238
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

bringing the English mails for New Zealand from
Hobson's Bay on the 15th April, 1869, and shall
continue in force until the delivery of the mails for
England from New Zealand at Hobson's Bay on
the 13th August, 1869, except in the case of this
contract being determined as hereinbefore provided,
but that the conveyance of the mail for New Zealand
in August, 1869, shall not be included in this con-
tract. In witness whereof the said parties to these
presents have hereunto set their hands and seals, the
day, month, and year first hereinbefore written.

In witness whereof, the said Postmaster-
General, and James McMeckan and John
Hutchison Blackwood, have hereunto set
their hands and seals, the day, month,
and year first above written,

JOHN HALL.
JAMES MCMECKAN.
JOHN HUTCHISON BLACKWOOD.

Signed, sealed, and delivered by John Hall, pro
Postmaster-General of the Colony of
New Zealand, in presence of

G. ELIOTT ELIOTT,
Secretary, General Post Office.

Signed, sealed, and delivered by James
McMeckan and John Hutchison Black-
wood, in presence of

B. W. MARTIN.

CUSTOMS.---In exercise of the power in me for
this purpose vested by "The Customs Regula-
tion Act, 1858," I, the Commissioner of Customs, do
hereby appoint and declare that the Port of Kai-
koura shall be a port at which persons acting as
agents in the entrance or clearance of ships, goods,
or baggage, or any business relating thereto, shall be
required to be duly licensed for that purpose.

Given under my hand at Wellington, this
twenty-first day of May, one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine.
J. C. RICHMOND,
Commissioner.

Commissioner's Order, No. 31.]

Marine Department,
Wellington, 25th May, 1869.

THE following Notice to Mariners, announcing the
existence of certain dangers in the Great North-
east Passage, Torres Straits, is published for general
information.

JAMES M. BALFOUR,
Colonial Marine Engineer.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

GREAT NORTH-EAST PASSAGE, TORRES STRAITS.

CAPTAIN CHARLES EDWARDS reports having, on the
20th December last, while in command of the
"Melanie," passed over a dangerous coral patch on
the South-east side of the fairway of the North-east
passage into Torres Straits.

The least sounding obtained was two and a half
fathoms, deepening gradually to five, and then
suddenly to eleven fathoms. As it was about three-
quarters flood at the time, the least depth of water
on the patch cannot be estimated at more than nine
feet.

While passing over the shoal---which only occupied
about two minutes---the sandbank which lies five
miles to the southward of Poll Islet bore W. by N.
westerly, and Sue Islet N.N.W.W.

G. P. HEATH, Lieut. R.N.,
Portmaster.

Port Office, Brisbane, 7th April, 1869.

WHEREAS by a Commission under the hand of
His Excellency the Governor, dated the 10th
day of February, 1869, and directed to us the under-
signed, we were authorized, empowered, and en-
joined, under the stipulations contained in a certain
deed, dated the 18th day of December, 1868,
whereby the loyal portion of the Aitangamahaki and
Rongowhakaata Tribes, and the Hapu of Ngaitahupo,
ceded all their lands within certain boundaries therein
described to the Crown, "that, subject to the terms
of the said deed, those loyal persons whose claims to
lands within the said boundaries shall have been
lodged on or before the 18th day of March, 1869,
shall have such claims adjudicated upon by a Com-
mission of Judges of the Native Lands Court," to
adjudicate upon all such claims as aforesaid referred
to us by the Colonial Secretary, and to ascertain
whether the claimants making the same have done
any of the things described in the fifth section of
"The New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863." And
further to make inquiry into the character of certain
purchases and gifts of land within the said boundaries
alleged to have been made by and to Europeans; with
power to order the attendance of such persons, and
the production of such books, papers, maps and
other things, as may be needful for the prosecution
of the said inquiry, and to administer oaths and to
take declarations to and from all or any of the
persons so summoned.

Now we do hereby give notice that we will, under
and by virtue of the said Commission, proceed to
make such enquiry and adjudication at Turanganui,
Poverty Bay, in the Province of Auckland, on the
twenty-ninth day of June, 1869, at which time and
place all such claimants and other persons as afore-
said must attend.

Dated this twelfth day of May, 1869.

JOHN ROGAN,
HENRY ALFRED MONRO,
Commissioners.

IN the matter of "The Friendly Societies Act,
1867," notice is hereby given that a transcript
of the Rules of

The Otago Provident Society,

duly certified, has been lodged with the Registrar of
Friendly Societies, registered and recorded in his
office, under the provisions of "The Friendly Societies
Act, 1867."

Dated the fifteenth day of May, 1869.

W. GISBORNE
(for the Registrar).

IN THE MATTER OF "THE EVENING MAIL
COMPANY (LIMITED)."

NOTICE is hereby given, that at an Extraordinary
General Meeting of the above Company, held
pursuant to notice at Christchurch, on the fourteenth
day of May instant, a special resolution was passed
for the voluntary winding up of the said Company,
under the provisions of "The Joint Stock Companies
Act, 1860," as from the fourteenth day of April.

J. L. WILSON,
Director.

Christchurch, May 18, 1869.

SIMON MORTON.-Any information regarding
Simon Morton, formerly of Spittal, Berwick-on-
Tweed, who emigrated to Canterbury, New Zealand,
in 1865, and last heard from at Hokitika, two years
ago, will be thankfully received by his sister, Mrs.
PRINGLE, Te Aro House, Wellington.

The notice of Gold Fields Officials respectfully
requested.