THE WAIKATO PORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 41, 31 December 1863, Page 6

THE WAIKATO PORT.

We hasten to drtivr tlie attention of tlio maritime nublic to the subjoined sailing directions for the river and port of Waikato, published by authority. As Waikato cannot fail to become forthwith one of tlio mo 4 frequented of the ports on tlie West coabt of New Zealand these directions cannot be made too widely or too speedily known. Sailing Directions for IFaikato River, New Zealand. When near tho Waikato, do not shut in Oruaranghi Point ( i point 3' Southward of tho entrance) until tho Fairway Beacons are ill one, bearing N.E. by I",. } IS. Easterly (magnetic); thou proceed over tho Bar, with them in line (se,i view). \Y hen just over the Bar, the water will deepen oor G teet; keep tho marks on until a sandy cliff on tho South Head is about, to shut in, when steer for Putataka. When tho llissiori House is touching a yellow cliff on tho we.>t side o: Pulataka, e»o that tiio small black beacon? are still f.pen, to avoid tho live-foot bank to Northward of Channel. If wishing to bring up to tlio Eastward of j/utataku anelior so as to swing clear of a 4 feet rock, E. by y, 1 cable from the point, and the shoal water to th« Nortward of the Channel. If vessel is 150 feet lone, she must moor, but ean lie at single anehoi to thy North-west of the Point. Tho tide is lesfi to thu Eastward of the Point. lii out Iroia PuiJiiulvQ, fitoor down for tho mouth of the river, keeping the black beacons open to avoid the 5 feet bank. Bring the Fairway beaeonn in line when tho bandy Cliff is about to open itself, and proceed across tho )jar. Keep the marks on until Oruarar.ghi Point is well open, when you are clear of the breakers at tho entrance. . The least water on the Bar with the I-airway Beacons in line is 12 feet ti inches at low water spring tides; but there is 10 feet a short distance to tho Northward, and 11 feet the tamo to the Southward, so that the marks should not be opened much. The Beacons when in line aro in the middlo of an easily recognised gully, as shown in the view. The Eastern E'cacon is on White-shell summit. Tho Western one :}• milo S.W. by W.} W. from it on a little mound. The spit on the entrance appear to-have shifted sinco Captain Drury surveyed tho aikoto, aa tho present Eairway magnetic bearing ditlera 4 or nearly half a point- from tho old one. J.vo. G. Boulto.v, K.N., blaster's Asat., and Asst. Surveyor.