Southland Provincial Gazette – 1869 – No. 13

Page 58

✨ Maritime Navigation Notice

NOTICE TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BOUND TO THE PORT OF INVERCARGILL:--

A flagstaff, with a semaphore arm under the cross-trees, has been erected at New River Heads, on a point of land (locally known as Caroline Point) about three quarters (¾) of a mile inside Point Island, and about one quarter (¼) of a mile below the Pilot Station. It is open to seaward from W. ½ S. round westerly and northerly, magt.

The Bar and tidal signals in use are the same as at all New Zealand ports.

High water on the Bar, full and change, at 12 hours, 30 minutes, rise and fall from 5 to 10 feet, according to the wind and state of the tides—westerly winds setting the tides up.

Vessels should not run down for the Port during the ebb, nor when blowing hard from the westward; but in the latter case, should take shelter under Stewart’s Island till the weather moderates.

When the wind is south-westerly, vessels should run down to open the flagstaff with a good offing—say about the event of the Bar being impassable at the time, they may be able to haul off the land.

When the Bar is passable, the same will be indicated by the proper ball signal, and the vessel piloted in by the semaphore arm.

Should the Pilot not put off when abreast of the Pilot Station, the vessel must be kept on as directed, by the semaphore, and brought to an anchor between the first white buoy and the northern shore, in from four to five fathoms good holding ground, and able to be veered in accordance with the state of the weather; should the master be acquainted with the upper part of the river, he may of course continue on instead of anchoring. Should it be considered necessary to anchor in any part of the channel below the white buoy, No. 8 of Marryat’s code will be hoisted at the mast-head as a signal to prepare to anchor; when it is hauled down, anchor immediately. When at anchor in any part of the channel, the Pilot will either put off in one of his own boats, or will make a signal for one from the vessel.

The depth of water on the Bar at present is eight (8) feet at low water spring tides, but the channel being very changeable, both in direction and depth, it is not considered advisable to give special directions for any particular time.

For the guidance of the Pilot vessels should show their draft of water by Marryat’s, with numeral pendant over, as soon as they sight the flagstaff.

Only one of the leading beacons formerly used is now standing (the inner one), but is not meant to be used as a mark for entering.

A green buoy is placed on the wreck of the Oscar, which lies nearly abreast of the Pilot Station, and over which there is but three (3) feet at low water.

A barrel beacon, twelve (12) feet high, painted white, is placed on the Bombay Rock. (This rock is one and a half (1½) miles inside the Bar, and is four (4) feet above high water). About a mile above this is the anchorage before described. Strangers should not attempt to go further in than this without a pilot.

Thomas Thomson,
Harbor Master.

Harbor Department,
Southland; 26th April, 1869.

Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of Southland by Reynolds and Co., of Invercargill, by the Provincial Treasurer, for the time being.