THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
363

Main Channel.

HENRY WALKER MITCHELL, Esq., and
GEORGE BURTON, Esq.,
to be Surveyors under "The Native Lands Act,
1865."

J. C. RICHMOND.

The present directions for crossing the bar are to
get the signal mast on the South Head to bear E. by
N. N. (magnetic) on the Ninepin Rock, in line
with the tangent of the inner point of the South
Head, as shown on the chart and sketch by Com-
mander Sydney, R.N., in 1863. This course will lead
a fair way over the bar, carrying three and a half
fathoms at low water. After crossing the bar, a
glance at the chart will be sufficient to keep the
channel. To cross the bar at low water is not
advisable unless the water be very smooth, with a
commanding breeze or steam. As a rule, it will be
better to wait for half-flood or near high-water, and
after having crossed the bar, and arrived to eight or
nine fathoms water in the vicinity of the Orphens
Shoal, it will be necessary to steer along the line of
break in the middle banks, distance about one quarter
of a mile, which will clear and leave the Orrell Shoal
on the port hand. From this, towards Paratutai,
the channel leads straight into the harbour. The
main channel is seldom used since the South Channel
has been buoyed and beaconed, and the Signal Station
removed from the North to the South Head, where
the site is less obstructed by back land. The South-
ern Channel, in general, is preferred, in consequence
of being more sheltered and accessible at times when
the main bar is dangerous.

Note.—The flood comes from the northward, set-
ting along the shore from one to two knots; but
when coming in contact with the banks about the
bar, it trends into the channel, 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 when near
them; but in the middle of the main channel the
tides set fair in and out of the harbour.

The prevailing winds are from N.W. to S.W.; 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
bring 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 night, when
by the morning it becomes moderate, and the South
Channel free of break, (even though there is con-
siderable swell outside and the banks breaking
heavily) and safe to enter at proper time of tide, say
half flood, or even at first quarter ebb, with a com-
manding breeze or steam.

Barometer.

A falling barometer generally indicates a change
to a northerly quarter, to be shortly attended with
rain; and, in case the barometer begins to rise,
expect wind. When the barometer is ranging about
30in. steady weather may be expected from the west-
ward; a high barometer, say above 31 inches, and
the land appearing very clear and nearer than usual,
is, (as a rule,) a sign of a change to the eastward.
On the coast of New Zealand, for many years past,
I have observed that very clear and cloudless nights
are indications of a change being at hand, either
wind or rain.

T. W.

Native Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 13th September, 1866.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
license

Native Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 24th September, 1866.
HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
license

JOHN RUSSELL, Esq.,
to be a Surveyor under "The Native Lands Act.
1865."

J. C. RICHMOND.

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 21st September, 1866.
HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
make the undermentioned appointments, viz.:—

In the Auckland Militia.
Charles Kingsford Jeffs to be Ensign. Date of
Commission, 31st August, 1866.

In the Auckland Volunteer Engineer Corps.
Henry Lufkin Skeet to be Captain. Date of Com-
mission, 9th June, 1866.

In the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Volunteers.
Cornet Henry William Packer to be Lieutenant.
Date of Commission, 14th September, 1866.
Cornet Frederick Strouts to be Lieutenant. Date
of Commission, 15th September, 1866.
Henry Slater to be Cornet. Date of Commission,
14th September, 1866.
Frank Slee to be Cornet. Date of Commission, 15th
September, 1866.
George Duncan Lockhart to be Cornet. Date of
Commission, 17th September, 1866.
Henry Horsford Prins to be Surgeon. Date of
Commission, 14th September, 1866.
Thomas Hill to be Veterinary Surgeon. Date of
Commission, 14th September, 1866.

In the No. 5 (Kaiapoi) Company Canterbury Rifle
Volunteers.
Joshua Porter to be Lieutenant. Date of Com-
mission, 15th February, 1866.

T. M. HAULTAIN.

Colonial Defence Office,
Wellington, 25th September, 1866.
HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
make the undermentioned change, viz.:—"The
Clyde Company, Otago Rifle Volunteers," to be
"The Dunstan District Rifle Volunteers."

T. M. HAULTAIN.

General Crown Lands Office,
Wellington, 12th September, 1866.
IN conformity with the 29th clause of "The Gold
Fields Acts Amendment Act, 1865," it is hereby
notified that it is intended to grant Leases for Gold-
mining purposes of the Crown Lands to the
applicants specified in the following Schedule.

ALFRED DOMETT,
Secretary for Crown Lands.

Applicant—Michael O'Halloran.
Locality—Situate in the Waipori District, in the
Province of Otago.
Area—8 acres 2 roods and 11 perches.

Applicant—James Cowan.
Locality Situate in the Waipori District, in the
Province of Otago.
Area—9 acres 3 roods and 12 perches.