DIRECTIONS TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BOUND TO RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 22, 28 December 1863, Page 2

DIRECTIONS TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BOUND TO RIVERTON.

From the Provincial Government Gazette Not. 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 black, which is placed in twenty-one feet at low water spring tides with the following 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 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 Marryai'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 it is dangerous in the opinion of the pilot even for a coaster acquainted with the place to attempt to run in. Vessels outside tbe bar or at the mooring buoy, when the pilot cannot get off may hold communication with him by means of Marryat's signals which in this case will be hoisted at the south yard aim. 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 approach 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 water lowest neap tides. J. B. Greig, Harbor Master. Harbor Office, InvercargiU, 24th October, 1563.