DIRECTIONS TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BOUND TO RIYERTON.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 12, 4 December 1863, Page 2

DIRECTIONS TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BOUND TO RIYERTON.

From (lie Provincial Government Gazette iS T oy. 21. The entrance to this port being intricate, a Stranger should not, under any circumstances, i attempt to sail in without a pilot, but shev.ld make fast to the mooring buoy painted black, which is placed in twenty-one feet at low water spring tides with the fallowing bearings : Steep Head, S.E. by E. 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 ihis buoy are placed four hundred and fifty feet apart, east and west from each other ; on each side of the buoy c.ire should be taken in dropping an anchor near by, not to hook the moorings. On and after the Ist of November, ISB3, between sunrise and sunset the following signals will be made at the flagstaff, on Bailey's Puint, viz.^ — When a vessel is approaching the harbor a number from Marryat's code indicating in feet ihe depth of water on the bar ?.t the tima, will be hoisted at the north yard ariM. A black bail 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 number will mean that some recent change lias taken place in the channel or that it is dangerous in the opinion of the pilot even for a coaster acquainted with the place to attempt to run in. Vessels outside the bar or at the mooring buoy, when \\w pilot cav.v.ot get off may hold communication with liiin by means of M.-irryat's signals which in this case will be hoisted at the south yard arm. The pilot who is provided wifh a boat and crew of four men will, when it is practicable, always p\it off in his boat on the appioach of a vessel uot having the exemption fl;ig flying. The depth of water on the bar is at the highest tid-es fourteen feet, and there is rarely less than eight feet at high water lowest neap tides. J. B. GnKiR, Harbor Master. Harbor Office, InveTcargill, 24th October, 1863.