LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP READS

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 62, 12 June 1863, Page 2

LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP READS

VICTORIA. (From the Gazette, March 18.) The accompanying notice to mariners respecting Iterations in the'light at Port Phillip Heads, and oiling directions rendered necessary by the alteraio n« ?n question, are published for general information. RoaKKT S. ANPrKSOX, Commissioner of Trade and Customs. Department of Trade nnd Customs, Melbourne. March 12, 1833. Notice to Marixebs. toet rnii.r.TP heads lighthouses. Knvisrators are hereby informed that in neenrd. once with a noHee tn mariners darrd the 27th of December, 1S(»2. the alterations in Short land's BlufTand Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for the first time of b lizbt on Point Lonsdale. na notifipd on the 3rd Fehruary. 156.1, were carried into effect on the respective dates mentioned in such notices. Consequent upon thpse changes, the following sailing directions are pub'isVd for the guidance of vt- .<=sols navigating the entrance to Port Phillip at Yps-pls from the southward and eastward will fcx> the- high light (fixed wLifel on aXJ W bear-in.-r and the white low light (fixed white and red) ou"fa N hT. bearing: as they proceed to the /»y la lri*;Ahe two lights in one, tho low light wiU tbuiiL'(."its color from white to red on a XJSTE £ fc Vessels from the southward nnd westward Si.-hnncr the high liirht to the eastward of XE by if should, to avoid the Barwon bight, haul out to the eastward to open the low light, which will be first soen white onaSE by E bearing, and a? they proceed to bring the two lights in one the low lisht will change its color from white to red on a ~2%Y.i E bearing. 1 A reference to the chart will show that, as h ; therto the best and safest course hetween the Heads is to keep the twn Shortland's Bluff lights in one line on a KE by N and SW by S bearing: ; but should the wind become scant and the vesse compelled to make a tack when in the vicinity uf the Corsair Rock or the Point Lonsdale Beef, these dangers will bo avoided by vessels of light drought so long as the Shortland's Bluff low red light is kept in sight. Vessels so circumstanced must be carefulto go :d nut or haul towards midchnnuel before the low li^bt changes from red to while. % _ . , T Tne li"ht (fixed red ax ' green) on Point Lonsdale has "been established to warn vessels entering oc departing at night, of their vicinity to, and when they are clear of, the Lonsdalc and Ferguson Vessels steering from sea for Port Phillip, and near the entrance, will first see the Point Lons dale <reen liebt on a IN'W by JS T \ N bearing, and so long as they have it full in view they are to seaward of the Lonsdale aDd Ferguson rocks, when the two colors, red and green, begin to blend, it indicates vicinity to the line which passes on a KW by W bearing from the light over these ! "when the Lonsdale red light opens out full, vessels are inside of them ; and when they shut it ju onaWJ N bearing, they are inside of the CorVessels steerine towards the West Channel will avoid the reef off Shcrtlsnd's Bluff, and the bank between it and Swan Spit, and also clear the lloyal George sand, when in their vicinity, by not opening out the white light on Swan Spit, but keeping the red light in sight until within three cables'length of it, when they will be above tbo Itoyal George buoy, and should haul to the eastward, and open the white light, giving the lighthouse a berth of tbree-quartei-'s of a cable's length in passing. Vessels navigating the South CnunneJ are reminded that the low light on Shortlands Bluff now shows white from sea up to the South Channel to tb*> east end of Cnpel Sound. Vessels below Capel Sound, White Perch Buoy, will be aided in their passage up or down the South Channel, and avoid the north 6and, by not shutting the light in, it being masked on a west by uorib. bearing. With the view of keeping tie fairway to the West Chan*"* 1 clenr, vessels of light draught are ri ,(.c *9 4 *n anchoring off Shortland's .• - - „ - er t owar d 6 the sbore as

possible on the NW side of the fairway, indicates at night by the Swan Spit light changing irom red to white on a N.E £ E bearing, and by day tho Swan Spit lighthouse just open E of No. 1 black buoy. Vessels of heavy draught should anchor on the SE side of the fairway, which, is indicated at night by tho Swan Spit light changing from red to white on a NE £ N bearing, and by day the Swan Spit Lighthouse just open W of No. 2 White Perch Buoy. Masters of vessels about to anchor at night off Shortland's Bluff are requested to note that the low light shuts in on a N by W bearing. All bearings are magnetic. Charles Ferguson, Chief Harbor Master. Department of Ports and Harbors, Williamstown, 11th March, 1863.