MAR. 3.]
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 273

Notice to Mariners. No. 5 of 1881.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 25th February, 1881.

THE following Notice to Mariners, received from
the Commodore Commanding the Australian
Station, is published for general information.

H. A. ATKINSON.

POCKLINGTON REEF.
By H.M.S. "Renard."

THIS danger is a coral reef eighteen miles long,
running in a N.E. and S.W. direction. Its greatest
breadth is not more than three miles, and in most
places it is not more than one mile in width. The
east end is in lat. 10° 45′ 25″ S., long. 155° 51′ 40″ E.
The west end is in lat. 10° 52′55″ S., long. 155° 34′ 30″
E. There are moderately heavy breakers on the
southern side, but on the north side, in the S.E. trade,
there is hardly any break. The lagoon inside ap-
peared perfectly smooth. There are several large
boulders (from their height probably always un-
covered) on the northern edge of the reef; and on
the middle of the south edge there was the wreck of
an iron ship in August, 1880. The currents in the
immediate vicinity of the reef set about N.N.W. from
seventeen to twenty-one miles per day.

FIJI GROUP.
By H.M.S. "Alacrity."

Somo Somo Strait.—Somo Somo Strait is the channel
between Taviuni and Vanua Levu. In the narrow-
est part, which is between Koro Levu and the
Navukana Promontory, the navigable portion of the
channel is one mile and a quarter broad and from
120 to 202 fathoms deep. The reefs on both sides
are of irregular formation and seldom break. The
west limit of the narrows being formed by sunken
banks, upon which there are strong tide ripplings,
and which are never easy to distinguish, the east or
Koro Levu side should be preferred in passing
through. At night it is hazardous to pass the
narrows unless Koro Levu Islet can be seen dis-
tinctly.

In the narrows the flood sets S.S.W., ebb N.N.E.,
the turn of the stream being two hours late, and the
speed varying, according to the wind and age of the
moon, at from one to three knots.

The passage through Somo Somo Strait is usually
tedious for sailing vessels, occupying often as much
as three days, owing to the calms and baffling winds
occasioned by the lofty island of Taviuni obstructing
the passage of the trade wind.

There is no passage for ships between Koro Levu
and Taviuni.

Anchorages.—Anchorages can be obtained at Vuna
Point, Wairiki, Somo Somo, Ngila, and Maté on the
Taviuni coast.

Lying to mark.—Vessels at either end of the strait,
waiting for daylight to pass the narrows, would find
it convenient to keep Koro Levu in line with the
extreme of Taviuni. If in the neighbourhood of
Champion Rocks, vessels drawing over 12 feet should
take care that no part of Koro Levu is open of the
extreme.

Koro Levu.—Koro Levu Islet (Corolib) is wooded,
320 yards long, 200 yards broad, and 150 feet high.
Situated 7 cables from the eastern limit of the
narrows, it is a useful landmark to vessels navigating
the strait.

Rocks off Taviuni.—Phillips Rock is a coral bank
of small extent 9 cables N. E. of Koro Levu Islet,
and separated from the reef off that islet by a passage
5 cables wide and having from 7 to 9 fathoms in it.
The least water over Phillips Rock is 15 feet. It
never breaks, and is difficult to see in cloudy
weather.

McPherson Rock.—McPherson Rock is a coral head
with 18 feet over it, situated one mile and three
quarters N.E. from Koro Levu and one mile N. by
W. W. from the anchorage at Somo Somo.

Champion Rocks.—Champion Rocks are two coral
banks six miles and a quarter N.N.E. E. from Koro
Levu and five miles and a half N. by E. from the
anchorage at Somo Somo. The shallowest and most
westerly of the two has 12 feet on it at low water;
the largest and most easterly, 15 feet.

Breaknot Rocks.—Breaknot Rocks lie two miles
and a half N.W. W. from Naiseileseile Point (the
north point of Taviuni). They have 7 feet on them
at low water.

Maté Rock.—Maté Rock, two miles and three-
quarters N. W. from Naiseileseile Point, has 18 feet
on it at low water.

Gangway Rocks.—Gangway Rocks are a group of
shallow spots in mid-channel between Taviuni and
the Budd Reef. Two of these shallow spots are
awash at low water. They break occasionally.

Anchoring at Somo Somo.—When the light is not
good, vessels anchoring at Somo Somo, or leaving that
anchorage, should pass to the north-east of the
Phillips Rock. To do this the course from the
anchorage is N. W. by W. W.

Kiaw Reefs.—One mile and a half south-east of
Kiaw (Kea of chart 269) there is a line of sunken
coral dangers called the Kiaw Reefs. A connection
can be traced between these reefs and those around
the Navukana Promonotory, and also with the Florida
Reefs to the north-east. All these coral banks form
one barrier. The Kiaw Reefs seldom break.

Rambe Channel.—The Rambe Channel is the name
given to the thoroughfare between the Budd Reef
and reefs off Rambe. It is five miles and a half wide
at the narrowest part, and (to the southward) joins
the Somo Somo Strait. The Budd Reef and
Florida Reefs (off Rambe) seldom break.

Texas Reef, Rambe.—The Barrier Reef off the
north-east cape of Rambe is called the Texas Reef,
and stretches six miles and a quarter N. by E. E.
from the cape. two cables from the north extreme of
the reef a double rock is situated which is 3 feet
above high water.

Bearings given are magnetic.

SOUTH SHORES OF SANDWICH ISLAND, OFF NEW
IRELAND.

By H.M.S. "Beagle."

The southshore of Sandwich Island not appearing
to have been laid down beyond its general trend, I
examined it on September 29th and 30th. I take it
to be about twelve miles in length, trending about
W.S.W. Immediately to the southward of its east
point (which I have named George Brown Point,
after the missionary of that name at the Duke of
York Group) is a small bay with many detached
patches in it; on its western side is situated a village.
Off George Brown Point is a small barrier reef
extending about 100 yards or so, then it trends round
to the southward and westward, and joins the shore
fringe reef some 200 yards S.W. of the point.

Patchy Bay, as I called this bay, has a slight fringe
reef along its shores; deep water appears to extend
close up to the patches, for we got 0.28 fathoms.
The bay is about a mile across from point to point;
the shore then trends S.W. two miles, having a small
fringe reef all along it, it then curves sharply back to
the N.N.E. and sweeps round forming a semicircular
bay a mile and a half across; this bay also is full of
coral patches, and the fringe reef extends some 2 to
300 yards along its shores; the bay has a white sandy
beach with cocoanuts along it, deep water right up to