WEST COAST HARBORS.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 214, 9 February 1866, Page 2

WEST COAST HARBORS.

The following are the sailing directions for the West Goast Harbors, as given by Pred. 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, l7Odeg. 59min. Issec. 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, dart sand and good holding ground. Should 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 usually a southerly current in the offing, a very strong northerly set will often be found within the break on the bar. A constant heavy westerly swell rolls in on this portion of the coast, and although the prevailing gales blow from the N.W., S.W., and S.E., enabling vessels to lie well off shore and obtain an offing, the masters, of vessels should not 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 fills up either the northern or southern spit, an«l makes a series 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. It is high water, full and change, at Hokitika bar nine hours thirtynine min»tes (9h. 39m.), and the mean rise and fall 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 Eiver is situated injlatitude 42deg. 23min. S., longitude I7ldeg..llmin. E. The bar at its entrance, like those of ?J1 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 and easy of access for small 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 usually 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 vesselß crossing the bar take 4ke sea abeam when in the heaviest break, and,

unless under the command of T"ery small 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 high water, full and change, at ten hours fifteen minutes (10th. 15m.), but the highest tides often occur the day following. A buoy, painted red, is placed on" the only dangerous snag lying in the fairway, abreast the Maori pah.