48
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
Rocks; which places it one third of a mile
outside a line drawn from the Lighthouse to
Flinders' Rocks.

This Rock is conical, with as little as 7
(seven) feet water upon it at Low Water, and
never more than 13 over it. Its position is
temporarily marked by a small cask buoy with
a blue and white flag, until a more permanent
beacon can be obtained.

J. C. WICKHAM,
Government Resident.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 8th Feb., 1859,

THE following notification received from
the Government of New South Wales,
is published for general information.

W. GISBORNE,
Under Secretary.

Steam Ship "Tynemouth,"
Saturday, 7th August, 1858. 1-20 P.M.

IN TORRES STRAITS, about latitude 11:50 S.
and longitude 143° 32" 30' E, passed over a
coral patch of apparently about 100 yards
diameter, with the following bearings, not laid
down in any of the charts:-

Sands of Middle Bank, bearing E. N.)
East end of Cockburn Spit, S. W. by W.) True.
Cockburn Islands, W.S.W. )
Sir C. Hardy's, North Island, S. W. by
S. S. )

A clear passage appeared at the Spit end of
Cockburn Reef, carried four fathoms water on
the north end of it in the port chains, and in
the starboard saw eight fathoms. The coral
bunches were plainly visible under the ship's
bottom and about the centre of the patch were
just under water.

It was not observed from the topsail yard nor
the jib-boom end, the sun being before the
beam, and was only seen from alongside the
ship; it was nearly low water at the time. I
have christened bank "Tynemouth Bank,"
and consider it highly dangerous, being right
in the track of ships, and should recommend all
vessels after passing the Middle Banks to haul
well to the Southward and make the Spit end
of Cockburn Reef, and haul close round it to
the north if they intend proceeding through
that passage.

JOHN WAKE,
Commander S. S. "Tynemouth."

Singapore, 1st September, 1858.

The American ship "Aleyai," wrecked on
the extreme east end of the north-west reef in
Prince of Wales' Channel; she is well up on
the reef and will make an excellent mark for
ships entering that channel, if not broken up;
mainmast and mizenmast standing and yards
all across. The ship "Chesterholme" lies on
the great detached barrier on her beam end,
with mizen mast gone. The wreck of a pad-
dle steamer lies on the Spile Rocks in Prince
of Wales' Channel, paddle-wheel, shaft, and
cranks lying on the top of the rocks, all con-
nected.

JOHN WAKE.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 8th February, 1859.

THE following notification received from the
Government of the Mauritius is published
for general information.

W. GISBORNE,
Under Secretary.

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR
THE MAURITIUS.

All the Bearings are Compass Bearings.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

It is by no means generally known, that the
tides along the edge of the reef, and between
the Islands to the north of Mauritius, run at
times with a velocity of from 5 to 6 miles on
the springs, they are equally strong off the
Morne, and along the Southern Coast, their
direction is from S. E. to N. W., the flood
running to the S. E., and the ebb to the N.
W., varying a point or two according to the
wind.

Wherever the reefs extend to a distance from
the land, the lead if carefully attended to will
be a tolerably safe guide in the night; but
should the lead be overhove when standing
towards the Shore, haul off immediately whilst
preparing for a fresh cast, or you may run
your Ship aground; from 14 to 20 fathoms is
generally a safe distance from the reef, but the
soundings vary considerably; of all the Vessels
that have been run ashore, or lost on the Coast
of Mauritius during the last few years, it is not
too much to say, that the neglect of the lead
was without exception the principal cause; the
strength of the Currents had also something to
do with these accidents, but the neglect of the
lead was the most important fact elicited in
each enquiry.

Where there is no Coast Reef marked on
the Chart, the Shore is generally bold, having
deep water to within a cable's length of it.

SAILING DIRECTIONS.

Vessels arriving from the Eastward and S.
Eastward, should be careful not to bring the
light on Flat Island to the Northward of N.
N. W. W. until Gunners Quoin bears West,
when they may pass midway between it and
Flat Island, this course will lead about 24 miles
clear of the reefs that extend from the N. E.
end of Mauritius.

On passing Gabriei Island, be careful to
give a good berth to a reef that extends about
a mile to the S. S. E. of it; this warning
applies more particularly to Cooly Ships,
which having to be visited by the Surgeon
Superintendent at the Lazaret at Flat Island,
frequently pass much too close to this reef
without being aware of its existence, as in very
fine weather the sea does not always break on
its extreme point.

When to the Westward of the Quoin, Can-
nonier Point Light will be seen; steer with
Flat Island Light astern bearing N. E. by E.
E. until the Cannonier Point Light bears S.