COAST NAVIGATION IN THE NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1973, 6 June 1876, Page 2

COAST NAVIGATION IN THE NORTH.

THE RECENT IMPROVEMENTS.

Captain Fairchild, of the Government steamer Luna, has been kind enough to forward us the following rough notes of the work done during the late trip round the harbours of the north coast. The Harbourmasters of the larger ports will, according to custom, make an- official report of the addi. tional buoys, beacons, etc., in their respeo. tive harbours, to Captain Burgess, Chief Harbourmaster of the Province, and their reports will in due course be worked into the sailing directions published under authority. Meanwhile, the following summary will be found useful to the masters of our coasting craft. 5 WHANGAREI. Laid a red baoy on Snake Bank, which must be lef b on the starboard hand going up and two black buoys on the port side, one .1^ miles above Single Tree Point, and ono about a mile below Limestone Island, to mark where the channel takes a sodden bend. The black buoys to be left on the port side going up. BAY OF ISLANDS. Laid a red buoy in the Rawifci passage to mark a dangerous rock which lies in the > track of vessels going through the Albert Channel. The buoy is half a mile Bouth of N.W. end of Poroporo Island, and should be loft on the starboard hand in going to Euesell through the Albeit Channel. Laid a black buoy off the end of a reef which runs off the north end of Motu Mea Island, which must be left on the port hand in going into Waitangi river. Laid a black buoy to mark the edge of the mud flat off Whapu Bay, which mast bo left ;on the port hand in going up to the coaling ground. ■ WANGAROA. Erected a beacon on the South Head 17 feet high, painted white, with a cross on the top to point out the harbour, which was not easily made out. Can be seen from a vessel going in by either: end of Stephenson's Island. Laid a black buoy above Peach Island on a rock with, only eight feet of water at low tide, marked on the chart two and a half fathoms ; is only in the way when working in and oat. MONGONUI. Laid a black buoy to mark the end of the reef, which runs off the North side of the Mongonui harbour ; to be left on port hand going in. PARENGARENGA. Erected two beacons on the North Head, 300 feet apart, and 20 feet high—the inner one white, and the outer one red. These beacons kept in line, lead in over the bar in 11 feet of water at low water springtides. Laid three red buoys on the starboarct/side of the Channel two miles up the river, and and drove six beacons with cages oa their, tops painted black on the port hand going up to mark the channel leading up to Mr S. Yate's Btores, which is on the Oruria River five miles from the mouth. • HOKIANGA. _.. ! ~";< Laid two black buoys in two and, half fathoms at low water to mark the East,edge of the middle ground, about one mile jinside the Heads ; these buoys must be left on the port hand going in. Also laid a red buoy off the end of the reef, which runs off the'-East side of the harbour, just opposite thei mirldle ground. This buoy must be left,on H the starboard hand going in.