456
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Deaths, and Marriages, in New Zealand, do hereby
certify that the foregoing NAMES of OFFICIATING
MINISTERS within the meaning of "The Marriage
Act, 1854," has been sent in to me, in addition to
the names in Lists published in the New Zealand
Gazette, No. 6, of the 30th of January; No. 9, of the
13th of February; No. 13, of the 3rd of March; No.
14, of the 9th of March; No. 18, of the 3rd of
April; No. 19, of the 20th April; No. 22, of the 7th
of May; No. 23, of the 14th of May; No. 25, of the
22nd of May; No. 27, of the 2nd of June; No. 35,
of the 29th of June; No. 44, of the 20th of July,
No. 46, of the 6th of August, and No. 48, of the 12th
of August, in the present year.

Given under my hand, at Wellington, this
ninth day of September, one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-eight.

JOHN B. BENNETT,
Registrar-General.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

THE following Remarks on and Sailing Directions
for the Port of New Plymouth, in the Province
of Taranaki, are published for general informa-
tion.

JAMES M. BALFOUR,
Colonial Marine Engineer.

REMARKS ON AND SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE
ROADSTEAD AT NEW PLYMOUTH, PROVINCE OF
TARANAKI.

ANCHORAGE.

The anchorage now used for vessels of all classes
extends along a line bearing N. W. from the flag-
staff, behind the boatsheds on the beach, on the
slight elevation called Mount Eliot.

Large vessels anchor at from a mile to a mile and
a quarter from the shore, in from eight to nine
fathoms, keeping the flagstaff bearing S.E.
Bottom sand and rocks.

Moorings capable of holding a vessel of two
hundred tons are laid down at about a mile from the
shore, and marked by a large buoy. Masters of
vessels must not let go their anchors too near the
moorings, which are laid down N.E. and S.W., sixty
fathoms each way. There is a depth of seven
fathoms at low water spring tides at these
moorings.

A smaller set of moorings, for sailing vessels of
one hundred tons and under, are laid down about a
quarter of a mile nearer in-shore, in six fathoms at
low water spring tides, and marked by a black
buoy.

The anchorage for steamers and small craft is fully
a quarter of a mile nearer in-shore again, and some-
what under half a mile from high water mark. It is
marked by a black perch buoy, with an anchor
painted white on it. Steamers and small craft can
anchor close to this buoy, giving the vessel room to
swing clear outside of it. This buoy is in four
fathoms at low water spring tides.

REEFS.

A series of reefs, with boulders, fringe the coast
for fifteen miles to the eastward of the anchorage,
extending three-quarters of a mile off-shore on the
average; but the most projecting part, known as
Puketapu Reef, which is about seven miles to the
eastward of the anchorage, extends fully a mile from
the shore.

A reef, covered in places with large detached
boulders, lies two cables' lengths to the westward of
the inner anchorage, extending three-quarters of a
mile to the westward, and about the same distance
to the northward or seaward, from the beach. Its
eastern edge lies N.N.W. from the flagstaff, and its
northernmost point N.W. N. from the flagstaff;
N.E. by E.E. from Moturoa. Care should therefore
be taken in leaving the inner anchorage not to bring
the flagstaff to eastward of S.S.E. until the outer
Sugar Loaf bears W.S.W., when a ship will be well
outside this reef.

A reef also extends one-third of a mile off-shore,
at about two cables' lengths to the eastward of the
inner anchorage; but as this anchorage is only used
by steamers and small craft, there is ample room
to get under weigh.

SAILING DIRECTIONS.

A vessel from the Westward bound for the anchorage
at New Plymouth should make for the outer Sugar
Loaf Island, and when that island bears South-
distant one mile—should steer E.S.E., until the same
island bears W.S.W., and keep it in that bearing
until the small white flagstaff on the beach (in front
of the boatsheds) is in line with the flagstaff on
Mount Eliot (or immediately behind the boatsheds,)
bearing S.E. The vessel will then be close to the
outer mooring buoy.

A vessel from the Northward, if the wind be
favourable, may run for the flagstaff on Mount Eliot,
keeping it bearing S.E. until the outer Sugar
Loaf Island bears W.S.W., which will bring her near
to the outer mooring buoy.

If plying to windward from the North or North-
east, with South-west winds, a vessel should not
approach the shore Eastward of the anchorage nearer
than seven fathoms soundings, on account of the
coast reefs above described.

MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS AND DIRECTIONS.

The time of high water at the Port of New
Plymouth at full and change is 9.30; range of tide
from 7 to 12 feet.

The flood tide sets to the westward, ebb tide to
the eastward, with a current running about one
knot an hour; but the rate, and even the direction of
the current, is much influenced by the winds.

A vessel running for the anchorage with strong
S.W. winds should shorten sail in good time, so as to
carry no more than is necessary to keep her under
command when coming to anchor.

A good buoy rope or chain of sufficient strength
to lift the anchor (chain is preferable) should always
be attached to the crown of the anchor before
letting go.

When the anchor has been let go, cable should be
veered without checking to sixty fathoms, in order
to lessen risk of dragging.

Vessels trading to this port should be provided with
ground tackle of the very best quality, the anchors
not less in weight (and number) and the chains not
less in size and length than those prescribed in
Lloyd's rules; but no vessel, however small, should
have less than sixty fathoms of cable. The safety of
vessels may depend on the quality of their ground
tackle, should they have to ride out strong in-shore
winds.

Vessels should be at all times prepared to slip in
case of necessity, and, with that view, a good slip
chain, ten fathoms long, with a cask or nun-buoy,
should be attached to the cable outside the hawse.
Rope should not be used for attaching the slip buoy,
owing to the rocky nature of the bottom.

If it be necessary to slip when lying at the outer
anchorage, and the wind is from N.N.W. or eastward
of that point, slip on the starboard tack; if the wind
be from any point to the westward of N.N.W., slip
on the port tack, and carry as much sail as the vessel
will conveniently bear. Great care must be taken to
ensure the vessel canting the proper way.