✨ Harbour Master Report
570
Although the piloting of vessels does not occupy the whole time of the pilots, yet I could not recommend any further reduction to be made in their number, from the circumstance that vessels when they do come, wanting pilots, generally arrive two or more at one time. It was only at the end of last July that four vessels at the same instant were outside the Heads wanting pilots to take them in — namely, the William Miskin, Pat the Rover, Leonidas, and Union.
The boats at present belonging to the Harbour Department are—
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In use at the Heads, a whaleboat 28 feet long, built by White, of Williams Town.
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A square-sterned boat of nearly the same size.
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A West of England-shaped boat, useful for going through a heavy surf in.
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A Carvel-built boat, capable of carrying six tons—used for laying down, and lifting the moorings of the buoys.
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A sharp-sterned boat, used by the pilot in the Upper Harbour, 18 feet long.
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Not in use—a whaleboat formerly used at the Heads.
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Not in use—a whaleboat (built by White), formerly used by the pilot at Riverton.
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Not in use—the boat which belonged to the Content, now being repaired.
All the above-mentioned boats are in good condition.
Respecting the trade in shipping, the tables at the bottom, for the September quarters of this year and last, show a marked decrease in this year’s quarter as compared with the tonnage cleared out last. The deficiency in the number of steamers this quarter may be attributed to the circumstance of the Titania having only visited the port twice at the beginning of July, and since that time having been under repairs. The trade carried on by small craft shows to be on the increase, but there is a great shortcoming this year in the amount of pilotage monies taken, which may be partly owing to the operation of the “Marine Board Act,” passed December last, giving permission to shipmasters to pilot their own vessels, which they have no difficulty in doing here, even with the channel as it is, from the number of buoys and beacons placed to guide them in sailing through it.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. B. Greig,
Harbour Master.
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Southland Provincial Gazette 1864, No 31
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Harbour Report on New River
(continued from previous page)
🏗️ Infrastructure & Public Works10 October 1864
Harbour, Pilots, Boats, Trade, Shipping, New River, Invercargill
- J. B. Greig, Harbour Master
- J. B. Greig, Harbour Master