THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 563

increasing its rate to four or five knots as it
approaches the Heads.

"Care should be taken to guard against
the cross tides about the spits and swatchways.
"The prevailing winds are from N.W. to
S.W., and it seldom blows a gale from the
Southward, the wind moderating as it draws
from S.W. to Southward. Easterly gales are
not frequent, and generally shift suddenly to
the Westward, in a violent squall and very
heavy rain.

"The gales rarely continue long in one
quarter, and a strong breeze from N.W., or
even W.S.W. (as a rule), does not cause a
heavy sea in the South Channel, which can
be taken with safety towards high water.

"The Bar, with such winds, generally
speaking, breaks, and sometimes dangerously,
towards low water; but, in case the gale
gets to the S.W., the sea will break right
across both Channels, but less across the
South Channel, which is never at any time
so dangerous as the Main. This, however,
is of short duration, and seldom lasts over a
day and a night, when by the morning it
becomes moderate, and the South Channel
free of break (even though there be con-
siderable swell outside, and the Banks
breaking heavily), and safe to enter at
proper time of tide, say at half flood, or
even at first quarter ebb, with a commanding
breeze or steam.

"Barometer:-A low range denotes a
change, and in a Northerly quarter, to be
shortly attended by rain; and, in case the
Barometer begins to rise, expect wind.

"When the Barometer is ranging about
30 inches, steady weather may be expected
from seaward.

"A high Barometer, say above 31 inches,
and the land looming clear and distinct, is
(as a rule) a sign of a change to the Eastward.

"I have also to remark that for many
years I have observed that very clear and
cloudless nights are indications of a change
being at hand, either wind or rain."

FREDERIC W. SIDNEY,
Commander and Surveyor.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, Dec. 29th, 1863.

THE following Notice respecting Lights,
Beacons, and Buoys in Victoria, is re-
published for general information.
WM. FOX.

LIGHTS, BEACONS, AND BUOYS IN
VICTORIA.

THE following Notice to Mariners, relative
to certain Lights, Beacons, and Buoys in
Victoria, is published for general informa-
tion. The present notice will affect to a
certain extent the notices to mariners which
were inserted in the Government Gazette of
the 15th January, 1861, and of the 3rd
February, 1863, pages 76 and 287.

JAS. G. FRANCIS,
Commissioner of Trade and Customs.
Department of Trade and Customs,
Melbourne, 25th Nov., 1863.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

The various changes and alterations herein
mentioned will come into operation on or
about the first day of January, 1861:---

CAPE SCHANCK LIGHTHOUSE.

Notice is hereby given that with the view of
enabling navigators to see the Cape Schanck
Lighthouse better during thick or hazy
weather, the tower will, on or about the
above date, be painted white instead of red.

POINT LONSDALE LIGHTHOUSE AND RED
BEACON.

Notice is also given that the light and
look-out house on Point Lonsdale will, on or
about the above date, be painted red and
black in alternate horizontal bands, each ten
(10) feet deep, commencing at the top with
red.

The above-mentioned lighthouse having
been built close to and on the same line of
bearing as the Point Lonsdale red ball bea-
con, hitherto used as a thwart mark for
clearing the Lonsdale and Lightning Rocks,
the beacon will, on and after the afore-
mentioned date, be removed, and the light-
house used for the mark instead.

POPE'S EYE SHOAL BUOY.

On or about the aforementioned date, the
Pope's Eye Buoy will be removed altogether,
and the North Buoy shifted from its present
position, about two cables' length in a S.W.
by S. direction.

SOUTH CHANNEL BUOYS.

The western Black Perch Buoy, No. 1 in
the South Channel, will be shifted in a
westerly direction from its present position
to the tail of the south-west spit at the
southern entrance to Symond's Channel, and
replaced by a third-class buoy.

PRINCE GEORGE BANK BUOY.

The Red Cone Buoy on Prince George's
Bank, moored about N. by W. from the
West Channel Lightship, will be painted
black instead of red, its present color.

POINT COOK BUOY.

A Black Cone-shaped Buoy has been
placed off Point Cook, in five fathoms, with
the following bearings :--

Station Peak S. 78° W.

West shoulder of Mount Macedon, N. 28°
W.

Old Lighthouse, Gellibrand's Point N. 43°
E.

DROMANA MOORING BUOY.

A Mooring Buoy, painted red, has been
laid down in three (3) fathoms one cable's
length from the outer end of Dromana
Jetty.

CHARLES FERGUSON,
Chief Harbor Master.
Department of Ports and Harbors,
Williamstown, 12th Nov., 1863.