SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANUKAU HARBOUR.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 38, 3 February 1864, Page 2

SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANUKAU HARBOUR.

Just Completed by Com.vaxukk F. \V. Sidney, R.N. In consequence of the changes tint hare t;i!cen place in the approaches io the Manukau Harbor (as so deplorably manifested by the loss of H.M.S. Orpheus}, the Admiralty determined to have ;t j new survey made, and directed Captain Sidney, I R.X., to Suspend for a time the survey of the | coast of New South Wales, upon which he was engaged, and proceed (o Xew Zealand to le'survey and draw. up tVesli sailing, directions for the navfgation of the channels leading to the Z\lanu';au. The following remarks and directions res-alt from the re-examinatiou of that locality : — The entrance to the main channel appears to have shifted both, to the northward as to seaward, the bar now being half a mile more to tSie westward than at the "time of Captain Dv'urv's survey j in 1853. . ■ . *■ ! Tbe chaEnoi is also wider, tnc 8-fcst bauk that separated what- was called the North Channel from the Jsaiu, ha?ing- , now disappeared, if it ever existed. A ship, by attention to the ieailj may now Tfork either in or. out. I?he leading mark used at present is the Nine JPinrock, in line with the tangent of the inner point of the South Head, as shown in the sketch ; but as there is the satne depth, viz,— -3i fathoms a little th the norths ard, and tho banks having a tfjudertey to cxtead theraselyes yet more i« that direction, tt would fas better to bring the Sine Pin Socfc in Hue either with the objects marked B or U on tho sketch and pUns for crossing the bar. After crossing the bar a glance at the plan will be j sufficient to keep ths chnonel. Z Tub South Ghanaelistems hitherto to have been tery iriiperfectly known, and its merits underrated ; bat now that buoys hare been placed, its approach and navigation is rendered easy, and the aepth of water being tlis same aa that cm the ba? of the maja chapael, and accessible at times \vheu the \kliex is dangerous, it is much to be preferred. mbk<3 tbe South Ohanssl from ssawsrd, keap tiie signal atnlfur Itawtutfil in line tvlth the White Hie recently er«f«4 on ths bine? slops ot ths raak ealiea Pukehuuhu" on tN chart (properly Pnkshoho), K.j-W. Thia mark leads midway between the shoals 08 the South Head and tha Heson Spicj and wbea ths gap. inside Poropofo (bo* almost saistefc) and fcbe T#o f Trees, to ths| jighk of th^ wootftHi yange, come is Jioßy eteet for it- up , to the outer fairway -Ehe-crgasing mark for which is tiie Hiae .Hrn rock aod Jslaad in !i c, The dutar Fair-way Buoy is red, #ith black Yerlical stripes, Having a bell wUhiiVa gj^cttlar Ca^ja on t^p, , .. .-. s - Jieavß this buoy, or the spQt indicated by the m.^rks, on the left hand haH af a caW, steetip? I J poiut mow ta the cftsi for Reajjy j u «jr- cabiej' Isngtii! wiisntU^tajifsr Fairway Jliwy. will bi r?^?h«t. This bao? k i\®M? to lbs ofe^.e fa&SJaljatCacab!B'ekag^»i*9 BUOys will b« ?i ! aV, p

f^/the westward)^ and a red puejon the right/ lj . cable apart—- pass midway between them steering ; parallel with the shore, pasning.the Spit Buoy : (red) on the right, and the buoy at the tail of tho Emma Bank (half black and white top) on ; the lofo into the deep water channel. !Jt is recommended that Pukehoho be chosen as . tuo site . fov thii contemplated "telegraph ■'.station ; the signals to be made by two pairs of semaphore arms—one pair above the other; one half of the arms along their length being painted black and the other white, which would ensure their been seen under all circumstances of light and shade, against the sky, or with' tho land behind — the urms working at. right angles to a line midway between • Ui.ivjt.>.:i,i. n.ud so.uth channels. _ I ■ —„. t>., .,,p of the mask or a beacon should.be on Pu.m. utui ibr tho South Channel entrance mark. The following remarks are by Mr. Wing, pilot and harbour-master, made during an experience of over a quartrr of a century : — High water at tho entrance of the Manukau at fnll ami change of moon at 9h. 30m. Tho range at springs, 13 feet ; neaps, Sto t. The flood comes from- the northward, seitirig along tho shore from one to two knots, but when coming in contact witb the banks about the bar, it trends into the channels, increasing its rate to four or five knots as it approaches the Heads. , Care should bo taken to guard against the crosstitles about the spits and swatchways. The prevailing winds are from N.W. to S.W., and it seldom blows a galo from tho southward— the wind moderating as it draws from S.W. to southward. Easterly gales are not frequent, and generally shift suddenly to the westward, in a violent squall and very heavy rain. The gales rarely continue- long in one quarter, and a strong breeze from N.TV. or even W.S,W. (as a rule) does not cause a heavy sea in the south channel, which can be taken with safety towards high water. The Bar, with such winds, generally speaking, breaks, and sometimes dangerously, towards low water; hut in case the gain gets to the SW., the sea will break right across both channels but less across the S channel, which is never at any time so dangerous as tho miiin. This, however, is ot short duration, and seldom lasts over a day and night, when by the morning it becomes moderate, an the south channel free of break (even though there ha considerable swell outside and tho banks breaking heavily), and safe to enter at proper time of tide, say at half ilood, or eveu at first quarter ebb, with a commanding brcezaor stoum. Barometer. A. low ra age denote iL c-han S n, and in a northerly quarter to he shortly attended by rain ; and in caso the barometer begin to vise, expect wind. When tho barometer is i-nnging about 30 inches, steady weather may be expected from seaward. A high barometer — say above 31 inches, and the land be looming clear and distinct, it is, (as a rule) a sign of a change to the eastward. I have also to remark t.ha'. ior many years I have observed that vorv clear and cloudless nights are indications of a chadgo oeing at hand, cither wind or rain. Frederick W. Stdxey, Commander and Surveyor. December 2lst, ISGo. Saihsg Directions for TVaikato Kivkk. When near the Waikato, do not shut in Oruaraughi Point (a puint 3 minutes southward of the entrance) until tho fairway be-icons are in one, bearing INf.E. by E. .V F, easterly (magnetic) ; then proccd over the bar, with them in line. When just over tbe bar. the water will deepen 5 or 6 feet ; keen the marks on until a sandy cliff on the South Head is about to shut in, then steer for Putataea. When the Mission House is touching a yellow cliff on the west side of Putataka, sec that the small black beacons are still opeu, to avoid the five-foot bank to northward of channel. If wishing to bring up to the eastward of Putataka. Mnchor so as to swing clear of a four feet rock, E- by tN\, one cable from the point, and the shoal water to the northward of tho Channel. If a vessel is 150 feet long, she must, moor, but can lie at single anchor to the JN.W. of the poiufc. The tide is less to, the eastward of the point. Iv going out from Putataka, steer down for the mouth of the river, keeping the black beacons open to avoid the 5-fcet bank. Bring the Fairway Beacons in line when th« Sandy cliff is about to opon ifsolf, and proceed across the bar. Keep the marks on until Oiuaranghi P.iint is well opcu, when you arc clear of thf> breakers at the entrance. The least water on tho bar with tho Fairway Beacons in lino is 12 feel. 0 inches, at low water • spring tides ; but there is 10 feet a short distance to the north ward, and 11 feet the same to the southward, so that the murks should not bo opened much. The beacons wlipn in lino arc in the middle of an easily recognised gully. Tho eastern bc.tcou is on ~Wb.il; 1 shell summit. The western the ; j-mile S.W. by W.^W. from it on a little mound. The Spits at the entrance appear to have shifted since Caplaiu Drury surveyed ihc Waiknto, as the pro-sen 1 ; tairway magnetic bearing differs 4 degrees — or nearty Iml£ f a point from thtf old one. Joux G-. BoirxTox, K.N., Master's Assistant and Assistant-Surveyor. NOTICE TO MAIUNERS. (From the New Zealand, Gazette, 27th Oct.) i Rock off Long Look out, ox thk Northerx side op Banks' Peninsula, Middle Island, New Zealand. The barque Catherine, from Hobart Town, when about three-quarters of a mile from the Long Look-out, struck on a sunken reef, | injuring the gudgeons of her rudder so as to disable her. She was towed into the port of Lyttleton by the Gazelle. Cija.ri.ks Sn.\ni\ Master Warden Chief Marine Board. ! Chief .Marine Board Office, 30th September, 1563. Harbor Office, Invercargiil, 241h October, 1562.