190

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

water. Shallow water extends three to four miles
Southward of it, and many scattered patches of rock
are now visible, extending a considerable distance
from both the East and West ends. Some doubtless
cover at high water.

As we ran along the edge of the shoal water on a
due East course, obtained three sets of sights fo
longitude, thirty minutes' interval of time between
each set, the distance run carefully noted by log and
bearings of the land. By these observations I make
the centre of the island to be in latitude (from sun's
meridian altitude) 15° 32' 35" South, and longitude
123° 45' 45" East, assuming Arthur's Head, W.A..,
to be in 115° 45' East.

My chronometers I found to be keeping excellent
time, by many subsequent observations at Camden
Harbor and Tien-Tsin Bay.

This danger is in the direct track of vessels coming
from the Westward toward the new settlement at
Camden Harbor.

Sighted Cockell's Island at noon, Champagny Isles
at 1 p.m., and anchored at 7 p.m. abreast of Point
Hall.

I have named this discovery "Expedition Island,"
in consideration of our present employment in service
of the West Australian Government. March 21st,
1865, on my return passage, I passed at 11 a.m. close
to the island, and verified the above position. Same
day, at 4 p.m., made Adele Island.

I am, &c.,
JOHN T. JARMAN,
Master of the barquetta "Tien Tsin," of London.
Hon. J. S. Roe, Surveyor-General,
Western Australia.

Report on the Harbors of the West Coast of Canterbury.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 14th June, 1865.

THE following letter, with its enclosures, from
His Honor the Superintendent of Canterbury is
published for general information.

FRED. A. WELD.

Superintendent's Office,
Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z.
26th May, 1865.

SIR,---I have the honor to forward for your inform-
ation copies of Reports on the Coast and Bar Harbors
of the West Coast of this Province, which have been
furnished to me by the Port Officer for the Province.

I have, &c.,
S. BEALEY, Superintendent.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.

Hokitika, April 5th, 1865.

SIR,---I have the honor to report, upon the in-
formation I have gathered both from personal obser-
vation and the local experiences of persons qualified
to give an opinion upon the nature of this Bar Harbor,
as well as upon the steps I have taken for facilitating
its entrance as much as possible.

The River Hokitika is situated on the West Coast
of the Province of Canterbury, in Lat. by observation
42° 41' 30" S., Long. by chron. 170° 59' 15" East,
and is navigable for vessels of a light draft of water
for the distance of 1 miles from its entrance.

There is good anchorage from 2 to 3 miles off its
mouth in from 8 to 10 fathoms, dark sand, and good
holding ground. Should vessels intending to take
the Bar have to anchor, to await daylight or high
water, they should bring up a little to the southward
of the Port, for whereas there is usually a southerly
current in the offing, a very strong set will often be
found within the break on the Bar.

A constant heavy westerly swell rolls in on this
portion of the coast, and although the prevailing gales
blow from the N.W., S.W., and S.E., enabling vessels
to lay well off shore and obtain an offing, the masters
of vessels should not neglect watching the weather
carefully, and in the event of its threatening, put to
sea in good time. The heaviest break of the sea is
immediately outside the Bar in two fathoms water.
The Bar itself is constantly shifting in direction, and
varying in depth; after a heavy fresh the river runs
straight out to sea, and during the interval of moder-
ate and fine weather the sea piles up either the
Northern or Southern Spit and makes a series of
middle banks, forming one, two, or three channels, as
the case may be, averaging only a depth of from 12
to 18 inches at low water.

It is high water, full and change, at Hokitika Bar
9 hours 39 minutes, and the mean rise and fall of
tide averages from 8 to 9 feet, but this is of course
greatly affected by the amount of fresh in the river.

Having thus briefly described the main features of
the Hokitika, I will proceed to report its capabilities
as a Port, and the steps I have taken to render its
entrance as safe as possible. No vessel over a draft
of 8 feet should ever be sent to Hokitika, and it is
still more suitable for small steamers and sailing
craft drawing from 4 to 6 feet when loaded; the
latter should not attempt the Bar without a com-
manding breeze, for the sea runs very irregularly in
the break and often throws a vessel athwart the
channel, when if there be not wind sufficient for her
to recover her steerage way quickly, she is liable to
be swept by the northerly current on the North Spit.

The sea does not roll in on the beach in the vicinity
of Hokitika in regular lines of breakers, but in one
confused mass of broken water and blind rollers, and
it is madness for vessels outside to attempt to com-
municate with the shore by means of boats either by
crossing the Bar or endeavouring to effect a landing
on the beach. Several lives have already been
sacrificed, and many more will be if this practice is
persisted in.

Being fully convinced that boat communication
between the shore and the shipping was impracticable,
I proceeded to erect a signal mast and semaphore on
either spit at the entrance of the river, so that one or
the other will always face the best channel for the
time being, on which the following signals are
shown:-

No. 1. Ball and Red Flag at the masthead.-High
water; take the Bar.
No. 2. Ball and Blue Flag half-mast.-Half flood;
wait for tide. When the Bar may safely be
attempted at half tide, whether flood or ebb,
the Red Flag will be at the masthead over
the Ball denoting the state of tide.
No. 3. Ball on the lowermast cap and white flag.-
Ebb tide; Bar dangerous.
No. 4. No signal.-Do not attempt the Bar.
No. 5. A Red painted Arm pointed to the right-
hand, entering from the seaward.-More to
the South.
No. 6. The other Arm pointed to the left-hand,
entering from seaward, more to the North.
No. 7. The Arms up and down with the mast as
you go.-When more than one vessel is cross-
ing the Bar, the foremost vessel will be piloted
in, the others following in her wake.

On a moveable pole in front of the signal-mast, the
two in one showing the fairway, will be hoisted (if
necessary), the set of the current on the Bar thus:-

A Red and White pendant.-To the Northward.
A. Square Yellow flag.--To the Southward.

While on the Flagstaff not in use for the piloting
signals at high water, the depth, in feet, on the Bar
will be denoted by Maryatt's code.

A Red Light is hoisted on the signal-mast on the
South Spit each night, visible from 3 to 4 miles.