28

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 2

Yengen to Pouebo.—Three miles north-west of Port Yengen lies a reef, upon which are the islands Ieh-Hingen and Tilguit, also a small sandy islet. The north-east point of the reef has foul ground off it, and must be given a good berth; there is no passage between the islands or reefs even for a small craft.

A sunken reef lies one mile and three-quarters north-east from Wiciem, having shoal spots of 2 and 2½ fathoms on it.

Barrier Reefs: Puail Pass.—This pass is deep but narrow, and is obstructed by coral knolls lying off the extremities of the reefs; vessels are not recommended to use it; they can, however, do so if necessary by keeping the two fir trees to the northward of Puail bearing W. ½ S., or Mount Panié bearing W.S.W. The large waterfall situated on the Puail River at a low elevation may serve to recognize the pass.

Tao Pass.—This pass is wider than that of Puail, but has two coral patches, over which there is a depth of 4½ fathoms, lying nearly mid-channel. Off the north-west extremity of South Reef there is a dangerous coral head nearly awash, and half a mile N.W. by W. of the same reef there lies a shoal of 10 feet. The flood tide entering this pass sets to the W.S.W.

Leleizour Passage.—The navigable portion of this passage is 3½ cables wide, the shallow water extending for a considerable distance from the reefs upon both sides of it. The south-east side of the passage is the better. Vessels will approach the passage by bringing Tao Cascade upon the bearing S. 31° E., when a sharp look-out must be kept for the reefs.

Having entered through Leleizour Passage, and if bound for Ubati, a course W. by S. for two miles will bring the vessel off the small pass of Yembe through the inner reefs; but if bound for Pouébo the low point, Madiémati, should be steered for. This point may be recognized by a clump of pine trees upon it.

Seine Reef.—This reef extends from Leleizour Passage eight miles in a W.N.W. direction to Pouébo Passage, about three miles E.S.E. of which is an opening into a lagoon in the reef. Caution must be observed not to mistake this opening for Pouébo Passage.

Landmarks.—From outside the barrier reefs in the vicinity of Leleizour Passage the cascade of Tao is the most conspicuous mark, and may generally be seen. The clump of pine trees on Madiémate Point and the church of Pouébo also form good marks, and in fine weather the blockhouse at Balade will be seen.

Douit Peak and the summits of the mountains near this portion of the coast are frequently clouded over for half their elevation.

The Coast.—From Yengen to Pouébo the mountains slope gradually to the coast, except in the vicinity of Wiciem River, where they rise abruptly from the sea to a height of 2,600 feet.

Between Panié and Tiaué a range of mountains with a number of sharp ridges, the highest of which attains an elevation of 5,570 feet, traverses the country in a north-westerly direction. This is the highest part of New Caledonia.

In the ravines are many fine cascades, some of which form good sea-marks, notably the cascade of Tao, which can be seen a great distance from the north-westward.

Wiciem River can be entered in a boat only at times and in fine weather, this part of the coast being exposed to the force of the easterly swell.

Ubati.—This part of the coast may be recognized by the cocoanut plantation upon it. Good anchorage may be obtained westward of the point in 4 fathoms, sand and mud bottom, where the vessel will be sheltered from winds of all directions.

A military post was established at Ubati in 1869.

Panié Passage.—The best mode of navigating this passage is by keeping a good look-out from aloft, and to follow the line of the shore reef. When sailing along this coast vessels should be prepared for heavy gusts of wind out of the ravines. Anchorage in 16 fathoms, mud bottom, can be obtained in mid-channel, with the mouth of Panié River bearing W. ½ S.

A red beacon marks the position of a shoal with 10 feet over it situated nearly mid-channel.

Proceeding northward a wide berth should be given to the mangrove point situated 1½ north-west of Puail, two coral heads of 10 feet and 3 feet respectively lie outside the fringing reef. The inshore route should be followed to Cape Colnett, taking care to avoid the foul ground extending from the cape by giving it a berth of 6 cables; thence, if bound for Ubati, a course N.W. by W. ¾ W. should be steered for Tiaué Channel.

Tiaué Channel: Beacons.—A red beacon has been placed upon the edge of the reef forming the south side of the channel. A black beacon now replaces the white beacon which formerly marked the 6-foot patch in the centre of the channel, and a white beacon replaces the black beacon formerly marking the edge of the dry reef upon the north side of the channel.

Yembé Pass.—This pass through the inner reefs to the north-west of Tiaué Channel is deep and safe. The conspicuous red patch upon the mountain in the rear of Yembé, bearing S. 65½° W., leads through. Care, however, must be taken to avoid the patch of 19 feet a little northward of this track, and inside the reefs; when Ubati Point bears W.N.W. the vessel will be westward of it.

Cyclops Pass.—The next pass northward of Yembé is not recommended; it is full of patches, and has two sharp bends.

Ubati Pass.—This pass is marked by a black beacon upon the reef on the east side, and a white beacon upon the reef on the west side. A black-and-white buoy lies in 5 fathoms on the eastern side of the southern entrance to the pass.

Tidal Streams.—The flood stream running in a S. to S.S.E. direction impinges upon the coast at Wiciem, divides into two branches, one setting to the S.E. and the other to the N.W. through Panié Passage.

Between Puail and Leleizour Passage the flood tide sets to the S.E., and the ebb to the N.W.

In the inshore passage between Cape Colnett and Pouébo the flood stream sets to the N.W., and ebb to the S.E. and E.S.E.

Freycinet Passage: Beacons.—A white beacon has been placed upon the edge of the shore reef, in lat. 20° 18′ 40″ S., long. 164° 32′ 20″ E., approximate.

A black beacon has been placed upon the western edge of Freycinet Reef with Poudioué Island bearing S. 39° W.

The isle Poudioué has been cleared of vegetation, and a pyramidal beacon is erected upon it.

Pam Anchorage: Buoy.—A black buoy has been moored in 3¾ fathoms, upon the western extreme of the sandbank extending from Nen-diaran Point, and a beacon has been placed on the reef off the north extreme of Pam Island, with the white beacon on Taabame Reef bearing N. 72° W., and Arama Peak S. 37° W.

The shoal ground situated half a mile N.N.E. of Nendiaran Point has been ascertained to have a depth of 19 feet over it.

The accumulation of mud brought down by the Diahot River has raised a bank in Pam Bay (Durand Bay), which dries at spring tides for about one cable in diameter, situated 4½ cables N.E. by E. from the south summit of Pam Island. This bank extends farther to the northward as a narrow spit having from 13 to 16 feet water on it, and having a channel of 16 to 23 feet between the spit and the eastern shore of the bay.

Alcmène Channel: Beacons.—A black beacon has been placed upon the south extreme of Balabio Reef. A white beacon has been placed upon the northern edge of Taabame Reef

Devarenne Channel: Beacons.—A black beacon has been placed upon the western elbow of Balabio Reef at the southern entrance to Devarenne Channel, with Balabio Peak bearing N. 21° E.

Two white beacons mark respectively the eastern and northern edges of the Devarenne Reef: from the eastern beacon Balabio Peak bears N. 37° E., and from the northern one Oumap Point bears south. A black beacon has been placed upon the western edge of Balabio Reef at the northern entrance to Devarenne Channel, with Tahanlagh Islet bearing N. 20° E.

North Huon Island: Rock.—A coral-head, over which there is a depth of 16 feet, lies westward of North Huon Island, with the north extreme of that island bearing N. 60° E., and the south extreme S. 59° E.

Koumac Passage: Infernet Rock.—A beacon, painted black, elevated about 10 feet above water, has been placed upon Infernet Rock.

Shoal.—A shoal, over which there is a depth of 16 feet, lies 5½ cables northward of Infernet Rock, with the beacon in line with the west extreme of Kendec Island. It is stated that this shoal is two-thirds of a cable in diameter, and has 4 fathoms around.

A red beacon has been placed upon a small detached reef, situated one and one-third miles S.E. of Kendec Island, with Table Island seen open just east of Kendec Island.

Peterson Reef.—A shoal, upon which there is a depth of 2½ fathoms, has been found by the French Government transport “La Dives,” lying 3½ cables south-east from Peterson Reef.

Port Mouéo: Shoals.—A coral patch, about 1¼ cables long, in an east and west direction, has been found to lie with the south point of Nepoui Peninsula bearing about N.W. by W. distant 3½ cables.

A beacon is placed upon an isolated rock, from which the west extreme of Grimoult Island bears N. 20° E., and the south point of Didot Island N. 70° E.

At 3 cables S. 17° E. from the above beacon lies a rock with 6 feet water over it, and N. 70° E. distant 5½ cables from the same beacon is another rock having 13 feet water over it.

A beacon has been placed upon the 3-foot patch, situated E. ½ N. from the pass, about 7 cables within it.

The western edge of the Shore Reef of Grimoult Island is marked by a perch surmounted by a triangle; from the perch the south point of Béco Peninsula is in line with the south point of Grimoult Island.

A white board, 17 feet high by 6 feet wide, has been erected upon the Nepoui Peninsula; also similar marks upon Ié Island and Béco Peninsula, to serve as leading marks.

Directions.—The beacon on Béco Peninsula kept in line