APRIL 5.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 425

Notice to Mariners.—No. 3 of 1883.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 29th March, 1883.

THE following Hydrographic Notice, received from the Hydrographer to the Admiralty, is published for general information.

THOMAS DICK,
Acting for the Minister in charge of the Marine Department.

HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICE (No. 37).—PACIFIC OCEAN NOTICE (No. 61), SOUTH-WESTERN PART.

Solomon Islands.

THE following information relating to the Solomon Islands has been received from Lieutenant Frederick Elton, H.M.S. “Diamond,” Captain Alfred T. Dale, 1882. All bearings are magnetic. Variation in 1882, 8° 6′ E. :—

Malayta Island: The bay upon the north-east coast, in latitude 8° 45′ S., longitude 161° E., is about eight to ten miles wide from Cape Arsacides to the point forming the south limit. A large low island, of a horse-shoe shape, the concave side to the S.S.W., and from the extremities of which reefs extend about half a mile, is situated nearly in the centre of the bay. Between this island and the land at the head of the bay there are several reefs and shoal-patches easily discernible from aloft when the sun is in a favourable position, but no dangers were seen from the masthead to the north of the island, and no anchorage was found around it except for small vessels.

Qui and Quahquahroo Harbours lie about three miles westward of the above-mentioned island, and may be identified by the two small islands, Qui and Rongahseayah.

Qui Harbour affords accommodation for two or three large vessels, the water shoaling gradually from 26 fathoms in the centre to the immediate vicinity of the reefs.

Quahquahroo Harbour is merely an arm of Qui Harbour, and is suitable for small vessels only.

At the northern part of Malayta Island a low thickly-wooded island, fringed with coral reefs, lies about two miles from the shore off Cape Simson, and several small islets were seen near the main land to the south-eastward.

Florida Island—Gaieta Village: At about half a cable S.S.E. of Flat-top Rock, off Gaieta Village, is a coral patch not easily seen, upon which 3 fathoms least water was found. A larger shoal and more easily discernible, upon which 3⅔ fathoms least water was found, lies about a quarter of a mile west of Flat-top Rock. Anchorage: The “Diamond” found temporary anchorage, the day being calm, in 17 fathoms, coral and sand, in a small bay westward of Flat-top Rock.

Nogu Island has been expunged from the charts, it having been reported upon good authority to be identical with Sesarga Island.

The island lying two and a half miles east of Gaieta Village is named Mandoliana.

Sandfly Passage—Anchorage: The “Diamond” moored, head and stern, in 17 fathoms mud, off the village of Nago, in a small harbour, the approach to which is narrow but deep, near the middle of the south shore of Sandfly Passage. Directions: To find this obscure anchorage when entering Sandfly Passage from the south-westward, keep mid-channel until a well-defined conical hill, with a rounded knoll to seaward of it, is seen to form the north-east boundary of a comparatively deep bay. Enter this bay with the conical hill upon the port-hand, pass between some coral reefs and patches easily seen with the sun astern, proceed to the extreme head of the bay and anchor.

Tides: Along the southern coast of Florida Island the flood-stream was found to run to the westward.

Eddies and rips were observed to cover much space between Florida and Guadalcanar Islands. These eddies, having the appearance of shallow water, render the shoals more difficult to distinguish.

Russell Islands—Anchorage: In passing through the central channel of these islands anchorage was found in a small inlet, about mid-way upon the eastern shore, in 20 fathoms, mud and coral, with just room to swing, in latitude 9° 4′ S., longitude 159° 7½ E. Anchorage was obtained at the head of an inlet in latitude 9° 2′ S., longitude 159° 5′ E., to the south-east of Nono Island, in 23 fathoms, with swinging room. No anchorage could be found in Paddy Bay, south of Kobiloko Island.

Current: The “Diamond” found a current setting to the southward, one knot per hour, in the channel between Guadalcanar and San Christoval Islands upon each of the three occasions of her visit.

Hydrographic Office, Admiralty,
London, 18th December, 1882.

Notice to Mariners.—No. 4 of 1883.

HAURAKI GULF, NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND.—EXHIBITION OF LIGHT ON MOKO HINOU ISLAND, AND ALTERATION TO TIRI TIRI LIGHT.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 29th March, 1883.

WITH reference to Notice to Mariners No. 35 of 1882, dated the 6th December last, it is hereby notified that the exhibition of Moko Hinou Light, and the alteration to Tiri Tiri Light, will not take place until about the month of June next, instead of April as previously advertised.

THOMAS DICK,
Acting for the Minister in charge of the Marine Department.

Volunteer Officers promoted.

Defence Office,
Wellington, 4th April, 1883.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to make the under-mentioned promotion :—

D Battery of Artillery.

Lieutenant Matthew McCredie to be Captain. Date of commission, 5th March, 1883.

Wm. ROLLESTON.

Volunteer Officers transferred to Unattached List.

Defence Office,
Wellington, 4th April, 1883.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve of the under-mentioned Volunteer Officers being transferred to the unattached list, with the rank of Major :—

Captain John Albert Young, No. 1 Temuka (Canterbury) Rifle Volunteers.

Captain William Anderson, Auckland Engineer Volunteers.

Captain Henry Slater, Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Volunteers.

Captain Samuel Neill, Wanganui Rifle Cadet Volunteers.

Commissions to date from the 3rd April, 1883.

JOHN BRYCE.

Volunteer Corps disbanded.

Defence Office,
Wellington, 4th April, 1883.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to disband the under-mentioned corps :—

The Auckland Engineer Volunteers.

The Dunedin Naval Cadet Volunteers.

The under-mentioned gentlemen therefore cease to be officers in the Volunteer Force, their commissions having lapsed under “The Volunteer Act, 1881 :”—

Thomas Litchfield Stanley, late Captain, Dunedin Naval Cadet Volunteers.

Edward Shillington, late Lieutenant, Auckland Engineer Volunteers.

John Shaw, late Sub-Lieutenant, Auckland Engineer Volunteers.

Honorary Assistant-Surgeon Robert Burrows, late Dunedin Naval Cadet Volunteers.

Wm. ROLLESTON.

Volunteer Officers resigned.

Defence Office,
Wellington, 4th April, 1883.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to accept the resignation of the commissions held by the under-mentioned officers :—

B Battery of Artillery.

Lieutenant James Frederick Peake. Date of resignation, 13th February, 1883.

Stoke Rifle Volunteers.

Sub-Lieutenant William Dickson Harkness. Date of resignation, 6th March, 1883.

Waimea Rifle Volunteers.

Sub-Lieutenant William Bird. Date of resignation, 20th March, 1883.

Wm. ROLLESTON.