224
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

light variable winds from N.E. to S., with heavy rain
squalls. Population 800 to 900, 3 whites. A chief
or king rules. The island quiet. Natives civil and
inoffensive. A few supplies were obtained from the
natives, who flocked on board in great numbers.

Arhno, or Pedder Island.---(Lat. 6° 59′ N., Long.
171° 43′ E.) Population 1,000 to 1,200, 3 whites.
Natives civil and inoffensive. A chief or king. No
supplies to be obtained. No man-of-war ever called
before. Before arriving at Pedder Island experienced
a strong easterly set of 35' in 18 hours. Entered by
the east passage into the lagoon; least water 4
fathoms. Left the lagoon by another passage about
1' N. of the one we entered by, called on plan "Boat
Passage; " least water 6 fathoms.

Ebon, or Boston Island. (Lat. 4° 35' N., Long.
168° 42′ E.) Passed through the reef entrance
about 5 p.m., which is deep, very narrow, with strong
irregular eddies; anchored off Missionary Station.
Population 800, 5 whites. A good supply of neces-
saries were obtained; pigs, poultry, and vegetables
being abundant.

Odia, or Elmore Island. (Lat. 7° 17′ N., Long.
168° 47′ Ε.) Entrance marked by a village with
two remarkable cocoa-nut trees on the east shore, 8
fathoms least water. Entered the lagoon without
difficulty, through a deep but narrow channel;
anchored off a small village on the south side.
Population probably 150, no whites. Natives civil
and honest, had never seen a man-of-war; they have
a king, who also rules over Jabuit or Bonham Island,
Ebon, Lib, and others. Very few supplies obtainable.

Alecifos, or Providence Island. (Lat. 9° 47' N.,
Long. 160° 56′ E.) The passage to this island took
six days, light easterly winds, with frequent tre-
mendous rain squalls lasting several hours. On the
evening of the 18th September, being 12' off the
position of the island as shown in the chart, and
seeing no signs of land, hove to till daylight 19th;
made sail standing to the northward, at 9 a.m.
observed the island ahead, its real position being
considerably north of that shown on the chart. It
is an outlying island of the Marshall Group; same
language as in that group; population 21; no
supplies obtainable. By the Native account this
island almost totally destroyed by a tidal wave
and hurricane about thirty years ago, and nearly the
entire population were swept away.

Strong Island.---Between the 19th and 24th Sep-
tember, unfavourable weather, constant rain, with
furious squalls, was experienced from N.E. to S.E.
Is an independent island. Population about 500,
with a king, 7 whites. Small quantities of supplies
procurable, and in season plenty of yams and other
vegetables.

Information furnished by Roger Turpin, Master of
L.M.S. Barque "John Williams."
Whilst beating up from the Ellice Group, bound
to the Samoan Group, at 10 a.m., 25th July, saw
bottom under the ship, got soundings in 16 fathoms
sand and coral; vessel was on a wind, all sail set to
a light E.S.E. breeze, heading N.E., speed 3 knots.
Position, worked back from noon observations:--
Lat. 12° 18' S., Long. 174° 38' W., ship sailed at
least five miles on a N.E. course with the bottom
distinctly visible, immense quantities of fish; a
confused and irregular sea; bottom appeared to be
regular, no less than 16 fathoms having been obtained
(3 chrs.).

PACIFIC ISLANDS.
Her Majesty's Ship "Pearl,"
Sydney, 25th February, 1875.
Hydrographical Memorandum No. 9.
THE accompanying Hydrographic information
relating to the Solomon and Admiralty Groups,
and adjacent islands, is promulgated for general
information and guidance.

JAMES G. GOODENOUGH,
Captain and Commodore, 2nd Class,
Commanding Australian Station.
To the respective Captains
and Officers Commanding &c. &c.

ENCLOSURE IN HYDROGRAPHICAL MEMO. NO. 9.
Extract from Letter of Proceedings of Lieutenant
Sanders, Commanding H.M. Schooner "Alacrity,"
12th September, 1874.

SOLOMON ISLANDS.
Oas, Sta. Anna.---Good anchorage open to the
N.W., but protected by the reef, which stretches
across from each end of the harbour. There is a
patch off the south reef in the passage, which makes
it rather narrow, but still leaves plenty of room for
any vessel to pass through.

Three Sisters Islands.---" Alacrity" anchored in a
small anchorage outside at southernmost island
formed by the points of land and spurs of the reef in 25
fathoms, but found no passage into the lagoon, a bar
of sand and coral running across the entrance, with
less than a fathom of water on the boulders which
stretch right across. (There appears to be a passage
laid down in the chart.) Inside is a fine land-locked
lagoon about 3' by, with 9 and 10 fathoms near
the entrance, shoaling to 2 and 3 fathoms. Islands
flat, inclined to marshy; are uninhabited. The natives
of San Christoval come across to catch fish, which
abound here. Westerly winds expected to set in
in September.

Extract from Letter of Proceedings of Lieutenant
Sanders, Commanding H.M. Schooner "Alacrity,"
11th January, 1875.

SIMBO ISLAND TO NEW IRELAND, DUKE OF
YORK, AND ADMIRALTY ISLANDS.
Simbo Island.---I found the natives very off-hand in
their manners. On passage to Sydney I passed close
to Simbo, but did not see anything over the 5-fathom
shoal laid down. A white man who lives at Rubiana,
however, informed me that it does exist (This shoal
is not shown on new issue of chart.) On passage
from Simbo to Port Praslin, New Island, I encoun-
tered a very strong.current, always to the southward,
in the passage, and, losing the wind, I was compelled
to anchor.

Mocoda Harbour is an excellent harbour for small
vessels. It is formed by Duke of York Island and
Mocoda Island, which is to the westward of the
former. There are two entrances; the one from the
north is about a mile from Port Hunter, passing
between Bradley Island and Duke of York Island.
It is narrow, with 18 feet of water, increasing from
2 to 7 fathoms inside. Strong tide in passage set-
ting on to Bradley Island. Keep close to the corner
of Duke of York Island, almost touching the trees.
Water not good and difficult to obtain.

Jesu Maria Island.---Coasted along the east side to
look for a harbour. On seeing a narrow entrance
through the reef, which extended from the shore,
I ran in and anchored. Holding-ground good, 10
fathoms, just to the northward of a small islet on the
reef about 100 yards from the shore; barely room to
swing, faces the eastward. Sailing vessels find a
difficulty in getting out against trade wind. Natives
came alongside without any fear; seem to have
seen few white men before. A fair anchorage is also
to be found on the south coast. The reef has to be
crossed to get to it, 24 fathoms water in the passage,
which can be made out from the fact of the sea not
breaking over it. It is about 14 to the eastward of