1576
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 114

production of the first 50 tons of printing-paper made by
machinery permanently established and working in the
colony. The bonus will be paid to the producer who effects
the first bonâ fide sale of the amount of printing-paper
specified.

Conditions.

1. 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, 1883.
2. The claim must be made before the 30th June, 1884.
3. The first claimant of any bonus who proves to the satis-
   faction of the Government that he has fulfilled all the con-
   ditions to be the recipient of the bonus.
4. The other conditions as to quantity, priority, 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 on
   application at the Colonial Secretary's Office.

THOMAS DICK.

. Notice to Mariners, No. 44 of 1883.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 25th October, 1883.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the
Marine Board, Hobart, Tasmania, and the Hydro-
grapher to the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department,
Washington, United States of America, are published for
general information.

H. A. ATKINSON.

TEMPORARY LIGHT, IRON POT, AT ENTRANCE TO RIVER
DERWENT.

It is hereby notified that a temporary light will be exhibited
during the time taken for fixing the new light at the Iron Pot,
at the entrance to the River Derwent, on and after the night
of Wednesday, the 2nd January, 1884.

The temporary light will be visible at a distance of five
miles on the following bearing from the lighthouse, namely,
from north-east round south to north-west by north.

The permanent light, which is of the Fourth Order Dioptric,
fixed, and visible all round the horizon, will be exhibited on
or about the 15th February, 1884.

The permanent light will be visible in clear weather at a
distance of from twelve to fourteen miles.

Marine Board Offices,
Hobart, 6th October, 1883.

E. M. FISHER,
Master Warden.

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN.
SOCIETY ISLANDS.

228. Tetuaroa: Position.—Information has been received
     that the position of Tetuaroa (Tetiaroa) Island is lat. 17° 2'
     S., long. 149° 32′ W., and not 149° 47′ W., as given on page
     599 of Findlay's South Pacific Directory, 4th edition, 1877.

NOTE.—H. O. Chart No. 77 gives the position of the eastern
point of this island, lat. 17° 7' S., long. 149° 32′ W.

FRIENDLY ISLANDS—VAVU GROUP.

229. Port of Nei-Afo.—The "Hugon" anchored in the port
     of Nei-Afo, the entrance to which is very much cramped by
     the reef of coral which extends to the north-east of Sandy
     Point (the north point of Kopanghi). The entrance is about
     120 yards wide, and to cross the shelf of coral which bars the
     entrance to the westward of Sandy Point it is only necessary
     to keep midway between the two shores; it can thus be crossed
     in about 7 fathoms.

The anchorage is restricted owing to the great depths in
the middle of the bay, which appears to be a superb basin,
but presents the inconvenience of enormous depths in almost
its entire extent.

The "Hugon" did not get out without difficulty.
Bearings magnetic. Variation, 9° 30' easterly in 1883.

FRIENDLY ISLANDS.

The following information is from a report of Captain
Ménard, commanding the French corvette "Hugon" in
1882:—

230. Tongatabu: Directions.—Entering Tongatábu from the
     northward, bring Mallenoah to bear S. 44° 30′ E., and the
     north point of Attataa S. 45° 30′ W. If the weather is clear,
     the temple at Nukalofa, a white building situated on a hill
     about 100 feet in height, overlooking the white houses of the
     village, can be seen. Steer for it, bearing S. 3° 30′ W., to
     pass between the buoys on Juno and Nautilus Banks. If
     these buoys are not in place, make sure of your position and
     procced with caution after reaching the parallel of the north
     point of Attataa. The bearing of the temple, S. 3° 30′ W.,
     passes 350 yards from Juno and Nautilus Banks.

Juno Bank (5 feet) can be distinguished by the brown
patch it makes in the water. Nautilus Bank is more

dangerous; it is covered with 13 feet of water, and its colour.
does not distinguish it from the surrounding bottom, which
can be here seen at a depth of about 6 fathoms.

Anchorage.—The "Hugon" anchored in 11 fathoms, mud
bottom, with the temple bearing S. 79° 30′ W., and the west
point of Tafao (Faffao) Island N. 12° 30′ E.

Pilots.—The Government Pilot did not present himself on
board the "Hugon" until she was inside the Juno Buoy.

Soundings.—Captain Ménard had soundings taken in the
bay, and was unable to find a trace of the line of depths of
from 5 to 8 fathoms, put down on the charts to the north-
westward of Mallenoah. This line was gone over in four
different places by the boats and in two other places by the
"Hugon," and no bottom was found at 10 fathoms. No dis-
colouration can be seen, even from the tops.

The bank of 12 feet, marked on the chart to the southward
and westward of Mallenoah, was not found; the boats
sounded 275 yards from the position of this bank, upon
which there was no sign of breakers, although the sea at the
time was somewhat rough.

Bearings magnetic. Variation 9° 30′ westerly in 1883.

CAROLINE ISLAND.

233. Description.—Caroline Island or atoll is of coral
     formation, of the lagoon type, and in shape is an irregular
     elongated oval.

It is five and three-quarters miles long from N.N.E. to
S.S.W., and its circumference, measured on the outer or
encircling reef, is, approximately, thirteen miles. The
greatest breadth is at the lower end, where it measures one
and one-eighth miles, and the average width is three-quarters
of a mile. The atoll consists of a chain of twenty-five small
islands, well covered with trees and shrubbery. The enclosing
reef fringes the shore, and on its outer edge the surf breaks
with considerable violence.

There is a passage through or over this reef, near the
lower end, which is deep enough to permit ships' boats to
penetrate to the lagoon at high-water.

Climate.—The climate of the island, though warm, is
pleasant, and the temperature is equable. The weather,
though mostly fine, is somewhat changeable, occasional
sudden showers occurring, generally at night or early in the
morning.

Winds.—The prevailing winds in April and May are from
the northward and eastward.

Inhabitants.—The island is inhabited at the present time
by seven persons—four men, one woman, and two children,
who are engaged in the planting and care of coconut trees,
now about 3 feet high. There are two mahogany trees on
the southern island.

Water.—The source of fresh water is the rains, which per-
colate through the sands and collect upon the coral rock.
There are two shallow wells on the lower island and one on
the upper or northern island.

Supplies.—Several varieties of birds abound, the principal
ones being herons, frigate birds, gannets, boobies, &c.; the
game birds are curlew, snipe, and plover. There are no
animals except a species of small rat, and but few fowls.
Fish are abundant and in great variety.

Tides.—For the outer reef it is high-water, full and change
at four hours; springs rise 1 foot 7 inches; neaps rise 5
inches.

Observations show no relation between the tides in the
lagoon and those outside. The lagoon is open to windward,
and the tides are evidently much affected by the wind.

Position.—The Transit Pier on the lower island: Lat.
10° S.; long. 150° 15′ W. (The longitude is subject to verifi-
cation on the return of the eclipse expedition to Washington.)

The Transit Pier still remains on the island, and is crowned
with a marble slab bearing the following inscription: "U.S.
Solar Eclipse Party, May 6, 1883."

The meridian line established by the transit instrument
was used in surveying.

Directions.—Vessels intending to visit Caroline Island
should pass to the south-westward or lee side of the atoll,
and sight the flagstaff standing among the trees, 130 feet
W.N.W. W. from the Transit Pier. It is easily distin-
guished, and in the day-time an English ensign will probably
be hoisted as the vessel nears the land. When the flagstaff
bears S.E. by E. E., if the vessel stands close to the reef,
which is bold, the boat-landing may be distinguished near
the fluke of an anchor just inside the surf on the reef.

It is formed by an indentation in the reef rocks, about 50
feet deep, into which the boat must be pulled on the back of
a roller. A sheer to port should be given to the boat when
within the indentation, to avoid some projecting coral rock
on the starboard hand. When this is passed a landing may
be made on the flat coral reef. The reef does not dry at low-
water.

The entrance described in Hydrographic Notice No. 32 of
1879 as existing on the eastern or windward side of the island
does not penetrate to the central lagoon, but leads into a small