NOTICE TO MARINERS. NEW REVER HARBOUR, FOVEAUX STRAITS

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 121, 17 December 1858, Page 2

NOTICE TO MARINERS. NEW REVER HARBOUR, FOVEAUX STRAITS

(From the New Zealand Government Gazitte, Dec. 11.) r " Invercargill, 30th 'October, 1858.

" Sir, —The New River pilot having communicated to me the following information, 1 lose no time in forwarding the same to your Honor.

"Ist, The pilot states that the channel at the enhance of the New River (in which at low water springs, Mr. Thomson, chief surveyor, found from sixteen to eighteen feet two years ago) is gradually filling up, so that two months ago the pilot could only find nine feet, and about a fortnight ago only six feet.

" 2nd, That a new channel (at present the only one) lias opened up about two cables length to the north-west of the former one. in which the pilot found, when he last sounded, fifteen feet at low water: where this channel now exists there were formerly only a few feet.

" I have taken steps to apprise the commanders of the whalers which frequent the river of the change ; which I trust may prevenfthem making an attempt to enter the river by the old channel,' which attempt wou d certainly be attended with serious consequences to vessels of their-draught. . '.'. ....-.',.. >

" Strangers wil not likely attempt to enter without a pilot; but us a recent instance occurred in which a stranger did so enter, 1 would respectfully suggest that, to prevent accident, all publicity should be given to the above report.

" I indulge a hope that this new channel which has so suddenly made its appearance, and is much wider thnn the old one, will continue to increase in depth, and thus make the Port of New River much more easy of access than it has hitherto been.

" I have the honor to be, &c, A. J. Elles, " Resident Magistrate and Harbour Master. "His Honor the Superintendent of Otago."