458
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
vessels to take the channel in-shore (westward) of
the Rough Rock, although it is now well marked by
the addition of the buoys above mentioned.
NOTE.—The Rough Rock buoy lies on the eastern
edge of the rock, in three (3) fathoms at low water.
Vessels passing in-shore of it, should not approach
it within a cable's length, as foul ground extends for
some distance around the rock.
I. J. BURGESS,
Chief Harbour-master.

NEWLY DISCOVERED REEF OFF THE COAST
OF QUEENSLAND.
Marine Department,
Wellington, 10th September, 1868.
THE following Notice of a newly discovered Reef
off the coast of Queensland is published for
general information.
JAMES M. BALFOUR,
Colonial Marine Engineer.
Office of Superintendent of
Pilots, Lights, and Harbours,
Sydney, 20th August, 1868.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
CAPTAIN PAGET, of the schooner "Marion Renny,"
reports the existence of an extensive reef from lat.
18:52 S., long. 152.42 E., to lat. 19-10 S., long. 152-14
E., discovered on the passage from the South Sea
Islands towards the Great Barrier.
The "Marion Renny" ran along the weather-edge
of the reef for four hours, the vessel going seven
knots an hour; three sandbanks, large in extent, but
not very high, were observed on the reef.
FRANCIS HIXSON,
Superintendent.

Stamp Office,
Wellington, 9th September, 1868.
NOTICE.—It has been notified to the Commis-
sioners of Stamp Duties that persons are in the
habit of selling Duties Stamps to the public at prices
higher than the nominal value of the Stamps sold.
The license of any Distributor charging or receiving
more than the established value of any Stamp or
Stamps sold by him will be immediately cancelled.
Persons selling Stamps without being duly licensed
in that behalf are liable to penalties of not exceeding
twenty pounds for each offence, and these penalties
will be strictly enforced.
By order,
C. T. BATKIN.

ABSTRACT of METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, New Zealand, for the Month of JULY, 1868.

NOTES.

Taranaki.—No return received.
Wellington.—Strong wind on night of 7th and morning of the 8th from N.W., with rain; on night of 17th high wind from
N.W., and on the 26th storm from the S., with rain; thunder on the 8th; slight earthquake on the 16th at 12.30 a.m.;
barometer fell rapidly on the 26th and 27th; prevailing wind from the north; twenty-six frosty nights. Return received 24th
August, 1868.

Nelson.—Strong winds on the 7th from S.E.; on 18th N.W., and 23rd S.W., accompanied by rain; 8.20 inches of rain recorded
on morning of 23rd; severe thunder and lightning on 31st; slight earthquake on 30th; very heavy rain in this month;
prevailing winds from S.W. and N.W.; four frosty nights. Return received 19th August, 1868.

Christchurch.—Strong winds on 23rd and 24th; snow fell on the 11th; fog on the 26th and 27th; fine weather during month,
though temperature lower than usual; fifteen frosty nights; prevailing winds from N.E. and S.W. Return received 7th
August, 1868.

Hokitika.—Storm on the 8th from N.W., with rain, hail, and thunder, also foggy, bar. 29.131 at 9:30 a.m.; strong N.W. wind
on 16th and 17th with rain, but with high barometer; hail, thunder, and lightning on the 17th; very wet month; fifteen
days of S.E. wind; fourteen frosty nights. Return received 17th August, 1868.

Dunedin.—Very strong wind from N.W. on 16th and 17th with thunder, but no rain; snow fell on 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, and 10th;
prevailing wind from W.; dry weather during the month. Return received 17th August, 1868.

Southland.—Calm mild weather, but showery; thunder on 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th; very severe thunderstorm on night
of 14th; lunar halo on 2nd and 3rd; solar halo on 15th; parhelion (mock sun) on 10th; snow fell on 18th, and there were
ten days of hail; from 21st to 23rd the bar. fell 1'40 inch, and from 23rd to 25th rose 1.27 inch without any apparent
cause. Return received 28th August, 1868.

GENERAL REMARKS.

The temperature in most cases is rather lower than for the same month in previous years, and the rainfall for this period has
been at the most of the stations very great; the degree of moisture is also high. Altogether the weather has been unusually
severe throughout the Colony during the month.

4th September, 1868.
JAMES HECTOR,
Inspector of Meteorological Stations.