Sailing Directions for Waikato River.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 39, 5 February 1864, Page 2

Sailing Directions for Waikato River.

When near the Waikato, do not shut in Oruaranghi Point (a noint 3 minutes southward ot the entrance) until the fairway beacons aro in one, bearing ZS T .E. by E. IE easterly (magnetic) : thea proc ed over the bar, with them in line. When just over tie bar. the water will deepen 5 or 6 feet ; keep tbe marks on until a sandy cliff on the South Head is about to shut in, then steer for Putataea. When the Mission Hou;e is touching a yellow cliff on the west side of Pufatuka, see that the small black beacons are still open, to avoid the five-foot bank to northward of channel. If wishing to bring up to the eastward of Put jtaka, oßcbor so as to swing- clear of a four feet rock, E- by N., one cable Irosn tae point, and the shoai water to the northward of the Channel. If a vessel is 150 feet long:, she must moor, but can He at single tnciior to tbe JN.W.'of tlie point. The tide is less to the eastward of the point. In going out fro:n Putataka, steer down for the mouth of the liver, keeping the black beacons open to avoid the 5-feet bank. Bring the Fairway Beacons in line when the Sandy cliff is about to open itself, and proceed across the bar. Keep the murks ou until Oruar- j aaghi Point is well open, when you are clear of ' tbe breakers at the entrance. The least water on the bar with the Fairway. Beacons in line is 12 feel- G inches, at low water spring tides ; but there is 10 feet a short distance, to the northward. »md 11 feet the Saino to thj south-ward, so thai the marks should not be opened much. The beacons when in line are ia' the middle of an easily recognised gully. Tne eastern beacon is o i TVhito shell summit. The western the J-rnile S.W. by W.f W. from it j on a little mound. The Spits at the entrance appear to have shiited i since Captain Drury surveyed the Waikato, as the I present fairway /iiagnetic bearin-j differs 4 degrees j — or nearty half a point from the old one. i Joh^t G. BoTjixox, R.~S., Master's Assistant and Assistant-Surveyor.