THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 199

Should the pilot not be able to board, it is
recommended to obtain an offing until the
weather moderates.

At night, except under the charge of the
pilot, it is not prudent to enter the bay; and
masters of vessels should keep the light bearing
from N. N. W. to N. N. E., taking care not
to come under twenty-five (25) fathoms water,
which will place a ship about five (5) or six (6)
miles from the Cape. Masters of vessels ac-
quainted with this port will find no difficulty
in entering it by observing the following
directions: -

On approaching from seaward keep Point
Douglas, a headland to the W. N. W. of Cape
Northumberland, well open of the latter, and
Mount Gambier more than the length of
Mount Schanek open to the eastward of the
latter before standing in, after which steer for
Mount Schanck until the mooring-buoys are
made out. By keeping the eastern set, bear-
ing between N. W. W. and W. N. W., they
may be safely approached, when the Harbour-
Master will, if possible, come off and moor the
ship.

Masters of vessels are requested to carefully
observe if any of the signals hereinafter men-
tioned are made from the flagstaff near the
jetty...

In the event of all the mornings being
occupied, vessels entering the bay must anchor;
and should be kept in such a condition, as to
ballast and trim, as will enable them to seek
an offing in event of bad weather coming
on.

Although the moorings now laid down at
this port are of the heaviest description, and
fully competent to hold any vessel that can
enter Port MacDonnell, it must be remembered
that, during heavy south-west gales, the sea
rolls in over the outlying reefs, and breaks in
the bay very heavily. On these occasions
vessels will ride very uneasily, and be cut off
from communication with the shore.

The responsibility of remaining in the bay
after the bad weather signal has been made,
must devolve on the commander of a ship,
although fast to the moorings.

It is obvious, from the nature of the bottom,
that no vessel can be considered safe in bad
weather from the westward, if at her own
anchors, although their weight may be in
excess of the prescribed scale.

The following moorings are now placed at
Port MacDonnell :-

One 165 fathoms of 3
inch mooring-chain
One set Two 13 fathoms of 2
inch bridles
Two anchors of four tons
Two
buoys, 18
feet water.

One 147 fathoms of 12
inch mooring-chain
One set Three 15 fathoms 12 inch outer buoy
Two anchors of 3 tons
buoys-
17ft.water
16ft. water
innertuoy
bridles

One 60 fathoms of 14
inch mooring-chain
One set One 7 fathoms of inch
bridle
One anchor of 1 tons
One buoy,
10 feet
water.

The anchors are placed in holes blasted in
the rocky bottom.

Commanders, masters, and others in charge
of vessels are hereby required, when using the
moorings laid down at the outports in this
Province, to observe the following directions:-

In fine weather, when there is little sea, a
line may be made fast to the large buoy; but
on no account must a vessel hang to the buoy
longer than is absolutely necessary to moor
the vessel to the bridle-the buoy chains not
being intended to moor by, the buoys being
placed solely for the purpose of indicating the
position of the moorings, and assisting vessels
in picking up the mooring bridles.

In the event of the weather being such as
would render it improper to take hold of the
large buoy, ships must let go an anchor, clear
of the direction of the mooring-chain in the
bottom.

At those outports where Harbour Masters
are stationed, or where pilots take charge of
vessels, the direction and position of the
mooring anchors and chains will be duly pointed
out, and instructions given to masters of vessels
in mooring and unmooring.

Having brought the ship near the mooring
buoy, a small black wooden buoy will be ob-
served. To this buoy a small chain is attached
to which is shackled the mooring-bridle lying
on the bottom. Having hauled up upon the
small chain, and brought the large link or
shackle on the end of the bridle to the hawse
shackle on the ship's cable Should an anchor
be down, lift it; and, if necessary, or so ins-
tructed, shackle on the second chain, unshackle
the small buoy, and veer away cable as requi-
site, observing that as the bridles are in short
lengths, a ship should ride with as much range
as locality or the state of the weather may re-
quire, were she simply riding to her own
anchors.

In unmooring, the small buoy chain must
be carefully secured before slipping, and the
large buoy be used under the same conditions
as expressed in the first section of these regu-
lations.

It will be obvious to commanders and masters
of vessels, that no confidence can be felt in
using the large buoys for securing ships to,
when it is remembered that the constant fric-
tion of that portion of the chain touching the
bottom so wears the stoutest chains, that a very
few months shakes out the studs, and renders
them quite unfit to hold on by, in any weather
likely to cause a strain on the chain.

The Board take every precaution in keeping
the moorings in a perfect state of efficiency,
and will hold commanders, masters, and other
persons in charge of vessels, liable for all ex-
penses, in the event of the moorings being in-
jured, in addition to the penalties imposed
under the following clause:-

Persons not complying with these regulations
render themselves liable to a penalty of not less
than £5, nor exceeding £20, on such offence
being proved before one or more of Her Majes-
ty's Justices of the Peace, in addition to any
expenses to be incurred by the Board in refitting,
replacing, removing, or repairing any moorings
injured or displaced by any vessel making use
of the same, contrary to the provisions of these
regulations.