POET OF TIMAEU.

The Port of Timaru, which is the natural outlet of the large and fertile district of South Canterbury, whose export business in a lew years will equal that of any port in New Zealand, is situated at a slight projection of the coast-line at the south-west extremity of the Ninety-mile Beach, south of Banks Peninsula. The town of Timaru stands near the sea-shore,' partly on a rise. The lighthouse and flagstaff (only 710ft. apart) are on a cliff towards tne north end of the town, in latitude 44° 23' S., longitude 171' 17' 20" E. The breakwater, which is now completed, is 2,278ft. long. it. extends from the beach in a N.E, by N. direction, and will be seen when viewed from the sea to be in a line with the flagstaff. The coast-line from Banks Peninsula, to Timaru is low, and cannot be seen in thick weather or by night until close in with the breakers, while southwards of the Town of Timaru the cliffs are from 30ft. to 50ft. high. This is a sure guide to Timaru, viz., low shingle beach northward, moderately high cliffs and headlands to the southward. If the weather is clear the high mountain range will be seen behind Timaru long before the coast-line has risen. Burke's Pass, a remarkable gorge, almost directly behind Timaru, is a good landmark, showing a distinct gap, and should be steered for on a course w.S.W. magnetic ; the cliffs above mentioned will prevent any mistake. Directions.— Vessels bound for Timaru, after rounding Banks Peninsula, should steer B.W. by W. southerly, unless the wind be strong from E.S.E., which causes an inset, when it is necessary to keep three-quarters of a point more southerly. The shore from the en;l of the breakwater to Patiti Point, a long mile, S.S.E.. is fronted by sand and shoal patches, with outlying reel's of rock and kelp, always breaking,'the roof extending nearly two-thirds of a mile direct to seaward from Pat iti Point, and one and a half miles to the south-east from the breakwater at Timaru. The reef off Patiti Point runs out a quarter of a mile farther than is marked on the charts, and should have a wide berth. From Patiti Point southward the coast is again formed of low cliffs, fronted by a shingle beach, and extends thirty miles in a south direction to Waitangi (chart Waitaki) Elver, with several small streams intervening. A high mountain range, 3,500ft (the Hunter Bills), approaches within a few miles of the coast, between Timaru and Waitaki River. The Timaru lighthouse is 30ft high, built of wood, and painted white. The light is a fixed white light of the fifth order dioptric, and shows a green sector of 45° (tour points) from W. to S.W, magnetic as viewed from seaward. It stands 85ft. above the sea-level, and, allowing 15ft for the height of the observer's eye, should be visible in clear weather at a distance of fourteen nautical miles. The green sector is intended as a guide to vessels approaching Timaru during the night or bringing up in the roadstead. Masters of vessels are particularly cautioned that on nearing the port, and while lying at anchor, they must not lose sight of the green light ; and that, if compelled to make the harbour, they must when within half a mile of the breakwater (owing to the extension of the work) come out of the green into the white light, and get the light to bear S.W. by S. S., and come in on that bearing until inside tho breakwater; and that while under way the lead-line must be kept going. Masters are likewise cautioned not to bring the light to bear S. by W. on account of the "Lyttelton" wreck. A contract has been let for the construction of a rubble wall to enclose the harbour on the north-west side. The work is now well in hand, and is expected to be completed early in the year 1890. The accommodation for shipping under the shelter of tho breakwater is very considerable. Moorings are laid down, to which several vessels can be well secured, moored head and stern. There are, besides, about 1,500ft. available wharfage for berthing vessels. The depth of water is from 10ft. to 23ft. at lowwater spring tides, and vessels drawing up to 19ft. are discharged and loaded with great facility, as the railway runs the whole length of tho wharf, and steam cranes are always available. In order to give despatch to sailing-vessels the Harbour Board maintains a powerful tug of 50 h.p. nominal. The towage rates have been made exceedingly liberal, to induce masters of vossels to avail themselves to tho utmost of the services of the tug. A patent slip has been built capable of hauling up vessels up to 200 tons register. Signals.— The New Zealand General Signals are used. It has been notified by tho Harbourmaster that vessels frequenting the port should be provided with at least one extra heavy anchor and strong cable, and that vessels of large tonnage, say 800 tons register and over, must not anchor in less than seven fathoms of water, the flagstaff bearing W.S.W. Vessels of less tonnage may anchor closer in on the same bearing, but not within a mile and a half of the breakwater, and in no case must approach the breakwater or moorings without permission, in consequence of the rapid extension of the harbour works. On the plan arc marked the best anchorages for all classes of vessels, also the bearings from the lighthouse. High water, full and change, at 3h. 30min.; spring tides, rise and fall, Oft. Bin. Shipping inwards at the Port of Timaru— Year 1884 ... ... ... 282 vessels ... ... 03,133 tons register. „ 1885. 332 , 90,10'J „ 1880 303 „ 98,750 ~ 1887 332 „ 97,005 Principal Exports, year 1687— Wool 23,813 bales. Wheat ... ... ... ... ... ... 38,344 sacks. Oats 90,423 „ Flour . ... 99,078 Bran and sharps ... ... ... ... ... 00,800 „ Potatoes 32,070 Frozen mutton ... ... ... ... ... 11,509 carcases. Tallow ... ... ... ... ... ... 029 tons. Revenue from Wharfage and Harbour ChargesYear. £ s. d. 1679 241 0 6 1880 1.791 6 3 1881 ... 3.920 11 9 1882 4,963 16 1 1883 6,350 7 2 1884 6,323 1 8 1885 8,020 0 0 1886 9,972 18 8 1887 9,523 13 9 The harbour district includes the Counties of Gcraldine and Mackenzie, and the following ridings of tho Wainmte County, namely, Pareora, Otaio, Makikihi, Deep Creek, and part of Waihao, the Borough of Timaru, and the Town Districts of Gcraldine, Temuka, and Arowhenua. The area of the district is 2,7.18,800 acres. Its rateable value under Government assessment is £6,604,000. Population, 24,000. The Harbour Board has a right of rating over the property in the harbour district in the event of its revenue being insufficient to meet the interest on money borrowed for harbour works. There has up to the present time been no need to levy any rates, the revenue being sufficient for all purposes. W. J, TENNANT, Timaru, Ist April, 1888. Secretary.