SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR ENTERING THE PORT OF INVERCARGILL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 19, 21 December 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR ENTERING THE PORT OF INVERCARGILL.

From the Provincial Government Gazette, Aug. 7 Vessels bound for New River should steer for the north end of Point Island, around which, to within a cable's length, there is not less than five fathoms water. A small patch is said to exist about a quarter of a mile off in a westerly direction, but the pilots have not been able to find less than five fathoms water on it, hard sand bottom. Outside the Bar, in six fathoms, is moored a spiral-shaped black buoy, bearing from the north end of the Island north half a mile. Steer for this buoy, and as you approach it the leading beacons, painted white, will come oil with each other bearing from you E. -J S. Keep the beacons in one, leaving the black buoy on your port hand, which will lead you over the bar in fifteen feet at low water, spring tides. The breadth of the bar is about a good cable's length, and insile of it, in four fathoms, is a spiral-shaped white buoy, marking the south side of the channel. The course from this buoy, to about two aoles' length above the Pilot Station, is E : JJ, and from thence, to about four rabies' length, farther up, Eby N. The cVanne! then gradually bends to the northward until past the Bombay Rock. The Pilot Station is situated between the leading beacons, and, except in heavy gales, a pilot will board the vessel abreast of the station, but, should the wind and sea be too strong for him to put off, the shipmaster by attending to the following directions, may be able himself to conduct his vessel to a place of safety : — The channel is marked by white buoys on the starboard or south side, and by black buoys on the port or north side. Keep midway between the black and white buoys. About three cables' length below the Bombay Rock lies a small rock called the "Guiding sur Rock," with only four feet water over it. A white buoy has been placed on the west side of this rock, in twelve feet water The Sand Spit, on the opposite side of the Channel, has been advancing into it during the last six months, and at present the breadth of the passage between the Spit and the rock is so narrow that it would not be prudent for a stranger to run through. It would be safer to anchor abreast of the second black buoy, above the Pilot Station, where a vessel with good ground tackle could, ride in comparative safety. The leading mark to pass midway between the rock and the Spit is -.—Keep the high hummock on the extreme end of Sandy Point a sail's breadth open to the eastward of the iron white beacon on Bombay Rock, bearing N E J N. When abreast of the white buoy, keep off. a little, so as not to shave the point of the Spit too close ; a N by E half E course will then lead you through between the Bombay Rock and the black buoy on the opposite side of the channel. Oil the west side of the Bombay Rock is placed an iron beacon, surmounted by a barrel painted white. The top of the beacon is fifteen i'cet above low water mark, and the rock projects from the beacon twenty feet W N W into the channel ; immediately beyond there is eighteen feet water. The course from abreast of this beacon to the second white buoy as you proceed upwards is N E by N, and from thence to the third white buoy N E, but allowance must be made for the set of the tide, which runs through the blind channel and strikes across the ship channel, between the Bombay Rock and the first white buoy above it. The Hood setting east, the ebb west. The best anchorage for a'stranger to take is abreast of the third white buoy from the Bombay Rock, letting go the anchors nearest to the S W side, as it is pretty steep, too. The depth of water near the shore is three, and, in midehunnd, five fathoms — good holding ground. It is high-water full and change at the Pilot Station at 12h. :iOin., and the rise of tide from six to eleven feet, according to the winds and. state of the tides ; westerly winds setting the tides up. A flagstaff" has been erected on Steep Head, ■ on which will be hoisted, on and after the latli Auyust, 18()'.'5, tidal signals, nearly the same as shown at Lonsdale Point, Port Phillip, viz. : — lIKTH'KEN SUNUISE AN D SUSSET. Din-ing the first quarter flood, a blue flag h.ill-mast high. During the second quarter flood, a blue flag at the mast-head DtirinKtliG third quarter flood, No7Marryatt's, half-mast high. During the last quarter ilood, No 7 Marryatt's at the mast-head. KB 12 TIDE. During first quarter, a blue Hag half-mast high, with a ball underneath. During second quarter, a blue flag at mast-head, with a ball underneath. During third quarter, No 7, Marryau's, halfmast hitch, with a ball underneath. Last quarter, No 7, Marryatt's, at the mast- [ head, with a ball underneath. When tlio sp;i is high on the bar, a black ball will be hoisted at the north yardarm, in addition to the tidal signals , but. when it is unfit for a vessel to enter the harbor, the tidal signals will nin be shown, Vint two black balls will be hoisted rit the north yardarm. Communication may be had with vessels at sea, by means of Marryatt's signals, at the south yardarm. Marryatt's signals, at the north yardarm, will be intended for the pilots at the station. Masters of vessels should not run for the harbor during the ebb tide, unless with a good commanding breeze, smooth water, and with a vessel easily steered. The bearings and courses given arc by compass, and the soundings at low water spring tides. .1. B. GTJEIG. Harbor Master. DIRECTION'S TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BOUND TO RIVERTON. [<\om the IV-Sf-iueiul O-ovrrn-incnt Oazstte Xov. 21. The entrance to this port being intricate, a stranger should not, under any circumstances, attempt to s.iil in without a pilot, but should make fast to the mooring buoy painted black, which is placed in twenty-one feet at low water spring tides with the following bearings : Sleep Head, S.E. by E. North-west end of Stewart's Island, on with llowi-U'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, 186.3, between sunrise and sunset the following signals will be made at the flagstaff, on Bailey's Point, viz. : — When a vessel is approaching 1 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 number will mean that some recent change has taken place in the channel or that ie 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. »hen the. pilot cannot get oft' may bold ccimmunication with him by means of Marryat's signals which in this case will be hoisted at tho south yard arm. The pilot who is provided with a boat and crew of four men will, when it is practicable, always put off in his boat on the appioach of a vessel not having the exemption flag flying. The. depth, of water on the bar is at the highest tides fourteen feet, and there is rarely less than eight feet at .high waler lowest ueap tides. J. B. Greig, Harbor Master. Harbor Office, Invereargill, J 1-th October, ISO': 1 ..