THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Receiver of Gold Revenue at Okarito appointed.

Treasury,
Wellington, 26th August, 1875.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to
appoint

WILLIAM BLANE
to be Receiver of Gold Revenue at Okarito, in the
Province of Westland.

H. A. ATKINSON.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.
No. 17 of 1875.

Customs Department (Marine Branch),
Wellington, 31st August, 1875.

THE following Notices to Mariners are published
for general information.

WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS.

HONGKONG.
Green Island Light.

NOTICE is hereby given, that a Light will be exhibited
on Green Island on and after 1st July next.
The illuminating apparatus is fixed Dioptric of the
Fourth Order, showing a red light on the following
bearings, which are magnetic and taken from sea-
ward:-

1. From N. 16° E. to S. 18° E. (146°).
   And showing a green light-

2. From N. 16° E. to N. 44° W. (60°).

3. From S. 18° E. to S. 25° W. (43°).

The remaining portion of the whole circle is ob-
scured by the island itself.

The focal plane of the light is 95 feet above mean
sea level, and in clear weather it should be seen at a
distance of 14 miles.

H. G. THOMSETT, R.N.,
Harbour Master, &c.

Harbour Department,
Hongkong, 8th June, 1875.

ST. VINCENT'S GULF.
Entrance to Port Adelaide.

NOTICE is hereby given, that in consequence of the
formation of a shoal patch on the Outer Bar, having
only 12 feet on it at low water, the Red Buoy has
been removed and placed on the patch.

The Outer Bar Black Buoy has also been shifted
about 2 cables length S.S.W. of old position, and is
moored in 13 feet at low water.

A Black Perch Buoy has been placed on a shoal
patch having only 12 feet on it at low water, and
bears N.W. by N., nearly, from Port Adelaide Light-
house. Ships on passing should round this buoy
closely, as the channel is narrow abreast of it.

R. H. FERGUSON,
President, Marine Board.

Marine Board Offices,
12th August, 1875.

STORM SIGNAL.

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Harbour Masters at
Glenelg, Wallaroo, Port Victor, Guichen Bay, and
Port Macdonnell have been instructed to hoist a
Storm Signal (consisting of a blue swallow-tailed flag)
whenever the barometer falls to such an extent as to
lead them to believe bad weather will be experienced.

It is to be hoped this signal will afford mariners
timely intimation of the approach of a storm, so that
they can either weigh anchor and proceed to sea, or
adopt other precautionary measures.

G. S. WRIGHT,
Secretary.

Marine Board Office,
Port Adelaide, 21st July, 1875.

585

NOTICE TO MARINERS.
No. 18 of 1875.

Customs Department (Marine Branch),
Wellington, 28th August, 1875.

THE following Notice, received from Hy-
drographer to the Admiralty, is published for
general information.

WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS.

HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICE. [No. 13.]
PACIFIC OCEAN.

NOTICE NO. 31.—SOUTH-WESTERN PART, FIJI IS-
LANDS.

THE following information relating to the Fiji Islands
has been received from Lieutenant Rendell, R.N.,
commanding H.M.S. "Beagle," 1874.*
All bearings are magnetic. Variation 9° 45' East-
erly in 1875.

NANUKU PASSAGE.

Taviuni is the largest island on the western side
of Nanuku Passage: from Vuna Point, the south-
west extreme of Taviuni Island, a reef, on which the
sea always breaks, extends 1½ miles in a westerly
direction; the south point of the island is steep-to,
and may be approached within 2 cables.

From the south point, the east side of Taviuni
Island trends about N.E. ½ N. 13 miles to a point off
which a reef extends about 7 or 8 cables, thence the
shore to the northward recedes, forming a deep bay
fringed by a reef; the coast between the south point
of the island and the point off which the reef extends
is precipitous, and steep-to except abreast of Salia
Jevu, which is 5 miles from the south point of the
island, and where there is a small reef close in shore.

Vuna Point Anchorage.—Anchorage can be ob-
tained off Vuna Point, in 10 fathoms, sandy bottom,
with Hamilton Store (a prominent zinc building on
the beach), in line with a small house on the hill
behind it.

Tasman Strait is formed by Taviuni Island on
the west, and Quamea Island on the east. Vuro-
Vuro Bay on the north side of a small promontory,
which is situated on the west side of the southern
entrance to Tasman Strait, affords good anchorage in
15 fathoms, sandy bottom, and protected from nearly
all winds; good water can be obtained from a stream
in the south-west part of the bay.

From the north point of Vuro-Vuro Bay a reef
extends towards Quamea Island, contracting Tasman
Strait in this part to less than one mile. The out-
lying reefs in the strait are easily distinguished on a
clear day.

The tides in Tasman Strait run strong, the ebb
setting to the northward, and flood to the southward;
therefore vessels should not attempt to pass through
the strait under sail without a commanding breeze.

Quamea Island (Qamea) is thickly wooded, and the
coast indented with deep bays; on the east side of
Quamea Island there is a narrow passage separating
it from Laucala Island, passable only by boats; to
the south-eastward of Quamea and Laucala Islands,
and distant from 1 mile to 1½ miles, lies a reef,
which partially surrounds the islands; between the
reef and the south sides of the islands good anchorage
can be obtained in nearly all parts; the only passages
leading into the anchorage are formed by two detached
patches at the south-western extremity of the reef.

Thane Reef, on which the sea breaks heavily, is

• See Admiralty charts :—Pacific Ocean, General, No. 2,683;
  Pacific Ocean, Sheet 6, No. 2,464; Fiji or Viti group, No.
  2,691 ; also Hydrographic Notices, Islands in the Pacific Ocean,
  1856-1873, bound in one volume, and No. 31 of 1874.