63

Within four miles of the Coast spring tides run
two knots, neap one knot; but off the points of
Hick’s Bay, Cape Runaway, &c., they will be
found to be more rapid, but either tide striking
against the point has a tendency to set off the
rocks.

Off White Island there is scarce any tide.

South of the East Cape the flood sets to the
northward, ebb to the southward, within the Bays
of Turanga and Tolaga the tide is not felt. The
influence of the tides extends fifteen miles off this
coast, the water being so much shoaler than in the
Bay of Plenty.

WINDS AND WEATHER.

The winds on either side of the East Cape are
frequently very different although it may be blowing fresh. The strong westerly sea breezes,
which blow through the Bay of Plenty are suddenly
lost when passing south of the East Cape Islet,
the distinct line of breeze is curiously depicted on
the water. A vessel may be becalmed here for
hours in sight of very strong breezes.

Proceeding south it will be found that the ordinary sea breeze is N.E., while the N.E. gales are far
less common than in the Hauraki Gulf, whereas
the S.E. gales so uncommon at Auckland, are frequent, and blow very hard, on both sides of the
East Cape, lasting several days.

The south winds come on very suddenly on
both sides of the East Cape, frequently accompanied by rain.

The north winds with gloomy weather and rain,
frequently precede the south winds, and the change
from north to south are very sudden.

These remarks although generally applicable,
are from our own observations between October
and February.

The N.E. gales are most frequent in March and
April, the S.E. during the winter, accompanied by
showers and lightning to the S.E.

In the Bay of Plenty the barometer rises to the
W.S.W. winds, and the same effect is produced by
the N.E. sea breezes south of the East Cape, it falls
to northerly winds, and rises when about to shift
to the southward.

Before N.E. gales the barometer is generally
very high, they come on very gradually, with a
leaden sky, rain follows, and they invariably
shift to the N. and N.W., veering to the W.S.W.
It frequently remains at that quarter for some days,
they seldom last more than forty-eight hours. It
will be found that three o’clock in the afternoon
is not an uncommon time for change during any
gale in these seas.

The following are the Latitudes and Longitudes
of some of the principal points and islands with
the time of high water at full and change:

Kate Kate River, (North Head) lat. 37 deg. 27’ S, long. 176 deg. 2’ E. H.W. 7 44
Mayor Island, (Highest Peak) lat. 37 deg. 16’ S, long. 176 deg. 18’ E. H.W. ...
Motu Hora, (Highest Peak) lat. 37 deg. 50’ S, long. 177 deg. 10’ E. H.W. ...
Opotiki River, (Mission House) lat. 37 deg. 58’ S, long. 177 deg. 20’ E. H.W. 0
Tekaha Point, (out extreme) lat. 37 deg. 42’ S, long. 177 deg. 43’ E. H.W. 6 30
Hick’s Bay, (Matakawa Point) lat. 37 deg. 32’ S, long. 178 deg. 22’ E. H.W. 9 00
East Cape Islet, (summit of) lat. 37 deg. 39’ S, long. 178 deg. 37’ E. H.W. 8 55
Tolaga Bay, (Motu Heka) lat. 38 deg. 22’ S, long. 178 deg. 28’ E. H.W. ...
Poverty Bay, (Halbert’s House, Wero Wero) lat. 38 deg. 42’ S, long. 177 deg. 58’ E. H.W. 6 06

N.B.—All bearings in this are by compass.

BYRON DRURY,
Commander and Surveyor.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,

Wellington, 25th May, 1854.

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT
has been pleased to direct that the following Notice to Mariners should be published for
general information.

By His Honor’s command,

WILLIAM FITZHERBERT,
Provincial Secretary.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

VICTORIA, PORT PHILLIP.

AUSTRALIA, BASS’ STRAITS.—REVOLVING LIGHT ON CAPE OTWAY.

Trinity House, London,
20th July, 1853.

The following particulars respecting the Revolving Light at Cape Otway (the first exhibition of
which, in August, 1848, was notified from this
house on the 11th April, 1849), having been communicated to this Corporation by direction of her
Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies, are
hereby made public for the general information of
Mariners, viz.—The Lighthouse on Cape Otway, in
Bass’ Strait, is situate in latitude 38 deg. 51 min.
South, and in longitude 143 deg. 29 min.
east. The light revolves showing a bright flash
once in every minute, and burns at the height
of 300 feet above the level of high water, and
may be seen by estimation at the distance of
eight leagues.

Mariners are requested to observe that the Reef
off Cape Otway lies about one-half or three quarters
of a mile therefrom, in a S.E. to S.S.W. direction,
and extends one and a quarter miles to the westward.

By order,
J. HERBERT,
Secretary.

ADDITIONAL LIGHTHOUSE AT THE ENTRANCE TO PORT PHILLIP.

The second Lighthouse at Shortland’s Bluff being
now nearly completed, Mariners are requested to
take notice that on and after the first day of January next, a fixed Red Light will be exhibited
thereon from sunset to sunrise.

The leading Lighthouse Tower is built of wood,
painted white, and stands at an elevation of eighty
(80) feet above the level of the water, bearing from
the centre of the upper Lighthouse on Shortland’s
Bluff south 33 degrees west, distant six hundred
and seventy (670) feet.

The leading light will be seen in ordinary weather
ten (10) miles to seaward, within the bearings
of south one-quarter west round (westerly) to south
west one quarter west.

The two Lighthouses by day, and lights by night,
kept in one line of bearing, lead in mid-channel
between Points Lonsdale and Nepean; but strangers are cautioned not to attempt the entrance by
night, nor against the strength of the ebb tide by day.

BEACON ON SWAN POINT.

Mariners are requested to take notice that a coneshaped iron beacon, painted white, elevated fifty
(50) feet above the level of the water, has been
erected on Swan Point, bearing from the low Lighthouse on Shortland’s Bluff north forty-one (41)
degrees east. This beacon, kept open to the eastward of the low Lighthouse, leads in clear of Point
Lonsdale Reef, and the flagstaff on Shortland’s
Bluff, kept half a cable’s length open to the westward of the low Lighthouse, leads in clear of the
Corsair Rock, and the other sunken dangers lying
off Point Nepean; but in all practicable cases, Mariners waiting the turn of tide, entering or leaving
the harbour, are recommended to keep the Point