SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE WAITARA RIVER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 821, 18 April 1868, Page 2

SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE WAITARA RIVER.

Tbe following remarks on the entrance to tho Waitara River, and sailing directions ibr vessels approaching it, are published in the General Government Gazette. Tiie mouth of the Waitara River is about ten miles to the N.E. from the Flagstaff at New Plymonth. There is a shifting bur at the entrance having sometimes one and sometimes two channels, the northern channel being principally used. It is high water on the bar 'at full and change at 9*45, the depth in the main channel at low water spring tides is about two feet. Rangj of tides from seven to twelve feet. The flood tide runs two to three knots ; tho ebb, three to four kuotß iv the entrance of the river. Along sbore, flood tide runs to the eastward and ebb tide to the westward from one to two knots. The general soundings one mile off shore from New Plymouth to Waitara are from fivo to seven fathoms sand and rooks. A submerged reef, known as the Puketapu Reef, lies about three miles to the west of the entrance and extonds to the distance of ono mile from the shore on each side of the Waitara bight. A flagstaff with yard and semaphore arm has been erected on the south side of the river, and vessels will be guided in by tho Signal Master. Masters of vessels are requested to pay particular attention to thd signals from the SagstaQ'and alter the course of the vessel promptly in the direction towards which the semaphore arm is pointed. When tho semaphore arm is dropped the vessel is to be. kept steady as she goes. Marryat's code of signals, and the special signals given below, are in nse at the Waitara signal station. Wait for high water ; A ball at each yardarm, and one on mast half the length of the yard below it. Stand on take the bar : Four balls horizontal on yard, two on each side of mast. Bar dangerous, keep off: Three balls horizontal on yard, two on any ono side of mast and one on the other. Put to sea : Two balls horizontal on yard. No vessel \sbould approach the shore at night within ten fathoms soundings. This depth will carry a vessel outside the points of the reef. In heavy south-west gales no vessel should approach the Waitara river. In fine weather a vessol Jrjwing nine feet six inches may enter the river at spring tidos. Vessels drawing from seven to eight teot may trade thjro habitually without difficulty SAILING DIRECTIONS K)E VESSELS APPROACHING. From tho North. — Bring the summit of Mount ligmout to bear S. i W. aud steer on that bearing until White Bluff (Parininihi) bears N. E. by E. The vessel will then be about ;two miles from the JagstalT at the entrance to igke river which will bear S. £..by S. $ S., and by steering on that bearing (or direct for the flagstaff) 1 s h e will be brought co the anchorage which is three quarters of a mile rom the shore, and may anchor, unless otherwise directed by the Signal llaster. From the South. — When« abreast of the Outer Sugar Loaf Island (Motumuhanga), distant quarter of a mile, steer N. E. until the Hagstuff at tho j Waitura boars S. E. by S. { S. and then steer for the flagstaff until the Outer Sugar Loaf Island is

in lino with Kate Point (the western p"»nt of the Waitara bight) bearing S. W. ! ,by W. (westerly.) A vessel will then be in six fathoms sandy bottom and may anchor with safoty threo quarters of a mile offshore. The Seal Rock (the westernmost of the Sugar Loaf group) should on no account be opened south of the Outer Sugar Loaf (Motumahanga) until tho flagstaff at the Waitara bears S. E. A vessol will thus keep clear of the roll on Puketapu Reef. John Holfoiid Harbour Master. New Plymouth, February 22, 1868. N. B. — Until a licensed pilot is stationed at tho Waitara, a pilot can be taken on board at New Plymouth if desired.

TriE Auckland Islands. — The brig Amherst has returned to the Bluff from the Auckland Islands, without finding any traces of castaways, or the large cave into which the ill-fated ship General Grant is supposod to have drifted. Traces of wreck and some drift wood were however seen ou two points of the rock. Tho officers of the brig state that the latitude and longitude of all the islands have been taken, and that, wonderful to reftsfe, it was discovered that they are laid down on tho charts as much as thirty-five mi'.es south of their true position. Depots of provisions, &c, were left on the Islands, which are reported to be admirably suited for penal settlements. Tho steamer Shortland was not seen by the Amhcrjt^

H.M.S. Rosabie. — We observe, from the Cape Argus of the 4th ultimo, that TI.M.S Kosnrie, from England to Australia and New Zealand, had put into Simon's Bay on the Sunday previous f« r coals and supplies. Sho is a small vessel, of 673 tons throe guns, and manned by a crew, of f. urteen officers and 112 mon, under the command of Captain G. Palmer. The vessel, it is said, would remain in Simon's Bay same days before proceeding on her voyage. On tho arrival of the Kosarie the Falcon will take her departure for England. — Herald.