WEST COAST HARBORS.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 197, 3 January 1866, Page 2

WEST COAST HARBORS.

The foUowing are the sailing directions for the West Coast Harbors, as given by Fred. D. Gibson Esq., Marine Surveyor: — Hokitika River is situated on the west coast of the Province of Canterbury, Middle Island, in latitude, by observation, 42deg. 41min. 3sec. S. ; longitude, by chronometer, I7odeg. 59min. 15sec. E.,°and is navigable for vessels of a light draught of water for the distance li- miles from the entrance. There is good anchorage from two to three miles off its mouth, in from 8 to 10 fathoms, dark sand and good holding ground, bhould vessels intending to take the bar have to anchor to await daylight -or high-water, they should bring up a little to the southward of the port ; for whereas there is usuaUy a southerly current in the offing, a very strong northerly set wiU often he found witiiin the break on the bar. A constant heavy westerly sweU roUs in on this portion of the coast, and although the prevailing gales blow from the N.W., S.W., and SAE., enabling vessels to lie weU off shore and obtain an offing, the masters of vessels should nofc neglect watching the weather carefully, and in the event of its threatening put to sea in good time. The heaviest break of the sea is immediately outside the bar, in two fathoms water. The bar itself is continually shifting in direction and varying in depth, and after a heavy fresh the river runs straight out to sea, and during the interval of moderate or fine weather the sea fiUs up either the northern or southern spit, and makes a scries of middle banks, forming two or three channels, as the case may be, averaging only a depth of from twelve to eighteen inches at low water. Ifc is high water, full and change, at Hokitika bar nine hours thirtynine minutes (9h. 39m.), and the mean rise and faU of tide averages from eight and a half to nine feet ; but this is of course greatly affected by the amount of fresh in the river. Grey River is situated in latitude 42deg. 23min. S., longitude l7ldeg. llmin. E. The bar at its entrance, like those of aU the other rivers on the West Coast, is constantly shifting, and after a heavy fresh, when the chanel breaks straight in a westerly direction, it is perfectly safe ancl easy of access for smaU vessels drawing from 8 to 9 feet, whereas in the absence of any freshet in the river the channel makes either to the north or south, but usuaUy in the former direction, running for a short distance nearly parallel with the coast line ; and at such times the entrance of the Grey river is far more dangerous than that of the Hokitika, because vessels crossing the bar take the sea abeam when in the heaviest break, and, unless under the command of very smaU helm, stand in danger of becoming stranded on the beach before they are in a position to keep away for the entrance of the river, which of itself, although of a great depth of water, is very narrow. It is hi-rh water, full and change, at ten hours fifteen minutes (10th. 15m.), but the highest tides often occur the day foUowing. A buoy, painted red, is placed on the only enmgerous snag lying in the fafrway, abreast the Maori pah. Teremakau River, which is situate ten miles to the southward of the Grey, empties itself into the sea at the present, time by two channels, the one running northwards, which is nearly dry at low water, and the other in south-westerly direc tion, with from five to six feet. The entrance is not so confined as that of the Grey, nor yet is ifc equal to the Hokitika, but sniaU vessels drawing from four to five feet could cross its bar without incurring a greater risk than they would at either of the other rivers. The only obstacle to the navigation of this river is a dangerous snag in the northern side of the S.W. channel, in the break on the bar, which could easily be removed. Ifc is high-water, full and change, at nine hours fifty-five minutes (9h. 55m.) ; mean rise and faUs nine feet. Bruce Bay is situate in latitude 43deg. 30min. S. and Mount Cook bears N. 71 deg., E. magnetic. It is a* bay shown on the Admiralty chart, lying between "Makawiho and Porangirangi Points. The anchorage is close under the south head, in three fathoms, at dead low water, hard speckled sand, but apparently good holding ground. This bay is a much better harbor than either Timaru, Oamaru, or Moeraki, because ifc is protected from everything except a northerly wind, which seldom* blows here with any violence, and on necessity a sailing vessel could put to sea without any difficulty, besides which vessels could generally discharge their cargoes in their own boats, so little surf is there on the beach, and were there a short unexpensive jetty constructed in the south corner, on the sand, eveninanortherly breeze cargoboat communication would nofc be intercepted. This is the only protected anchorage between Wanganui Inlet and Jackson's Bay, which latter place ifc closely resembles. The southern headland is a bold rocky promontory stretching out a mile and a half in a north-west direction, and forming the shelter ; whereas in the adjoining bay to the south this same headland offers protection from the only winds to which Bruce Bay is exposed. The Grey, Teremakau, and Hokitika Bay ara risky for" sailing vessels drawing over five feet water and steamers over six feet when loaded; but with vessels drawing under these fi<nires, taking into consideration the estahlishnienfc of pilot and signal stations afc each of the above ports, the risk with careful shipmasters is not greater than that incurred every day by smaU vessels on the East Coast bars. In the above the draft for sailing vessels is limited to one foot under steamers, as the former cannot so weU be confined to the deepest- part of the channel. c