WEST COAST HARBORS.

West Coast Times, Issue 111, 25 January 1866, Page 2

WEST COAST HARBORS.

The following are the sailing directions for the West Coast Harbors, as given by Fred. D.Gibson, Esq., Marine Surveyor :—: — Ilokitika River is situated on tho west coast of the Province of Canterbury, Middle Island, in latitude, by observation, 42deg. 41min. 3 wee. S., longitude, by chronometer, 17()deg. 59miu. lfisec. E., and is navigable for vesssels of a light draught of water for a distance 1J- miles from the entrance. There is good anchorage from two to three miles off its mouth, in from 8 to , 10 fathoms, dark sand and good holding ground. Should vessols intending to take the bar have to anchor to await daylight or highwater, they should bring up a little to the southward of the port ; for whereas there is usually a southerly current in tho offing, a vory strong northerly set will often bo found within the break on tho bar. A constant heavy westeily swell rolls in on this portion of the coast, and although the prevailing gales blow from theN.W., S W., and S.E., enabling vessels to lie well off shore ,and obtain nii offing, the masters of vessels should not neglect watching tho wenthor carefully, and in tho event of its threatening, put lo'sca in good limo. The heaviest break of tho sea is immediately outsido the bar, in fwofnthoms water. Tho bar itself is continually shifting indirection and varying in depth, and after a heavy fresh the river runs straight out to sea, and' during tho interval of moderate or fine weather tho sou fills up either tho northern or southern B»it, and makes a series of middlo banks, forming two or threo channels, as tho caso may bo, averaging only a depth of from twclvo to eighteen inches at low water. It is high water, full and change, at Hokitika bar nine hours thhty-m'uo minutes (Oh. 39m.), and tha mean riso'nnd fall of tido averages from eight and a half to nine feet 5 but this is of course greatly affected by tho amount of fresh in the rher.

Grey llivcr is situated in latitude 42deg. 23min. S., longitude I7ldeg. 11 mm. E. The bar at its cntra'ice, like those of all the other rivers on the West Coast, is constantly shifting, and after a heavy fresh, when the channel breaks straight in a westerly direction, it is perfectly safe and easy of access for small vessels diawing from 8 to il feet, whereas in tho absence of any freshet in the river, the channel makes cither to the north or south) but usually in the former direction, running for a short distanco nearly parallel with tlio coast line ; and at such times the entrance of the Groy river is far inoro dangerous than that of tho Hokitika, because vessels crossing the bar take the sea abeam when in tho heaviest break, and, unless under the command of very small helm, stand in danger of becoming stranded on tho beach before they are in a position to keep away for the entranco of tho liver, which of itself, although of a great depth of water, is very narrow. It is high water, full and change, at ton houvs fifteen minutes/ (lOh. 15m ), but tho highest titles often occur the day following. A buoy, painted red, 13 placed on the only dangerous snag lying in the fairway, abreast the Maori pa.

Tcroinakau River, which is situate ten miles to tho southward of tho Groy, empties itself into tho sea at tho present by two channolß, tho ono running northwards, which is nearly dry at loav water, and tho othor in south-westerly direction, with from five to bix feet. The onlranco is not so confined ns that of tho Groy, nor yot is it, equal to tho Ilokitika, but small vessels drawing from four to ilvo feet could cross its bar without incurring a greater risk than they would at either of tho other rivers. Tlio only obstacle \o tho navigation of this rivor is a dangerous snag iv tlio northern sido of tho S.W. channel, in tho bar, which could easily bo removed. It is high-water, full and chango, at nine hours fifty-flvo minutes (9h. 55m.) 5 mean rise and falls niiio fool.-

Bruce Bay is situate in latitude 43deg. 30inin. S., and Mount Cook bears N. 71 deg. E., magnetic. It is a bay shown on tho Admiralty chart lying between Makawiho and l'orangimngi Points. The anchorage is close under tho south head, in three fathoms at dead low water, hard speckled sand, but apparently good holding ground. This bay is a much better harbor than either Timaru, Oamaru, or Moernki, becauso it is pro'ected from everything except a northerly wind, which seldom blows hero with any violence, and on necessity a sailing vessel could put to sea without any difficulty, besides whioh vessels could generally discharge their cargoes in their own boats, so little surf is there on tho beach, and were there a short inexpensive jetty constructed in tho south corner, on tho Siiiul, oven in a northerly breezo onrgo. boat coiiimunlciitlon would not bo intoroopted, TM* I* tto wly pretpptfifl fwoliwige botwoe^

Wanganui Inlet and Jack.son'.s Bay, whit h latter plate it closely resembles The southern headland is a bold rocky promontory .stretchim; <wt a mile and and a half in a north -west direction, and forming tho shelter; whereas in the adjoining bay to tho south this Mifno headland offeis protection fiom the only winds to which Hrucc Hay is exposed. The Grey, Toieinakau, and Hokitika Bay arc risky for sailing vessels diawing over live feet water aud steamers over six feet when loaded ; but with vessels drawing under these taking into consideration the establishment of pilot and signal stations at each of tho abovo port-*, tho risk with careful shipmastjis is not greater than I hat incurred every dayby small vessels on tho East Coast bars. _ In tho above the draft for sailing vessels is limited to ono foot under stoamois ,as tho former cannot so well bo confined to tho deepest part of the channel.

Two fine barges aro in courso of construction on tho Franklin river, both destined, wo boliovo, for tho Wow Zealand trade. Tho first vessel is boing built at Shipwrights' Point, by Messrs Inches and M'Laron, and is a lino madol, much resembling tho Crest of tho Wavo, and has great carrying capacity. This will soon bo ready for launching. Tho second barge, is on tho ways at Franklin, and now ready for launching. This bus been built by Mr Thorpo of that township, and been sold to a New Zealand firm for £150. Sho ia about, tho finest vessel of her olnss which hns yot been turned out nt tho Hu'on, and is likely to provo a firsl-rato soa boat. Sho is after tho samo modol as Iho boat wo havo boforo described, and will carry from 80 to 90 tons. — Jfobart Town Mercury.

Tho Southern Cross, of Decombor 25th, says: — "]ty tho arrival ycslcrdny of tho brig Puotehe, from Constitution, wo havo fourteen days' later news from Chili than Unit to hand por bnrquo Marias Salvinius, but nothing of importance tb report.. Seven Spanish men-of-war were lying in Valparaiso, anil the port was blockaded, but no signs ot'aetivo hostility had been manifested. Tlio blockade had been run by many merchantmen, and amongst others . by tlio brig herself, which hoisted British colours, ami comes into Auckland under tho Uritibh flag. The Chilian corvettes Maipn and Emerald wore ovading tho Spanish fleets by remaining in somo minor port. Tho Chilians aro to havo their navy strengthened. Somo twenty-five merchantmen had left under different flags sinco tho blockade wns dcclarod. Tho Puotcho conies direct from Constitueion, a port too small for Spanish men-of-war to enter."

Dkiwktumj or Tun Mail Stkamuh Souchays j;ok BatAvia. — About half-past, twelvo yesterday, the sleuinor luilo proccodod from Harris's Wharf down to Iho bay, conveying a select parly of gcnllcmon, invitod through iho courtesy of Messrs. Harris and Co., to witnoss tho departure of the Souchnys stoamor, on her (rial trip to liatavia. On passing Govornment llouso a number of ladies and gohtlomen wavod poekot handkerchiefs from tho balcony, whioh signal was rospouded to by tlireo hourly chcors for his Excellency tho Governor, by Iho gonllemcn on board. About threo o clock tho Knlo arrived abreast of tho Souchays, but without waiting to allow any of Iho party to go aboard of hor then, shu steamed right down to tho Groat Victoria, whon Captain Richards received all tho visitors with true British hospitality. Ai'ior inspecting the big ship (which is now' being fast omptiod of her cargo of railway plant, on board tho tfutvpus), tho Kate returned again to tho Souchnys, when the whole party went on board. Refreshments were provided, when G. W. Manning, Esq , Under-Secretary of tho colony, proposed ih health of Ci.ptnin Blick. Ho Mud that tlr occasion was a most interesting one, and might probably iv future be looked upon as an era in tlio history of tho colony. It would, doubtless, prove to tlie advantage of Queensland to open up a trade such i.s was now contemplated with the Eastern Islands, and he heartily wished Captain JJlick n isafo, prosperous, and speedy voyage. Captain Ulick biiefly replied, after which three hearty cheers wero given by tho whole company, and the panic compliment was paid to Mrs blick. Tlie outward mail liy the Souchitysis contained in twenty hoxe.-<, eight of which have been made up in Sydney, tho remaining twelve belonging to Queensland, which is considered to bo most encouraging for the fust trip. She cntrio«, besides, (MO tons of coal. Her crew is complete, and Dr. Lynns proceeds with her ns Mirgeon. She steamed off about .1 o'clock, followed at a short distanco by tho Kate, when, after tlireo more lusty cheers, the latter returned again to Brisbane, arriving at Harris's wharf about 7 o'clock. — Queensland Quanliati, January 9.