IMPORTANT TO MARINERS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 56, 10 February 1843, Page 2

IMPORTANT TO MARINERS.

SAILING DIRECTIONS KOll VESSELS ENTERING TIIE TIDE-HARBOUR OF WAITER A. High water at 9 o’clock, water on the bar at Spring tides 13.} ft., at neap tides between 10 and 11 feet. Coming from the Southward, and having made the outer sugar loaf, run from that place N.E. E. for 12 miles, which will keep you nearly parallel with the shore, and distant from it about 1} miles, when you will get two black beacons in line, w T hich are placed close to the shore near the entrance of the river, bearing S. by E., which steer for till you come to a buoy which is placed in the channel, when you are safely over the bar. Steer then to the Eastward about 5 mile till you come to a buoy placed in mid-channel, and from thence to a beacon bearing E. $ S. till you come to another buoy in line with it. If you wish to go further up the river keep close to the Island on the larboard hand, which will keep you clear of all snags ; you can then bring up in 17 or 18 fathoms water under the cliff, about 2 cables length ahead of the Island.

There is no occasion for any vessel to go beyond the second buoy, as regards safety, as they can lay there in every wind or weather. J ust beyond the second buoy there is a kind of natural dock, where small craft can lie aground when the tide is out on soft sand and clay.

Dangerous Shoal. —Extract from the log of the barque Planet arrived at Mauritius, Oct. Bth, from Calcutta. —“ Wednesday, 7th September, 1842.—At 1 p.m. observed the water on the starboard bow much discoloured, kept the ship away, and sent a hand a-loft to look out, who observed the same in patches as far as the eye could reach, running about W.S.W. and E.N.E; passed over tail of one patch, and had as near as we could suppose 9 fathoms on a sandy bottom, a quantity of sand fast to the lead when hauled in. The extent of the shoal appeared to be about 3 miles. Latitude 16 23 N. long. 84 10 E.” Captain Thompson further states that in the centre of this shoal there were heavy breakers, the weather had been squally in the forenoon, but was then more moderate, though the breeze was fresh and a swell in consequence. They had no meridian observation, but the longitude was determined and laid down by good sights taken that morning and an excellent chronometer.