MAR. 3.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

277

To the southward of San Christoval Island especi-
ally, in the early part of the season, light airs and
calms sometimes prevail for many days.

Towards the latter end of the season there is occa-
sionally much rain and squally weather; the barometer,
however, seems to be but little affected by it.

Westerly winds commence in December and con-
tinue until March, strongest in January and Febru-
ary. During this season violent squalls from W.S. W.
are frequent, and likely to cause damage should a
vessel be caught unprepared in them. During the
westerly season a great quantity of rain falls, and
the gales from the westward are very violent, and the
more to be dreaded on account of the scarcity of
harbours in the group which can be considered to be
properly sheltered from them.

Barometer.—From July to December the average
height of barometer was 29.74. It gives no indications
of the weather that may be expected.

Currents during the S.E. season seemed to be very
irregular, but generally set to south-westward.

To the southward of San Christoval Island, where
the "Renard" was at one time becalmed for nine
days, the current about ten miles from the land set
invariably to the eastward. Inside this limit she was
alternately set east and west, apparently according
to the tide. This was in the month of May. During
the month of August also an easterly set was ex-
perienced.

Variation.—The variation of the compass in the
neighbourhood of Russell Group and Rendova Har-
bour was found to be 7° 30′ E. in 1880.

AUSTRALIA, EAST COAST.

Shoal Water.—The pilot at Cooktown, Queensland,
reports a shoal with from 5 to 10 fathoms on it in lat.
14° 8' S., long. 146° 54′ E., or S.E. by E. twenty-four
miles from the Osprey Reef. The "Renard" passed
over this position on a bright moonlight night, but no
indications of any shoal were observed.

Passages in Barrier Reef—The "Renard" entered
the inner route by the second opening in the Barrier
to the southward of Cook's Passage. Immediately
after passing through, a shoal patch with probably
about 5 fathoms on it was observed. But the ship
passed too quickly to sound; the bottom was dis-
tinctly seen—coral rocks. Cook's Passage, by which
the "Renard" passed out to sea, appears to be
decidedly the best, as it is short and broad. With a
south-easterly wind there is a heavy swell in it.

Two Islands.—The sand and coral spit extends
further to the westward from the westernmost island
than is shown on the chart. Six fathoms was obtained
twice outside the 10 fathoms on the chart.

N.B.—In the foregoing directions all bearings
given are magnetic.

Bonuses on Colonial Industries.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 15th February, 1881.

N OTICE is hereby given that the following bonuses
will be paid on articles produced in the Colony
of New Zealand, as under:----

ON SUGAR.

A bonus of one thousand pounds (£1,000) will be
given for the production of the first 125 tons of sugar,
manufactured in New Zealand, from beet grown in
the colony.

ON LINSEED OIL.

A bonus of five hundred pounds (£500) will be
given for the production, by machinery permanently
established in New Zealand, of the first ten thousand
(10,000) gallons of oil, of good marketable quality,
from linseed grown in the colony.

ON OIL CAKE.

A bonus of one hundred pounds (£100) will be
given for the production of the first fifty tons of oil
cake, of good marketable quality, from linseed grown
in the colony.

ON STARCH.

A bonus of three hundred pounds (£300) will be
given on the first fifty tons of starch, manufactured
in the colony, which shall be shipped to an English
market, and for which a satisfactory certificate shall
be given by dealers or brokers in England that the
starch is of good marketable quality.

ON SILK.

A bonus of fifty per cent. on the value realized
for the first thousand pounds' (£1,000) worth of
cocoons of the silkworm, or silkworms' eggs, pro-
duced in the colony, to be paid on quantities of not
less value than fifty pounds (£50) nor more than
one hundred pounds (£100) produced by any one
person.

ON SULPHURIC ACID.

A bonus of five hundred pounds (£500) per
annum will be given for three years in succession
for the production each year, by machinery esta-
blished in New Zealand, of not less than fifty tons
of sulphuric acid, of good marketable quality. The
producer to the satisfaction of the Colonial Secretary
of the first fifty tons, shall be also entitled to the
payments of the two following years if he fulfils the
conditions.

ON EARTHENWARE.

A bonus of two hundred and fifty pounds (£250)
will be given on the first £1,000 worth of household
earthenware manufactured in the colony, on proof
that it has been sold at such prices as to show that it
is of good marketable quality.

CONDITIONS.

NOTICE of intention to claim any of the above
bonuses must be given in writing to the Colonial
Secretary not later than the 31st December, 1881.
The claim must be made before the 30th June,
1882.
The other conditions as to quantity, quality, and
value to be fulfilled to the satisfaction of an officer
appointed for the purpose by the Government.
Further information and particulars may be
obtained by application at the Colonial Secretary's
Office.

THOMAS DICK.

Colonial Industries.

TENDERS FOR MANUFACTURE OF PORTLAND
CEMENT.

Public Works Office,
Wellington, 10th November, 1880.

W RITTEN tenders will be received at this office
up to noon on the 31st March, 1881, from per-
sons who are willing to contract for the supply and
delivery of One Hundred Tons of Portland Cement.
The cement to be manufactured in the Colony of
New Zealand, and to be delivered at any of the
under-mentioned places, viz., Auckland, Wellington,
Christchurch, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Port Chalmers,
or Invercargill. Tenders to be addressed to the
Minister for Public Works, and to be marked outside
"Tender for Supply of 100 Tons of Portland Cement."
Specifications and conditions may be seen at the
Public Works Offices, Auckland, Wellington, Christ-
church, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The lowest or
any tender will not necessarily be accepted.

R. OLIVER,
Minister for Public Works.