Port of Otago Harbor Instructions

Vessels experiencing a strong northerly set may have considerable loss of time before they can work up to the anchorage.

Care must be taken when abreast of Cape Saunders at night, to use the lead with vessels drawing more than (16) sixteen feet, and not come within the line of (18) eighteen fathoms, so as to avoid the rock on which the ship Hydra struck at low water spring tides drawing (18) eighteen feet, the position of which as given by Captain Rich of that vessel is “Cape Saunders bearing S. by W. 3/4 W.; and Woaman’s Head (the most easterly land near Tairoa’s Head) N.W. 1/2 N.”

Vessels from the northward bound to Otago and the wind southerly, should work up in shore, and thereby shun the northerly currents, care being taken not to approach the land between Red Cliffs and Jones’ Head nearer than (1 1/2) one and a half miles, as between these points there is a considerable area dotted over with kelp patches, indicating foul ground, amongst which there may be rocky pinnacles with very little water over them, although the least water obtained has been (7) seven fathoms.

On nearing Otago Harbour and the wind northerly, if necessary to wait for daylight or the tide, stand off and on, not bringing the light to bear to the eastward if south, and thereby benefit by the northerly current to keep to windward.

The light-house on Tairoa’s Head is an excellent day beacon as well as by night; the tower is white, and the lantern dome dark green; the light is red and fixed, and visible (20) twenty miles in clear weather.

The pilot boards vessels within a radius of (3) three miles from the Heads unless the sea on the bar renders it unsafe for the boat, which very seldom occurs throughout the year; in the latter case, when there is no pilot on board, the guide marks must be followed.

If any departure is made from the correct course after the leading beacons cease to be of service, the semaphore on the flagstaff will indicate which way to steer, and to which attention must also be paid when entering the harbor; if the wind is strong and northerly the vessel should run in under easy canvas, to enable the pilot to board in safety, as there is not room to round a vessel to in the channel. There is safe anchorage in all weather half-way between Howlett Point and Harrington Point, over on the Sand Spit side of the channel.

In the channel at present in use across the bar there is eighteen feet water at low water spring tides, and vessels entering should endeavor to get the two white beacons (which have been erected on the Sand Spit) in one before nearing the bar, run in on such line (S 8° W by compass) until opening out a red beacon at the pilot station boats’ landing; then haul up for Harrington Point, care being taken that due allowance be made for the swell (which will then be a-beam), heaving the vessel over on the Sand Spit, on which the first red buoy is placed, and must be kept on the starboard hand; having passed the same, then steer a mid-channel course between Harrington Point and the Sand Spit, continuing such course between the buoys on the inner bar, the channel across which shifts occasionally, but on every change the buoys are so placed as to define a (12) twelve feet line of soundings at low water spring tides on both sides of the channel, the shallowest part in the middle being (15) fifteen feet at the same state of the tide. The first half flood and the first half ebb set obliquely across this channel towards the Maori village, therefore, to counteract such influence, the vessel must borrow slightly on the Sand Spit side. Having crossed the inner bar the channel is too well defined by buoys and beacons (red on the starboard hand and black on the port), right up to Dunedin, as for nautical purposes to be almost fenced in.

At present vessels drawing (12) twelve feet can get up to Dunedin Jetty, and, with the dredging operations now in progress, it is expected that soon a greater depth of water in the upper harbor will be obtained.

Vessels of a light draft only can beat in and out of Otago Harbor, and when working out on the ebb, across the outer bar, care must be taken not to stand too close over to Heyward’s Point, as it is very deceptive going with the tide and swell which sets in that direction, the latter causing the vessel to miss stays, thereby placing her in a critical position where she can be brought up and under weigh on the opposite tack, as the ground is not good for holding, and a dangerous bight to get into at any time.

W.M. THOMSON,
Harbor Master.

Harbor Office,
Port Chalmers, 3rd March, 1869.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS taken at

DUNEDIN,
for the Month of February, 1869.

At 9.30 A.M. Daily.

Lat. 45° 52' 11" S. Long. 170° 31' 7" E.
Altitude above Sea, 550 feet.

Barometer (reduced to 32° Fah. and sea level).
Mean atmospheric pressure for month ... 30.006 inches
Highest pressure (on 8th) ... 30.462 "
Lowest pressure (on 24th) ... 29.589 "
Range for month ... 0.873

Temperature in Shade.
Approx. mean temperature for month ... 57.8 Fah.
Mean maximum temperature ... 64.6 "
Mean minimum temperature ... 50.9 "
Mean daily range of temperature ... 13.7 "
Highest maximum temperature (on 25th) ... 78.0 "
Lowest minimum temperature (on 8th) ... 45.0 "
Extreme range for the month ... 33.0 "
Mean temp. of evaporation for month ... 54.0 "

Solar Radiation
Maximum (on 27th) ... 142
Minimum (on 11th) ... 99
Mean for month ... 125

Terrestrial Radiation
Maximum (on 25th) ... 48
Minimum (on 8th) ... 33
Mean for month ... 39

Mean degree of humidity (Saturation = 100) ... 77.0
Mean elastic force of vapour ... 0.369 inch
Mean temp. of dew point ... 50.6 Fah.

Rainfall
Total rainfall on 11 days ... 2.148 inches
Greatest rainfall in one day (on 14th) ... 0.774 "
Mean amount of sky covered (overcast 6-10) ... 6

Wind:
Mean velocity per day for month ... 130 miles
Greatest velocity observed for 24 hours (on 16th) ... 385 "
Number of days on which the wind blew from each point:

Remarks.
Thunder on 4th, 5th, and 6th. Fog on 18th.

Note: The results of the self-registering instruments were recorded on the dates above given, and therefore occurred during the preceding 24 hours.

Henry Skey.

Lands and Works Office,
Dunedin, 9th March, 1869.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that the application of Messrs Harper and Co. for a gold mining lease of five acres of land, being Section 2, Naseby District, has been disallowed by the Government.

A. J. BUANS,
Secretary for Land and Works.