Commander Hutchinson, R.N., of the Red Buoy placed on the north end of the Semaphore Spit, is republished for general information.

ARTHUR BLYTHE,
Treasurer.

RED BUOY, SEMAPHORE SPIT.

The red buoy placed on the north end of the Semaphore Spit, is in eighteen feet low water springs.

Its position is as follows:—Jetty end E. S. E. one and one-third miles, touching north side of hotel. Light vessel N. ¼ E., two miles.

The Jetty end can be approached within half-a-mile in seventeen feet water, taking care not to bring it to bear to the eastward of E. S. E. Vessels passing to the southward should keep the buoy a little to the eastward of the bearing of Light vessel.

[The bearings are magnetic.]

JOHN HUTCHINSON,
Commander, R.N.,
Admiralty and Colonial Surveyor.

Adelaide, April 11, 1863.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

Sailing Directions for MacDonnell Bay, near Cape Northumberland.

Variation, 6° 14′ East. High water at full and change at three hours. Rise and fall, five feet.

MacDonnell Bay is formed by the indentation and trend of the coast line to the eastward of Cape Northumberland, and may readily be distinguished by the lighthouse standing on the summit of the Cape.

Cape Northumberland Lighthouse is in latitude 38° 2′ S., longitude, 140° 33′ E. The lighthouse is twenty-eight feet in height, and stands on the summit of the rocky headland, which is 103 feet above high water mark.

The light, which is catoptric and revolving, consists of three faces, and exhibits alternately, every minute, a white, red, and green light, on an arc visible from seaward from N. 74° E. to N. 66° W., round by south.

The white light may be seen from the deck of a moderate-sized vessel about 18 miles.

The red light will be distinguished from a distance of 15 miles.

The green light will not generally be distinguished beyond a range of 8 miles.

During warm weather and northerly winds, when there is much refraction, the white light will be frequently observed at a great distance.

Vessels approaching from the eastward, and bound past Port MacDonnell, should not bring the white or red light to bear to the westward of W.N.W., and when the green light becomes visible on that bearing, they should steer more southerly, in order to give the reef which stretches to the eastward of Cape Northumberland a wide berth. Vessels from the northward should never sight the red or white light on a bearing more southerly than E. ¼ S., and on seeing the green light should immediately alter the course, so as to give the reefs running parallel to the coast, at a distance of a mile, an offing. In bad weather, with the wind hanging from the southward, it will be advisable to give the Cape such an offing as will enable a ship to pass the lighthouse without seeing the green light; and should the weather be thick, or it be blowing hard, it will be prudent not to sight the red light, which, under such circumstances, will not be seen at the distance first given. The coast to the north-westward of the Cape soon becomes low, and owing to the heavy ocean swell which sets directly on the shore, should be very carefully avoided.

The land about Cape Northumberland may be known from the offing by day by two remarkable mountains near each other. Mount Gambier, the northernmost, is peaked, and bears from the Cape N. by E. four (4) leagues; Mount Schanck, the other, is flat topped, and bears N.N.E. ½ E. nine or ten miles from the same Cape.

Sailing Directions—Port MacDonnell.

Vessels bound into Port MacDonnell by day should give Cape Northumberland a good offing, taking care not to bring the cape to bear to the westward of N.W. by N. until Mount Schanck bears N. by W., when a course may be shaped for the anchorage, which will then bear N.W.; stand boldly on, carefully observing the breakers on the reefs. On this course the water will shoal rapidly from ten (10) fathoms to six (6), and as the beach is approached, to three (3) fathoms on a rocky bottom; generally, in the latter depth, the soundings will be very regular; as, although the ground is rocky, the patches appear to be composed of limestone flats covered slightly with seaweed.

Before thus closely approaching the coast, strangers should hoist the signal for a pilot, who will, if the weather be not too bad, come off.

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