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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 16 June 1864, Page 2

Manukait Harbor. —Soura Channel. —The following caution to ship masters, emanating from Captain Rcnner, of the s.s. Lady Bird, appears in the Northern journals : —"On leaving Manukau by the South Channel, on the 20th inst, noticed that the second fair way buoy going in had drifted a considerable distanco in a S.E. direction, and close on to the edge of tho break on the bank. Masters of vessels, therefore, ought not to place implicit reliance on the position of the buoys, but steer in by the natural leading marks, us given in tho directions published by the authorities ; viz — the two trees iv n lino with islet oiF South Head. Tun Otaoo. —As this steam vessel, commanded by W. Smith, Esq., was leaving the Manukau by the south channel, sho got foul of the inner fairway buoy, which brought tho ship up. After the lapee of a few minutes, and the anchor having been dropped, the vessel swung clear, and the buoy entirely disappeared, it is presumed in consequence of its having been struck and shattered by the blado of the propeller. There was an unusually heavy sea running at the time. Thy Otago encountered strong head winds and continuous rain until reaching Taranaki, where so great a surf was rolling that she had to lay oil" till nczt day before landing the 32G troops and officers taken by her for that port. She left Taranaki at five* p.m. of the :>Oth, and arrived here on the morning of the 31st, at nine o'clock. —JVelson Examiner, June 2. The Little Fred is a three-masted schooner of about 120 tons, which sailed from Norway shortly after the Venus, from the master of which brig %ye learn that in consequence of the length of time sho has been at sea, fears are entertained for her safety, especially as there are now in the port some men who were in Norway three weeks after her departure. They proceeded to England, and, being discharged thero, shipped on board the Oryx. —S. A. Re(/ister,May 17. SOMK anxiety is being felt respecting the Catherine Peinberton, which left Gravesend, bound to this port, on the 22nd of December last, and has not yet arrived or been heard of here.—Launceston Ea-aniiner, May 21. The Sea Breeze, discharging cargo for Newcastle, will be fitted up for the conveyance of stock to Invcrcargill. It is intended to run this vessel regularly m the trade between this port and Invereargill.—Lawieeslon Examiner, May 21. A new chart of the entrances to the Manukau Harbor has been posted at the Custom-house by Mr. A. 11. Maning, for the information of shipmasters. Tho chart is a copy of that issued last, year, but bears tracings of the recent survey of the south channel, made by Captain Sydney, R.N. It has been forwarded by Captain A. Christie, of this port, who is now ou a visit to New Zealand, and will no doubt prove valuable to masters in correcting their charts. According to tlus chart the middle banks seem to havo shifted considerably, and the bearings are accordingly varied. Tho chart informs us that the outer fair-wuy buoy is painted red with black stripes, and has a bell upon it; also, that the south channel is considered much tfce best when tho wind is favorable.—//. T. Mercury, May 12. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that " two officers of the Harbors and Rivers Department have been sent to the Darling, for the purpose of taking observations with reference to the en'eet of floods on that river, and of arranging a number of tide-gauges, with a view to carrying out some works for the improvement and canalization of the rivers Murrumbidgeo and Darling. One of the officers has gono down to the Murrumbidgee from Albury, and the other has gone across, to strike tho Darling at Walgett, from whence he will follow the river down to Wentworth. A short time since circulars were sent by Mr. Moriarty to all the residents on the Darling, requesting them to fix a gauge in some conspicuous spot on the bank of tho river, near their head stations, and to make weekly observations of the height of tho river. Blank diarieß were also sent, to be filled up, together with sketches and general directions for fixing the gauges. A commencement has just boon made with the observations, which will be kept up for twelve months." .