MAY 17.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 625

Winds and Weather: During the months of June, July, and August the prevailing winds are between E.S.E. and N.N.E. Breezes from the north or N.N.W. are accompanied with squalls and rain.

Tides: It is high water, full and change, at 6 hours 40 minutes; springs rise 6 feet. In the Bay of Matautui the tide ebbs eight hours and flows four hours. The sea washing over the Barrier Reef sometimes makes the tide irregular.

Honikulu Pass: The southern opening in the barrier reef leading into Allier Bay is practicable for a steamer, but sailing vessels should not enter unless with a fair wind and upon the first of the flood-tide. The channel is easily recognized, being west of Fenua-fu Island, the south island of the group, the fringing reef of which extends about one cable westward, and forms the eastern side of the Pass. Upon the west side of the Pass the wreck of the “L’Hermitte” will be seen.

Directions: Having arrived off the Pass at low water, bring the south-east point of Nukuatea Island to bear N.N.E., and open to the westward of Fenua-fu Island, which mark will lead in. Care should be taken to give the north point of Fenua-fu Island a berth of at least 1½ cables. Upon the ebb-tide there are strong eddies, which must be crossed with speed, and borrowing upon the western side of the Pass, both upon entering and leaving; upon the flood-tide the eddies are scarcely noticeable.

The tide has been reported to run in the Pass at the rate of eight knots an hour, but recent observations give a maximum of six knots; slack water lasts about fifteen minutes.

Pilots: Native pilots from Mua will board the vessel off Honikulu Pass. Too much confidence must not be placed in them, for they are unaccustomed to large vessels. The reefs can be seen from aloft under favourable circumstances, with the sun astern. The charge for pilotage is 10 piastres each way, whatever tonnage the ship may be.

Allier Bay—Anchorage: When bound for this anchorage, and well within the Honikulu Pass, steer for the north point of Faioa Island. When Sail Rock bears N. ¾ W., and the south point of Nukuatea Island W.S.W., anchor in 22 fathoms—sand and coral. This anchorage is, however, inconveniently far from the shore.

Mua Anchorage: There are two channels to this anchorage, one to the east the other to the west of Nuku Akimoa. The commander of the “Vaudreuil” recommends the eastern one.

Eastern Channel—Directions: Steer as directed for the anchorage in Allier Bay until the west point of Nuku Fetau bears N.N.W., when the channel between the banks extending eastward from Nuku Akimoa, and a reef with 1 fathom over it, will be seen; the most favourable time being in the forenoon.

The channel first takes a W.N.W. direction, and when the west point of Nuku Fetau bears N. ¾ W. steer for it until Nuku Akimoa bears S.W. ¾ S.; then alter course N.W. ¾ N. for the anchorage in 8 fathoms—sand, with Mua Steeple (a dark-coloured stone tower among the trees) bearing N.W. by N., distant one mile from Mua Village. Landing is difficult at low water.

Matautui—Anchorage: There is anchorage off Matautui Village, which can be reached by an intricate channel (in which the tide runs four knots) from Allier Bay, near the north extreme of the Faioa Island.

A local pilot and a good look-out from aloft are the best guides: the weather should be clear, and the sun in the south-east.

Landing is easy at high water a little north of the church. Two miles north of Matautui the channel is completely obstructed by sandbanks.

Samoa or Navigator Islands.

Savaii Island—Falelima: There is no anchorage at Falelima, upon the west coast of Savaii Island. There is, however, a boat-harbour, but landing is possible only at high water.

Safoone Road affords anchorage in 13 fathoms during the south-east winds, but there is usually much swell. There are two boat-passages to the shore through the barrier reef: the western one is the best, although the farthest from the settlement. If there is much swell the eastern passage is practicable at high water only.

Upolu Island—Apia Harbour: When sighting Apia some houses with red roofs are prominent objects: they are situated well up the hill-side, and can be seen before the town or shipping.

Saluafata Harbour, situated in a bay nine miles east of Apia, is about half a mile square, protected from the swell by coral reefs, through which the channel is 2 cables wide. The western side of the bay is occupied by a reef 3 to 7 cables from the shore, upon which are two small islets, and having a boat-passage inshore of it.

Beacon: A pyramidal beacon, having a triangular-shaped head, and painted white, has been erected upon Ariadne Point, 114 feet above the sea. It shows well against the wooded hills behind it, and serves as a mark for recognizing the harbour.

Anchorage in 6 to 7 fathoms (fine sand) will be obtained about two cables S.S.E. of the eastern of the two small islets before mentioned. The western part of the harbour is preferable, as being the most sheltered.

Pilots: A native pilot can be obtained at Saluafata.

Fangaloa Bay, upon the north-east coast of Upolu, is an inlet two and a half miles in length. N.E. ½ E. and S.W. ½ W., one mile wide between the entrance-points, midway between which the depth is 56 fathoms, decreasing gradually to 6 fathoms at the head of the bay. The shores are fringed by coral reefs extending from 1 to 2½ cables from the coast, the outer edges of which dry at low water.

A detached shoal, having 14 feet water over it, is reported to lie N.W. by N., distant 3¼ cables from Lena Village, upon the south shore.

Nautilus Bank, upon which there is a depth of 9 fathoms, lies with Mount Apia bearing W. by S., Mount Fao S.E. ¾ E., and Albatross Island (in Saluafata Harbour) bearing S.S.E. ½ E.

Falealili Harbour, upon the south coast of Upolu, is sheltered from northerly winds only, and is very small. The entrance is difficult to recognize, narrow, and obstructed by outlying reefs.

Notice to Mariners.—No. 11 of 1883.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 11th May, 1883.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the Portmaster, Brisbane, and the President of the Marine Board, Sydney, are published for general information.

H. A. ATKINSON.

NEW CUTTING AND PROPOSED ALTERATION OF LIGHTS AT THE BAR OF THE RIVER BRISBANE.

Towards the latter end of May it is expected that the straight cutting across the bar of the Brisbane River will be completed to a width of 200 feet. When this is effected the channel will be shown by two lighthouses, 1,433 yards apart, placed on the Fisherman Islands.

The lighthouses in line will lead through the cutting at a distance of 50 feet from the eastern edge of the channel. Vessels going out will therefore keep the lighthouses in line, while those entering must keep them open to the westward when meeting another vessel in the cutting.

By night the lower or northern leading light will be red.

The lightship will at the same time be moored outside the bar, and on the eastern side of the cutting during the erection of the pile lighthouse, and from her the tidal signals will be made as usual. She will lie in about 3 fathoms at low water, and all vessels entering the cutting are to pass to the northward and westward of her, and thus keep clear of the piles for the pile lighthouse, which will be placed to the southward of the lightship.

G. P. HEATH, Commander, R.N.,
Portmaster.

Department of Ports and Harbours,
Brisbane, 23rd April, 1883.

ELECTRIC LIGHT, SOUTH HEAD, PORT JACKSON.

On and after the night of Friday, the 1st June, the light now in use on the old tower at the Macquarie Lighthouse will be discontinued, and the electric light from the new tower exhibited in lieu thereof.

The electric light will be of considerably greater power than the old light, and in revolving it will show its greatest brilliancy every minute, in place of the minute and a half as at present; but its range and general effect will, for all practical purposes of navigation, be the same.

FRANCIS HIXSON,
President.

Office of the Marine Board of New South Wales,
Sydney, 25th April, 1883.

Notice to Mariners.—No. 12 of 1883.

SUNKEN ROCK, SMITH SOUND, DOUBTFUL INLET.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 14th May, 1883.

FROM observations made by Captain Grey, of the s.s. “Stella,” it has been ascertained that the rock inside Rolla Island, Smith Sound, Doubtful Inlet, on which a vessel recently struck, is situated about half-way across to the point at the entrance to Deep Cove. It lies in about an easterly and westerly direction, is about 40 feet long and 15 feet wide, has 10 feet of water on the shallowest part, and bears from Rolla Island about S.E. ½ E.

H. A. ATKINSON.