APRIL 14.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Florida Group: Passage round North of Ditto.—
No. 214. The "reported good passage," as shown in
Chart No. 214, was used. It is much narrower, and
there is a rock awash about mid-channel. The
"Emerald" passed north of this rock, midway
between it and the two small islands south of Buena
Vista. The tide rips are very strong, showing right
across the channel.

Florida Group: East Side of 7-fathom Patch.—East
Pt., S. 39° E.; East Island, S. 65° E. No. 214. A
vessel keeping a mile outside a line from Tree Island
to East Island will be in deep water. After passing
East Island the small islets which front the shore
to the westward of the Ass's Ears may all be ap-
proached within from 1 to 5 cables.

Marau Sound: 6-fathom Patch.—N.E. extreme of
Beagle Island, N. 3½ W.; south point of Kamachu
Island, S. 76° W. No. 880. The ship anchored in
17 fathoms, and used to swing over this patch, which
was the least water found, with the northerly stream.
The position was verified by angles.

Coolambangra Island: Blackett Strait.—No. 214.
Apparently free from any danger. The small islet
at eastern entrance had better be left on the north
hand.

Coolambangra Island: Ariel Cove.—8° S., 156° 57′
E. (approximately). No. 214. Ariel Cove (as re-
cognized by "Sandfly's" sketch) is on the west coast,
and not on the south as marked in chart, nor could
any similar cove be seen on the south side of the
island.

Choiseul Island.—No. 214 Made the south coast
of Choiseul Island in 157° E. (Chart No. 214), and
steered to the north-westward, from four to five miles
off shore, for about three miles, when shoal water was
observed ahead. There is a chain of coral patches
(some awash) with deep water between, from three
to six miles off shore. Fifteen of these patches were
counted in all to abreast Bambatani. An extensive
reef was seen about ten miles off shore. There is
apparently a clear passage two or three miles off
shore as far as Bambatani, only one shoal spot seen
in this passage, which can be passed on either hand.
"Emerald" passed between it and the shore. Bam-
batani consists of three villages, close together in one
bay, viz. :-

Village.
Keelangota (west)
Rumaseu (centre)
Coovuee (east)

Chief's Name.
Ousumansa.
Ramboowhy.
Serrakikola.

Choiseul Island: Bambatani.—7° 7′ S., 156° 40′ E.
(approximate). No. 214. The King's name (of Bam-
batani District) is Sickasecka, who speaks a little
English, and is "friendly." Good anchorage was
found at the west end of the bay in 12 fathoms
(crl. s.). Anchor bearings: Shortland Island (native
name "Soondah "), N. 80° W.; Vella Lavelly (the
3,000-feet peak), S. 1° W.

Choiseul Island.—No. 214. Between Bambatina
and Choiseul Bay the reefs extend about ten miles off
shore, with no deep-water passage inside. The south-
west portion of Choiseul Island does not exist, Cape
Alexander being only about twelve miles from the
passage used by the "Emerald" between the islets
forming Choiseul Bay. The sketch of Choiseul Bay
(No. 209) is very incorrect, though still of use as a
guide. The south entrance is narrowed to about a
cable by the reefs on either hand. Good anchorage
was found in 12 fathoms (crl. s.). Anchor bearings:
first or southernmost islet, S. 21° W.; second islet, N.
69° W.; islet in centre of bay, N. 2° E.; Choiseul
Point, S. 14° N.

Choiseul Bay.—No. 214. The whole of the bay to
417
islets. The centre islet should be passed on its west
side. There is a "spur-shaped" reef extending south-
west from this islet, but apparently has plenty of water
on it at a cable distance. From Cape Alexander to the
eastward the chart appears to be correct.

Village of Kangopassu.—6° 40′ S., 156° 33′ E. (ap-
proximate). No. 214. Kangopassu, the place where
the "Zephyr" massacre took place, is situated
between two small islands, and by Chart No. 214 is in
156° 33′ E. The chief's name is Koka. Our boats
reported apparently good anchorage in the lagoon
formed by outer reefs.

Bouganville Island: Noumanouma.—5° 54′ S.,
155° 9′ E. (approximate). No. 214. The reefs
appear to extend about six miles from the east coast.
Mount Balbi kept on a S.W. by W. W. bearing
leads in clear of reefs, and a ship bound to Nouma-
nouma can then coast along to the southward, until
abreast the village. Anchorage was obtained in
centre of small bay off the north end of the huts.
The beach here is very steep and has no fringe reef.

Ahloo Island.—No. 214. Is situated about six
miles west of Shortland Island (Soondah). King's
name is Gori; said by the traders to be friendly.

LOUISIADE ARCHIPELAGO.

Two Islets South-west of East Island.—Nos. 2123
and 2764. Consider these to be placed too far to
the southward, the eastern one by five miles and the
western by two miles.

Shoal, 7 fathoms.—10° 36′ 50″ S., 151° 35′ 30″ E.,
from chart. Bearings: Hastings Island, N. 38½° E.;
Dawson Island, N. 43 W.; Hummock Island, S. 82°
W. Nos. 2123 and 2764. The depth of 7 fathoms
was struck in what appeared to be the bight of an
extensive reef, one portion extending from this
position in a N.N.W. direction about four miles, and
the other in an easterly direction for probably a much
greater distance. The tide rips prevented the limits
of the reef being clearly defined, but just to the west-
ward of the 7 fathoms it appeared to be nearly
awash.

Teste Island.—Anchorage off south side Teste
Island: North-east Island—N.N.W., West Island
N.82°W. Nos. 2123 and 2764. Anchored on the south-
west edge of a large flat with from 8 to 9 fathoms on
it; 14 fathoms was obtained in the chains at the same
time, with coral mud bottom. The tides from the
anchorage run in a N.N.E. and S.S.W. direction about
four knots (springs). The reefs off the island extend
further to the eastward than shown on Chart No.
2123, and East Island about one-third of a mile east
of its position (relatively with Teste Island). Coming
from the southward, East Island bearing N.N.W. ¼ W.,
appears under the highest peak at east end of Teste,
and leads to the anchorage. A missionary teacher
resides here, who speaks a little English.

Mewstone Island.—Anchor bearings: Mewstone,
N. 58° E.; N. 69° W. No. 2124. Good anchorage
on south side of island, in 15 fathoms (crl. s.), about
a mile from the shore. The reefs in the bay extend
for more than half that distance from the latter.
Shoal.—11° 8′ S., 152° 33′ 30″ E. (from Chart 2124).
No. 2124. About half a mile in extent, and from its
appearance probably has 3 to 4 fathoms on it.

Notice to Mariners.—No. 14 of 1881.

REPORTED DANGER OFF CAPE KIDNAPPERS, EAST
COAST OF NORTH ISLAND.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 7th April, 1881.

NOTICE is hereby given that Captain Thomas
Mosey, of the barque "Mercia," reports that
in rounding Cape Kidnappers his vessel slightly took