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Town of Wellington, Port Nicholson, from Rai - Warra - Warra Hill (From Samuel Charles Brees, Pictorial Illustrations of New Zealand, John Williams and Co., London, 1848) Twelve months in Wellington / by John Wood (1843)

Chapter 5
Harbour

Contents: introduction | narrative page 1 | chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
Decidedly good. When a beacon is placed on the outermost rock of Barrett's Reef, and a lighthouse built upon the heads, nothing more could be desired. One acquainted with the harbour may enter it at night ; but no stranger should attempt to do this. The only danger to be apprehended in the day time arises from a sudden shift of wind (which frequently occurs) while working in between the above reef and steep eastern shore. While we were at Port Nicholson the Middlesex, Clydeside and Martha Ridgeway suffered from this cause.

Petone Road with Wellington in the Distance, by Samuel Charles Brees, Pictorial Illustrations of New Zealand, John Williams and Co., London, 1848.

The anchorage in Lambton Harbour is well up to a weather shore when the wind is at south ; but from an opposite quarter the sea has a fetch, and the wind a clear sweep of seven or eight miles. From these two points it blows with about equal violence ; but at all seasons northerly winds prevail. A vessel that has a cargo to discharge should be made snug aloft, and moored with the best bower to the north, and a good scope of chain each way. The holding ground is good. Several coasters were driven on shore while we were there, and on one occasion a schooner of ninety tons was stranded with her top-gallant yard across and a second anchor at the bows. Such culpable conduct should be severely censured by the merchants of Wellington. A circular wharf might be constructed abreast of the town, where vessels of large tonnage might discharge and take in their cargoes. Several jetties have been run out into a depth of water sufficient to suit coasters. A great injustice has been committed on the community by a large part of the beach frontage being considered private property. The right of ground between high and low water mark should be vested in the Crown or the Company; and a broad road, where practicable, reserved beyond high-water mark for the free use of the townspeople. Wellington is a free port.

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