DIRECTIONS TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BOUND TO RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 7, 23 November 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

DIRECTIONS TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BOUND TO RIVERTON.

From the Provincial Government Gazette Nov. 21. The entrance to this port being intricate, a stranger should not, under any circumstances, attempt to sail in without a pilot, but should make fast to the mooring buoy painted, blacl*, which is placed in twenty-one feet at low water spring tides with the following bearings : Steep Head, S.E. by E. ~ : V' North-west end' of Stewart's Island, on with Howell's Point, S. by W. half W. The flagstaff on Bailey's Point, W. half N. The mooring anchors of this buoy are placed four hundred and fifty feet apart, east and west from each other ; on each side of the buoy care should be taken in dropping an anchor near by, not to hook the moorings. On and after the Ist of November, 1863, between sunrise and sunset the following signals will be made at the flagstaff, on Bailey's Point, viz.: — When a vessel is approaching the harbor a number from Marryat's code indicating in feet the depth of water on the bar at the time, will be hoisted at the north yard" arm. A black ball hoisted above this number will show that the sea is too high on the bar for the pilot to get off. Two black balls without the nuipher will mean: that some recent has taken place iii the channel ■■, or that it is dangerous in the opinion of tihe.pilot even for a coaster acquainted with the place to'attempt to run in. [Vessels outside the. bar or at the mooring buoy, when -the pilot cannot get off may hold communication withhim by means of Marryat's signals which .in | this case wUTbe.7hoisted.at the south yard arm/ .... 7. : y *The pilot wlio is provided with' a boat and crew bf four men will, when it is practicable, always put off in" his boat on the approach of a- [ vessel nqt; having the exemption flag flying. yTh'e'depth. of v water, ori the bar is at the highest' tides fourteen feet, and" there is rarely less than, eight feet at high water lowest neap ; tides. ,-• .' A--'-- --'A ■- '" - " J. B. GRErG, , Harbor Master. Harbor Office, Invercargill, - 24th October, 1863.