562
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
Proclamation of the 5th day of June, 1862,
in so far as the same affects Port Stephens
and Port Newcastle, in the Colony of New
South Wales.

Given under my hand, and issued under
the public seal of the Province of
(L.S.) Otago, this twenty-fourth day of
November, one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.

JOHN HYDE HARRIS,
Superintendent.

By His Honor's command,
THOMAS DICK,
Provincial Secretary.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

General Post Office,
Auckland, 26th Dec., 1863.

THE following Sailing Directions for the
Manukau Harbour, by Captain Sidney,
R.N., are published for general information.

T. B. GILLIES,
Postmaster-General.

MANUKAU HARBOUR.

In consequence of the changes that have
taken place in the approaches to the
Manukau-as so deplorably manifested by
the loss of H.M.S. "Orpheus"-the Admi-
ralty determined to have a new survey made,
and directed Captain Sidney, R.N., to suspend
for a time the survey of the coast of New
South Wales, upon which he was engaged,
and proceed to New Zealand, to re-survey
and draw up fresh sailing directions for the
navigation of the channels leading to the
Manukau.

The following remarks and directions
result from the re-examination of that
locality:-

The entrance to the Main Channel appears
to have shifted both to the Northward, as well
as to seaward, the Bar being now half a mile
more to the Westward than at the time of
Captain Drury's survey in 1853.

The Channel is also wider, the 8-feet bank
that separated what was called the North
Channel from the Main having now dis-
appeared, if it ever existed. A ship, by
attention to the lead, may now work either
in or out.

The leading mark used at present is the
Nine-pin Rock, in line with the tangent of
the inner point of the South Head, as shewn
in the sketch; but, as there is the same
depth-viz., 3 fathoms-a little to the
Northward, and the banks having a tendency
to extend themselves yet more in that direction,
it would be better to bring the Nine-pin
Rock in line either with the objects marked
B or C on the sketch and plan for crossing
the Bar.

After crossing the Bar, a glance at the
plan will be sufficient to keep the channel.

The South Channel seems hitherto to have
been very imperfectly known, and its merits
underrated; but, now that Buoys have been
placed, its approach and navigation is

rendered easy, and, the depth of water being
the same as that on the Bar of the Main
Channel, and accessible at times when the
latter is dangerous, it is much to be
preferred.

To make the South Channel from seaward,
keep the Signal-staff of Paratutai in line
with the White Pile recently erected on the
inner slope of the peak called Pukehurihu
on the chart (properly Pukehoho) N. 1/2 W.
This mark leads midway between the Shoals
off of the South Head and the Heron Spit;
and when the gap inside Poroporo (now
almost an islet) and the two trees, to the
right of the wooded range, come in line (as
shewn in sketch) steer for it up to the outer
Fair-way Buoy, the crossing mark for which
is the Nine-pin Rock and Parera Island in
line. The outer Fair-way Buoy is red, with
black, vertical stripes, having a bell within a
circular cage on top.

Leave this Buoy, or the spot indicated by
the marks, on the left hand half a cable,
steering 1 1/2 points more to the Eastward
for nearly four cables' length, when the
inner Fairway Buoy will be reached. This
Buoy is similar to the outer one in every
respect.

Leaving this also on the left hand half a
cable's length, two Buoys will be seen in
advance to the Northward-a black one on
the left, indicating the position of the Tran-
mere Shoal (to the Westward), and a red
one on the right, 1 1/2 cables apart. Pass
midway between them, steering parallel with
the shore, passing the Spit Buoy (red) on
the right, and the Buoy at the tail of the
Emma Bank (half black and white top) on
the left, into the deep water Channel.

It is recommended that Pukehoho be
chosen as the site for the contemplated
Telegraph Station, the Signals to be made
by two pairs of Semaphore arms, one pair
above the other, one-half of the arms along
their length being painted black, and the
other white, which would insure their being
seen under all circumstances of light and
shade-against the sky, or with the land
behind, the arms working at right angles to
a line midway between the Main and South
Channels. Mr. Wing's known ingenuity
and mechanical skill would readily devise
the means of working the arms by a winch
from a covered-in look-out house around the
Staff.

The stump of the mast or a Beacon should
be on Paratutai, for the South Channel
entrance mark.

The following remarks are by Mr. Wing,
Pilot and Harbour-Master, made during an
experience of over a quarter of a century:-

"High water at the entrance of the
Manukau at full and change of moon, at
9.30. The range at springs, 13 feet; neaps,
8 feet.

"The flood comes from the Northward,
setting along shore from one to two knots;
but, when coming in contact with the banks
about the Bar, it trends into the Channels,