LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PITILLIP HEADS VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 65, 19 June 1863, Page 2

LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PITILLIP HEADS VICTORIA.

(From the Gazette, March 18.) The accompanying; notice to mariners respecting Iterations in the l'ight at Port Phillip Heads, and oiling directions rendered necessary by the alterai ins in questi-m, are published for general in formation. RoaßttT S. A*7DEESOJr, Commissioner of Trade and Customs. Department of Trade and Customs, Melbourne. March 12, 1803. Notice to Mabinbhs poet phillip heads lighthouses. Tfnvie/itors are hereby informed that in flceordnnce with a notice to mariners dated the 27th of Pereinbrr, 18U2. the alterations in Shortland's "Bluffaml Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for the first lime of a linrbt on P^int Lonsdale, as notified on the 3rd February, 1563, were carried into effect on the respective dates mentioned in such nut ices. Consequent upon these changes, the followin-r sailing directions are published for the guidance of vessels navigating the entrance to Port Phillip at night :— Vessels from the southward and eastward will Bee the hicrh light (fixed white) on a N h W bearing, and the white low light (fixnd whitc'and red) onaNiE bearing; as they proceed to the NW" to bring the two lights in one, the low light will change its color from white to red on a NNE £ E earing. _ Vessels from tho southward and westward sighting tho hi'sh li^ht to the eastward of NE by E should, to avoid the Barn-on bight, haul out to the eastward to open tho low lig-hfc, which will be first S3ea white oo a NE by E bearing, and as they proceed to bring the two lights in one the low light will change its color from white to red- onaWEJE benrbg. . . . A reference to the ehnrt will show that, ns hitherto, the best and safest course between the Heads is to lce»p the two Shortlnnd's Bluff lights in one line on a NE by N and SW by S bearing ; but ch.--.ulrl the wind become scant and the vesse compelled to make a tack when in the vicinity vf the Corsair Rock or the Point Lonsdale Kerf, t.iese dangers will bo avoided by vessels of light iirauaht so long as the Shortland's Bluff low red light ia kept in sight. Ve-scis so circumstanced must be carefulto go about or haul towards midchannel before the low light changes from red to white. The light (fixed red and green} on Point Lonsdale has been established to «-ar;i vesspls ont'.-i-isiir or departing at night, of tbeir vieinitv to. ami when they are clear of, the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks. Vessels steering from sea for Port Phillip, and near the entrance, will first see tho Point Lons dale green light on a KW by N a N bearing, and bo long as they hare it full in view they ore to seaward of the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks, when the two colors, red and green, ben-in to blend, it indicates vicinity to the line which "passes on aNWby "W bearing from the light over these dangers; When the Lonsdnlr red light opens out full, vesseb are in=ide of then ; and when they shut it inon a W£ N bearing, they are inside of the CorBair rock. Vessels steering towar !■: the West Channel will avoid the- reef off Short! nd's Bluff, and the bank between it and Swan Spit, and also clear tho Royal George sand, üben in their vicinity, by not opening out the white light on Swan Spit^ but, Leaping the red light in sight until within three cables' length of it, when they will be above tha ltoyal George buoy, and should baul to the eastward, and open the white light, giving the lighthouse a berth of three-quarter's of a cable's length in passing. Vessels navigating the South Cbunnel are rcrr.inded that the low light on Shortlands Bluff now shows white from sea up to the South Channel to the east end of Capel Sound. f I Vessels below Cape] Sound, White Perch Buoy, Trill be aided in their passage up or down the South Channel, and avoid the north sand, by not shutting: the light in, it being masked on a west bv north bearing. With the view of keeping the fairway to the West Channel clear, vessels of light draught are recommended, wfcen anchoring off Shortland's BlufF, to bring up as close over towards the shore as possible on the NW side of the fairway, indicates at niettby the Swan Spit Uglit changing from red to wuite on a ITE $ E hearing, and by day tbc Swan Spit lighthouse just open E of No. 1 blaek booy. Vessels of heavy draught should anchor on the SE side of the fairway, which is indicated at night by the Swan Spit light changing from red to white on a NE f 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 Shorlland's Bluff are requested to note thai the low light shuts in on a N by W bearing. All bearings are magnetic. Charms Ferguson, Chief Harbor Master. Department of Ports and Harbors, Williamstown, Ilia March, 1803.