MAY 18.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 711

The pilot’s ridge buoy is moored one and a half miles north of the light-vessel.

By direction of the Government of India.

A. DUNDAS TAYLOR,
Comdr. (late I.N.),
Superintendent, Marine Survey of India.
Marine Survey Department,
Calcutta, 20th March, 1882.

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SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN.—SEYCHELLE ISLANDS.

Fixed Light on Dennis Island.

INFORMATION has been received that in the month of March, 1882, a light will be exhibited from a light-house in course of construction on the northern part of Dennis Island, Seychelle Group.

The light will be a fixed white light, elevated 82 feet above the sea, and should be visible in clear weather from a distance of fifteen miles.

The illuminating apparatus will be dioptric, or by lenses, of the third order.

Position, approximate, lat. 3° 48′ S., long. 55° 40′ E.

By direction of the Government of India.

A. DUNDAS TAYLOR,
Comdr. (late I.N.),
Superintendent, Marine Survey of India.
Marine Survey Department,
Calcutta, 20th March, 1882.

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ENGLISH CHANNEL.—NEW EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE.

THE Trinity House, London, has issued the following:—

Notice is hereby given that at the latter end of March, 1882, the character of this light will be altered as advertised on the 12th February, 1881, becoming thenceforward a white double-flashing half-minute light, showing two successive flashes of about 2½ seconds duration, divided by an eclipse of about 4 seconds, the second flash being followed by an eclipse of about 21 seconds. The light will be visible all round the horizon, and in clear weather at a distance of seventeen and a half miles.

A white fixed subsidiary light will also be shown from a window in the lighthouse, below the flashing light, to mark the Hand Deeps. This will extend over a sector of 16 degrees from N. 32° W. to N. 48° W. (magnetic from the lighthouse).

Also a large bell will be sounded during foggy weather, twice in quick succession every half minute, thus assimilating the character of the sound signal to that of the light.

NOTE.—Mariners will observe that the light on the Casket Rocks, seventy-eight miles S.S.E. from the Eddystone, is similar in character, but shows three flashes in quick succession, instead of two.

Further notice will be published when the changes are effected.

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GOVERNOR’S REEF BEACON, PORT PHILLIP BAY.

MASTERS of vessels, pilots, and others are hereby informed that the beacon marking the Governor’s Reef, off the North Red Bluff, St. Leonards, has been washed away.

It will be replaced as early as possible, until when its position is marked by a 50-gallon cask buoy.

ALEXR. WILSON,
Secretary for Harbours and Navigation.
Department of Ports and Harbours,
Melbourne, 15th April, 1882.

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Report of Court of Inquiry into Wreck of s.s. “Patea” confirmed.

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Marine Department,
Wellington, 12th May, 1882.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to confirm the following report of the Court of Inquiry into the wreck of the s.s. “Patea,” by which the certificate of the master, Alexander Edmund Edwards, is suspended for three months, from the 27th ultimo.

H. A. ATKINSON.

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THAT the steamship “Patea” was stranded on the west head of the Patea River, on the 11th instant, and subsequently became a wreck. In connection with this we find that that the master is to blame, on the following grounds: 1. For not obeying the signals repeatedly made to him to keep to the eastward, thereby causing the vessel to ground on the west spit of Patea River. 2. For not sounding in crossing the bar, or taking any other means to ascertain the depth of water. 3. For not taking proper means for securing the vessel after grounding when a current was running out, and not using any precautions to prevent the vessel from drifting outside. 4. For not having used a seamanlike care, inasmuch as he abandoned the vessel to the order of the Harbourmaster after she grounded. For such default the finding of the Court is that the master was guilty of a want of care and seamanship in bringing the vessel over the bar to the mouth of the Patea River, thereby causing her to become a wreck. The captain’s certificate (New Zealand Home Trade Competency, No. 5050) is suspended for a period of three months, and the Court recommends that he be allowed to apply for a chief mate’s certificate in the meantime. We further find that no blame is attached to the chief officer or engineer in respect of the loss of the vessel.

Given under our hands, this twenty-seventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two, at Patea, New Zealand.

G. F. SHERWOOD,
H. S. PEACOCK,
Justices of the Peace.

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I concur in the above report.

JAMES LEYS,
Nautical Assessor.

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Tenders.

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Public Works Office,
Wellington, 12th May, 1882.

THE following lists of successful and unsuccessful tenders are published for general information.

WALTER W. JOHNSTON,
Minister for Public Works.

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ADDITIONS TO ERECTING SHOP, EASTOWN.

Accepted.
Alexander and McFarlane … … … £ s. d.
613 4 0

Declined.
J. Johnston … … … 707 0 0
J. Tawse … … … 721 1 6

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FERNHILL COLLIERY BRANCH.—FERNHILL CONTRACT (FORMATION ONLY).

Accepted.
William Meade, Dunedin … … … 2,984 12 6

Declined.
Mitchell and Ryley, Dunedin … … 3,183 11 0
Matheson Brothers, Dunedin … … 3,268 11 11
James Innes, Dunedin … … … 3,384 4 4
George Mackie, Balclutha … … … 3,541 18 0

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Alterations and Additions to the Scale of Fares and Charges in Force on the New Zealand Railways.

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IN accordance with the By-laws for the New Zealand Railways, fixed by Orders in Council dated the 6th January, 1881, and the 22nd September, 1881, the following scale of charges for the purposes