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A Signal Mast has been erected on the
South Head at the entrance of the harbour,
and is now attended for the purpose of sig-
nalising vessels to and from sea. The signals
are similar to those formerly used on the
North Head (Paratutai), signified in the
present Harbour Regulations for general use.
Also three large iron Buoys have been placed
in the Southern Channel in the positions
hereafter mentioned. In future there will
not be any fairway buoys as formerly, in
consequence of their having been so frequently
damaged and sunk by vessels while passing
in and out of the harbour. But in place of
fairway buoys, two large Beacons, cone-
shaped at top, 600 feet apart, are now erect-
ed on the South Head, about 400 feet above
the sea-beach painted white, with a vertical
red stripe in the centre; and by keeping the
same in one, bearing about N.E. by N.
(magnetic), from sea, will lead a fairway
course between the shoals to the turning of
the channel at the Trameere and Treachery
Buoys; and by keeping northward along the
line of beach, the South Head and Emma
Spit Buoys will be plainly seen. Two
Beacons in line are now being erected on the
north side of the harbour to guide vessels
through this part of the channel, particularly
as a guide when the buoys are missing or
otherwise out of place.

Buoys in Southern Channel.

South Head Spit Buoy—Red; placed in
three and a half fathoms water low water,
near the Spit, with low beacon at South
Head, bearing S.E. ½ E., magnetic.

Emma Spit Buoy—Black; placed at the
extreme N.E. end of the shoal in three and
a half fathoms low water.

Trameere Shoal Buoy—Black; placed at
the eastern part of the shoal in three and a
half fathoms low water.

Treachery Shoal Buoy—Red; placed at
the eastern part of the shoal, in four fathoms
low water.

Note.—As the shoals at the entrance of
the harbour are liable to shift (although not
very frequently), care should be taken to
follow the telegraphic signals given by the
signalman at the Signal Station, particularly
when there is strength in the tide, which has
a strong tendency to set towards and through
the swatchways in the shoals, which should
be avoided as far as possible.

Tides.

High water at the full and change of the
moon at the entrance of the harbour, 9:30
a.m.; and the rise and fall of tides may be
taken to be as follows: Neaps about eight
feet, and springs twelve feet—at ordinary
tides running (at half tide) from four to six
knots between the South Head and Emma
Spits, decreasing gradually to about three
miles per hour as you leave this part of the
channel.

Sailing Directions for Southern Channel—Inwards.

On entering the Manukau Harbour by
the Southern Channel from the south, the
soundings should not be less than six or
seven fathoms before bringing the South
Head Beacons in one, bearing about N.E. by
N. (magnetic); and should it be strong
flood when in the vicinity of the Trameere
and Treachery Shoals, care should be taken
not to keep northward, so as to open the
South Head Beacons to the eastward, until
in four or five fathoms water to the N.E. of
the Trameere Shoal Buoy, or the proposed
beacons on the north side of the harbour are
brought in one; and then, by steering north-
ward along the line of beach, the South
Head and Emma Spit Buoys, will be plainly
seen, when a vessel may proceed up the
harbour into safe anchorage.

Note.—The flood tide, after reaching the
South Head Shoals, has a tendency to set
across the Treachery and Trameere Shoals,
passing through a narrow channel between
the Trameere Shoal and Emma Bank, which
channel should be avoided except when the
tide is well in, and then should only be
navigated by vessels of light draft of water.
The soundings in the channel have been
recently examined and found to be very un-
even, having only six and seven feet water
in places near it at low tide; but from this
locality the flood sets fair into the harbour
along the shore.

Directions for the Southern Channel—Outward bound.

On leaving the Manukau by the Southern
Channel on the ebb tide, care should be
taken to keep the South Head shore aboard
one-fourth of the distance across the harbour,
so as to keep a midway course between the
South Head and Emma Spit Buoys (or the
north leading beacons in one now being
erected). This precaution, as a rule, will be
the means of preventing the vessel from
being set past the South Channel into the
influence of the main channel tide, which
may bring her in contact with the Emma
Bank, or otherwise cause loss of time in re-
gaining a proper position, should the bar be
unsafe. Once a vessel has fairly entered the
Southern Channel between the South Head
and Emma Spit Buoys, the ebb tide sets fair
towards the Trameere, and there will not be
much difficulty in working to sea with wester-
ly wind in moderate weather. After
passing the Trameere Buoy on the starboard
hand, with a westerly wind, it will be advis-
able not to open the South Head Beacons in
a northerly direction more than about three
times their width, when, by tacking to the
north-westward the whole force of the ebb
tide will be brought on the vessel’s lee, set-
ting to windward clear of the Trameere
Shoal, and by making short tacks on the line
of South Head Beacons will soon set the
vessel to sea clear of the influence of the tide,