PORT OF HOKITIKA SIGNALS.

West Coast Times, Issue 30, 12 August 1865, Page 3

PORT OF HOKITIKA SIGNALS.

1. Ball and red flag at the mast hoad . high watar, take the bar. 2. Ball and blue flag, half mast : Half flood, wait for tide. When the bar may safely bo attempted at half tide, whether flood or obb, the red flag will bo at the mast head over the ball, denoting the state of tide. 3. Ball on the tower mast cap, and white flag : Ebb tide, bar dangerous. 4. No signal : Do not attempt tho bar. 6, Red painted arm, pointed to tho right-hand, entering from seaward : More to the south. 6. The other aim, pointed to the left hand, entering from seaward ; More to tho north. 7. The arms up aud down with the mast : As you go. When more than one vessel is crossing the bar, tho foremost vessel will be piloted in, tho othors following in her wake. On a movable polo in front of the signal mast, tho two in ono showing the fairway, will be hoisted (if necessary) to show the sot of tho ourrent on the bar, thus :—: — A red and white pendant — to tho Northward; A square yellow flag— to the Southward. On the flagstaff not in use for tho piloting signals, at high water tho depth in feet on the bar will bo denoted by Marryatt's code. A red light is hoisted on the signal mast on tho south spit eaoh night, visible at from three to four miles. There will be an anchor and chain, and lino attached, on the South Spit, and boat nnd boat's crew in readiness at high wator, every tide, to assist any vessel coming over the bar. When the bar is only fit for Bteamora to take, a red flag will be hoisted on tho north flagstaff. When for sailing vessels, a red flag and ball. Masters of vessels aro particularly repucstcd to attend to the small tidal flag on the spit, as tho small tidal flag and the large flag in one takes them over the bar.

A Gratis Country. — The editor of tho "Mercantile Chronicle," probably in a moment of justifiable irritation, has penned tho following humorous but sarcastio paragraph, which, enjoys a prominent place in tho columns of a recent issue of that journal:— "Panama is a gratis country. Every man wunts- every thing-fraHar -There 'nre' but few exceptiona to this rulo. Free entrances to the theatre aro popular ; a revolution at another's expense is patriotic ; most men like a newspaper gratis ; some want a puff in tho paper for nothing ; others want their advertisements inserted for next to nothing ; many want tho cause of their party supported free of chargo, such as the tax question and others that are important to ono sot of men ; others requiro the" very opposite principles to be defended at the same cost ; and all seem disposed to demand a government nt a gratuitous remuneration, g^' and there you find a liberal-minded maßf who is ready to givo an equivalent for what/fib obtains, but tno nmjofiFypiotof a '• euesp -tAUoW ss U oh is Panama, a first rate gratis country, for which one must labour for love and glory." — Brazil and River ! Plate Mail.

t Sklmnq a LAwran.— Mr Bethel, an Irish barrister, when tho question of tho Union was in dobate, like other junior barristers, published a pamphlet on tho subject. Mr Lysaght met this pamphleteer in tho hall of tho Four Courts, and in a friendly way said, ''Zounds, Bethel, I wonder you never told me you had published a pamphlet on tho Union. The one I saw contained sonio of tho best things I have seen in any pamphlet on the subject." — "l am very proud you think so," snid the delighted author ; "and pray, what are tho things that pleaso you so much ?" — "Why, replied Lysaght, as I paesed by a pastry cook's shop. I saw a girl come out with three mince pies wrapped up in ono of your works."

" Vot for I Pay ?"— The otlier day a Dutchman in Cincinnnti was severely thrashed by his wifo, and, whilo smarting under the affliction, ho complained to the Mayor, nnd had his hotter-half arrested for tho outrage, whereupon she was fined three dollars and tho costs ; but she, not having the monoy, her husband was called upon to fork over. Upon which he opened his eyes in great surprise, exclaiming, " Vot for I pay ? She yip mo I" The statute was explained to him, and he paid ; but announced that hereafter his wifo might thrash him ns much as she pleased ; but that ho would nevor again take steps to uphold tho ' ' majesty of the jaw."