THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
120
to avoid immediate danger, and subject also to the Proviso that due regard shall be had to the
Dangers of Navigation, and, as regards Sailing Ships on the Starboard Tack close-hauled, to
the keeping such Ships under Command.
CCXCVII. Every Steam Ship, when navigating any narrow Channel, shall whenever it Rule for Steam-
is safe and practicable, keep to that Side of the Fairway or Mid-channel which lies on the ers in narrow
Starboard Side of such Steam Ship.
Channels.
CCXCVIII. If in any Case of Collision it appears to the Court before which the Case is If Collision
tried that such Collision was occasioned by the Non-observance of any Rule for the Exhibition of ensues from
Lights or the Use of Fog Signals issued in pursuance of the Powers herein-before contained, Breach of the
or of the foregoing Rule as to the passing of Steam and Sailing Ships, or of the foregoing Rule above Rules,
as to a Steam Ship keeping to that Side of a narrow Channel which lies on the Starboard Side, Owner not to
the Owner of the Ship by which such Rule has been infringed shall not be entitled to recover recover.
any Recompence whatever for any Damage sustained by such Ship in such Collision, unless it is
shown to the Satisfaction of the Court that the Circumstances of the Case made a Departure
from the Rule necessary.
CCXCIX. In case any Damage to Person or Property arises from the Non-observance by Breaches of
any Ship of any of the said Rules, such Damage shall be deemed to have been occasioned by such Rules if
the wilful Default of the Person in charge of the Deck of such Ship at the Time, unless it is imply wilful
shown to the Satisfaction of the Court that the Circumstances of the Case made a Departure Default.
from the Rule necessary.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 27th August, 1858.

THE Honorable the Colonial Secretary di-
rects the publication of the following
Despatch for the information and guidance of
the respective Postmasters throughout New
Zealand.

W. GISBORNE,
Under Secretary.

General Post Office,
London, 11th May, 1858.

SIR, A Postal Convention having been
concluded between the United Kingdom and
Sardinia, I am directed by the Postmaster-
General to request that all Letters despatched
from New Zealand, addressed to Sardinia, may
be sent in the Mail which is made up at your
Office for Alexandria, in order that they may be
forwarded thence to Sardinia by way of Malta
and Genoa, instead of via the United King-
dom.

The Sardinian Post Office will also account
to this Office hereafter for the whole of the
British sea postage chargeable upon letters for-
warded from Sardinia to New Zealand via
Genoa and Malta, and no further charge should
be levied by your Office on behalf of this De-
partment.

I am, &c.,
F. HILL.

The Postmaster General,
Auckland.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 27th August, 1858.

THE Honorable the Colonial Secretary di-
rects the publication of the following par-
ticulars, the results of a recent survey made by
the officers of H. M. S. "Actæon" and "Dove,"
repecting the Pratas Reef, a dangerous shoal
about 160 miles S. E. and E. of Hongkong, and
in the direct route of all ships bound to the
Northern parts of China, through the China
Sea.

W. GISBORNE,
Under Secretary.

Description of the Pratas Reef, and Island.
The Pratas Reef is of Coral formation, about
14 miles in diameter, nearly circular, slightly
flattened on its Northern side, having a lagoon
in the centre. The Reef is from one to two
miles broad, nearly two thirds of it is just dry
at low water spring tide, the remainder forms
a sunken barrier to the lagoon on its Western
side. An Island rising from this sunken bar-
rier, forms two Channels into the Lagoon; the
North Channel is 4 miles broad, and has 3
fathoms in it near the middle; the South
Channel is 5 miles broad, and has 4 fathoms
near the middle--the latter is by far the best
of the two, from its superior capacity as well as
its comparative freedom from Coral Knolls.
The Lagoon has from 5 to 10 fathoms in it, it
is thickly studded with Coral Knolls round its
margin, but is comparatively clear near the
middle.
Numerous Coral Knolls are believed to
exist in the Lagoon, and Channels leading
thereto.

Vessels wishing to enter the Lagoon, are re-
commended to use the South Channel, which is
believed to be available for 15 feet draft. Great
caution is required. The vessel should be
conned from the mast head, having the sun
astern, or abaft the beam.

Pratas Island is situated at the west side of
the Reef, near the middle of the sunken part.
It is 1 miles long E. by S. and W. by N.,
mile wide and 40 feet high, of which elevation
the scrubby bush with which it is covered
forms about 10 feet. There is a shallow lagoon
running into its western side for about mile.
The Island is a mere heap of sand. We did
not see a particle of mould, or earthy matter.
Brackish water may be had by digging a few
feet into the sand. The N. E. point of the
Island is in Lat. 20° 42' 03" S., Longitude