Calm then southerly force 1 becoming south force 1 to 2.

Employed as requisite.

 

Remarks

During our stay which was close on a month we had the SE trade wind nearly the whole time. Generally from SSE hauling to the eastward as the day advanced with the barometer steady at a mean 30.06 inches. Temperatures – before our arrival here they had the same weather as we had a at Matuku which is considered rather unusual at this time. Occasionally the wind was from the westward and NW with rain and increasing the rain very much.

The beacons are not so conspicuous  as you might wish for; they being small; about the size of a sentry box; and of slate colour with a red diamond painted on the front face. We were puzzled in trying to make them out on the Harbour Master (Whom we had taken onboard but did not avail ourselves of his aid) alluding to them.

A pilot came off in a whaler boat but we did not require him and then we gave him a tow in.  Shortly afterwards the Government pilot and harbour master came off and who was allowed on board on our seeing he carried the Fijian Flag. (Blue and white perpendicular with a red crescent and a white dove with a sprig in its mouth in the centre)

[Current flag

The Union Jack (upper left), is representative of the country’s long association with Great Britain. The flag’s blue field is symbolic of the surrounding Pacific Ocean. The coat of arms display a golden British lion holding a cocoa pod, as well as panels displaying a palm tree, sugar cane, bananas and dove of peace.]

He gave us to understand we could not take a position abreast of the Kings Pier on account of our being in the way of the traders of the place which was ridiculous 

The reef is well defined at the entrance and dry in several places at low water. Also the bank in  the centre of the harbour dries at low waters and a rock to the northward of the town about a cables length off shore is awash at low water.