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TO THE
HONORABLE THE PILOT BOARD,
SYDNEY
We, the
undersigned Ship owners, Merchants, Agents, & c.,
Masters, of Vessels, hearing that the Pilot Board
propose the removal of the present Flag-staff to
Nobby's, respectfully beg to represent:
1st. That
such removal, instead of a benefit, will be attended
with considerable inconvenience and danger to the
seafaring community.
2nd. That the
removal to Nobby's is too far to leeward when vessels
are running for Newcastle, especially when the winds are
from the south to west. That this being the only time
the signals are at all serviceable, such removal as the
one contemplated will be entirely useless for all
practical purposes, as light vessels upon making the
signals would then be too far to leeward to recover
themselves.
3rd. That,
should it be deemed necessary and advisable for your
Honorable Board to remove the present Signal-staff at
all, that it be removed farther to the south than any
farther to the north.
Signed by
ANGUS
CAMPBELL, Master of "H. M. Warfield"
WILLIAM
FIRTH, "Viceroy"
PETER SLATER,
"Fayaway"
LAURENCE
WILLIAMSON
W. & J
DONALDSON, Ship owners
W.T. BOYCE,
Agent for Underwriters, Sydney and Melbourne
BINGLE & SON
Lloyd's Agents
HENRY S. BLAY
Agent
HENRY G.
COLE, Master Mariner
EDWARD HILL,
Master and Owner of "Martha Ellen"
ROBT.
SIMMONS, Master of Schooner "Athol"
GEO. MITCHELL
U.S. Vice-Consul
ALEXR. DUGUID.
Master of Schooner "Ariel"
JOHN
JOHNSTON, Master of Brig "Janet"
JAMES
DONALDSON, Coal Merchant
GEORGE BERNER,
Agent
WM. HENRY.
WHYTE. Agent and Ship owner
W.F.
WEATHERILL, Master Mariner and Surveyor
THE HARBOUR
MASTER to MESSRS A. CAMPBELL, AND OTHERS
The Port
Office, Sydney
25 September
1858
MESSRS ANGUS CAMPBELL,
WILLIAM FIRTH,
and the other Petitioners
GENTLEMEN,
In reply to
your petition of the 9th instant, respecting the
proposed removal of the Flag staff to Nobby's Head, I
have the honor, by direction of the Steam Navigation and
Pilot Board, to inform you that the board have fully
considered the reasons urged against the removal in
question; and further, that they have taken the
opportunity of examining the masters of vessels who have
been before them for certificates of competency upon the
subject, and, from the answers given by a considerable
number, the Board do not consider that the objections
made by the petitioners are valid.
Being thus
supported in their own practical opinion, in which I
also fully concur, the Board see no reason why they
should depart from their original recommendation, that
the Flag-staff should be removed to Nobby's Head.
I Have &c.,
John Crook, Harbour Master
THE HARBOUR
MASTER, SYDNEY to THE HARBOUR MASTER, NEWCASTLE
The Port
Office, Sydney 25 September 1858
The Harbour
Master, Newcastle
SIR,
I have the
honor, by direction of the Steam Navigation and Pilot
Board, to request that you will be good enough to
proceed forthwith with the removal of the Flag-staff to
Nobby's Head
I have &c.,
John Crook (Sydney)
Mr. S. Wright
to THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND PUBLIC WORKS
Chamber of
Commerce
Newcastle 29
September 1858
THE HONORABLE THE
SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND PUBLIC WORKS, SYDNEY
SIR,
I am
instructed by the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce to bring
under your notice the intention of the government to
remove forthwith the Flag-staff of this port from its
present position, and place it upon Nobby's, near the
Light House, and to assign its reasons against such
removal.
In the first
place, - If the Flag-staff be placed upon Nobby's it
will be too far to the northward for vessels making for
the port from the southward, with a strong and fair
wind, for the Masters to see the tide signals in time to
stand off, if so required, and in hazy weather, with a
heavy swell of the sea on, vessels would get too far to
leeward before the signals could possible be seen in
time to enable them to clear Point Stephens, and
would consequently be placed in great danger of being
wrecked, unless the wind at the time should be from the
west (going northward till it comes) to
south-south-east.
Secondly -
The distance of the Nobby's is too far off for the flags
to be distinguished with the naked eye, more especially
so during the winter months, when the sun is more to the
northward then, in the fore part of the day, even with
the aid of a telescope, it is attended with much
difficulty. It is also a matter of much importance to
the inhabitants and traveling community at Newcastle, as
well as to the Pilot Establishment, that every facility
should be afforded in giving timely notice of the
approach of vessels to the port, more especially the
steamers.
Thirdly -
That should the flag-staff be removed without due notice
being given, (at least three months) through the public
papers, to masters of vessels coming to this port; the
sailing directions would be so changed as to endanger
their vessels before such alteration would be
discovered, more particularly so with masters of vessels
who are strangers to the port. I am there fore requested
further to state, that, in the opinion of this chamber,
which is supported in its views by masters of vessels who
for many years have been well acquainted with the
navigation of this port, that instead of removing the
Flag-staff more to the northward it ought to be more to
the southward where the tide signals could be seen much
earlier from vessels approaching the port than at
present, as it would then afford ample space to stand
off and on without danger, till the proper time of the
tide for entering the port space to stand off and on
without danger, will the proper time of the tide for
entering the port
The Chamber
begs to solicit that further inquiry on the part of
Government will be made, and the objections herein
stated by duly considered, before such contemplated
removal of said Flag-staff from its present position be
carried out.
I have & C.,
S. Wright. Hon. Secretary.
P. MACAULIFFE
ESQ., to THE STEAM NAVIGATION AND PILOT
BOARD
Newcastle 30
September 1858
Steam
Navigation and Pilot board,
Port Office,
Sydney
GENTLEMEN
Instructed by
the Committee appointed here in public meeting in
reference to the affairs of this Port, I have the honor
to state, that they have been informed that it is the
intention of your Board to remove the Signal Station at
this port from its present position to Nobby's
Peninsula; and that as the Committee has good reason to
believe that such removal would prevent the signals from
being perceptible to vessels approaching the harbour from
the southward, under the important, conditions in which
they are now found most useful, until too late to be
availed of - I am desired to beg the favour of your
causing the removal to be suspended, until the Committee
can supply your Board with that further information or
evidence which the Committee feel assured it would be
your desire to have under the grave circumstances here
mentioned
I have & c.,
P. Macauliffe, Secretary
P.
MACAULIFFE, ESQ., to THE MINISTER FOR
FINANCE AND TRADE.
Newcastle 30
September 1858
THE HONORABLE
THE MINISTER FOR FINANCE AND TRADE, Sydney
SIR,
Instructed by
the Committee appointed here in public meeting in
reference to the affairs of this port, I have the honor
to state, that they are informed that it is the
intention of the Steam Navigation and Pilot Board to
remove the Signal Station at this harbour from its
present position to Nobby's Peninsula; and that as such
removal would seriously impair the utility of the
signals to vessels approaching here form the southward
with a strong wind (to which they are now of greatest
importance), by preventing them from being perceptible
until the vessels were too far to leeward, when probably
the signals would be intended to indicate that the port
could not then be entered, - I am desired to beg that
the removal may be suspended, until at least the
Committee can furnish the Board with further information
or evidence on the subject, to which effect, as in your
Department, I am instructed to request the favour of
your interference.
I have & c.,
P. Macauliffe, Secretary.
THE SECRETARY
TO THE TREASURY to P. MACAULIFFE, ESQ.,
The Treasury,
New South Wales, 5 October 1858
P. Macauliffe,
Esq., Newcastle
SIR,
I am directed
by the Honorable the Treasurer to inform you, that upon
the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, upon the
subject of the contemplated removal of the Signal
Station at Newcastle, it was without delay referred to
the Steam Navigation and Pilot Board. Their Report was
laid before Mr. Campbell this morning, and returned for
further evidence
So soon as
the Report in question shall have been completed, you
will be again communicated with upon the subject.
I have, & c.,
Henry Lane
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