HARBOURS OF REFUGE AT GREAT BARRIER ISLAND.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3132, 31 July 1867, Page 4

HARBOURS OF REFUGE AT GREAT BARRIER ISLAND.

; To the Editor of the Daily Southksn Cross. , Sir, — The master of the Newcastle brig 'Nil < Desperandum ' deserves the thank* of the shipping • interest, for calling attention in your issue of the 29 th ultimo to the safe anchorage he obtained during I a south-west gale under the lee of the Great Barrier Island ; but I object to his calling the bay referred' to "Nil Desperandum Bay," at its proper name i« " Waogapoua," and the whole of the adjacent country belongs to the Great Barrier Company. As other vessels may desire to avail themselves of this anchorage, if driven to leeward in S.W. or W. wiads, permit me to repeat the necessary direction!, , Bring north head of bay to bear by compass north, , south head of bayE.S.E. 1 here is safe anchorage here for a whole feet in from six to eight fathoms, , sand, at fa distance of from a quarter of a mile to three-quarters of a mile from the sandy beaoh, in all winds ranging S. round by W. to N.N.W. From this anchorage the northern extreme of Aridslslaad' will bear about N.E. by E., distant about four miles, and the ■outhern extreme of said island will bear about E. JN., about the same distance. In approaching the anchorage from the S.E. thera will be seen two or three rocky islets in the channel, but all dangers are distinctly visible, withonc> excep- , tion, and there will always be found a clear channel of at least » mile in width, with deep water. Keep well in the centre of the channel, or rather a little towards Arid Island side, steering for North Head of Wangapoua Bay until the south extremity of Arid Island will bear about N.E.j then steer for the anchorage in the sandy bight, about W. £N. The danger referred to is a reef, about two-and-a-half cables' length, from the Barrier coast, which is quite covered at half tide ; but no vessel need approach within throeV quarters of a mile of it, if the above direction be followed. — In am, sir, your obedient servant, Albert J. Amom, General Manager and Agent for Great Barrier Co. (Limited).