by the West sandy point Panip;n;. There is a bank, the White Bank, to be avoided twothirds of the way across from Monganui to the West beach. This bank is iof a mile long, and lies North and South, and has two feet water; within there is a channel, for small craft only. To clear this bank, continue the course in S, J E, until the extreme point Panipani bears S.W \ W, and haul up towards this saud point which is steep to, keeping Monganui just shut in, and an anchorage, 6 fathoms sr.nd, will be found \ a mile beyond the point. From this anchorage, Vessels can leave without detention, whereas, within Monganui bluff, the prevailing wind being Westerly, and the channel off Stony Point being very narrow, a ship may be detained. Above Te Papa, there is only a boat ohannel amid extensive flats, and three miles above, it narrows again nto a small but deep river running to the Southwatd, which is nasigable for boats 15 mib-s, and by it, a journey can he accomplished to the Roto-rua lakes in less than two days. The Western branches of Tauranga are connected at high water, with the Kati Kati. The mouth of the river Wairoa, 2 miles S.W. from Oturaoiti, runs South-Westerly from 12 to 15 miles. Te Papa, the residence of Archdeacon Brown, is a thorough comfortable English establishment, the site well chosen on elevated ground, on the South side of the harbour, 3 miles from Monganui. Two miles to the Westward of it is the Village of Otumoiti, where there is a Roman Catholic establishment, and a very neat church, the interior gorgeously decorated by Native wicker-wcrk. Four or five Englishmen reside here, chiefly engaged building small craft, and I am informed, three Frenchmen live at the mouth of the Wairoa. The total Native population of the Tauranga district is estimated at 1000, and large tracts of laud are under cultivation. The grpatest strength of the tides is 3 knots; at Stony Point it mav reach 4. The middle flats are hardly ever uncovered, having from 1 to 4 feet at low water. During the '23 days we were in Tauranga, it blew very fresh almost continually from the S W, but we were assured such strong winds were unseasonable. We had lit. le rain. During the 25th and 2Gth of Novembe-r, a fog lasted fcr 48 hours, succeeded by a strong N W. breez*. Water can be obtained just within Stony Point, in small quantities. The natives provided us with pigs and poultry at reasonable rates. o r it Latitude of Monganui, Apex 37 34 50 Longitude of ditto. 176 12 55 E. H.W. at F. and C—7h. 10m. Rise and fall 6 feet. Byron Dhlmiy, Commander, H. M. S. Pandora.

* In the old and existing Charts, and Maps, there is an island laid .down, termed High and Flat, it does not exist, but there is no doubt this is Monganui which would have the appearance of a high flat isltnil from seaward. Captain Cook did not make this mistake, it must have been the error of a subsequent voyager.