Sept. 9.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1097

sheet 1; 2759B, Australia General Chart, Southern Portion;
also Australia Directory, Vol. i., 1884, pages 403 and 408.

G. TRYON,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.

LAUGHLIN ISLANDS AND EAST COAST OF NEW GUINEA.
(General Memorandum No. 79.)

H.M.S. "Nelson," at Sydney,
29th June, 1886.

THE following information, received from Captain Brooke, of
H.M.S. "Opal," is hereby promulgated:—

1. A shoal patch extending in a north and south direction
   about one and a half miles, and having 8½, 9, and 13 fathoms
   over it, lies between the Laughlin Islands and Cannac Rock,
   the bottom, which is plainly visible, being coral with de-
   tached rocks. From the discoloured appearance of the
   water there appears to be shoal ground of considerable
   extent in the neighbourhood. Approximate position of north
   end of shoal in 9 fathoms, lat. 9° 18′ S., long. 153° 30′ E.

Charts affected: No. 2764, Coral Sea, sheet 2; No. 214,
Solomon Islands; also Pacific Islands, Vol. i., page 139, and
South Pacific Directory, page 939.

2. A patch of discoloured water was observed and passed
   close to about midway between Hull Islet and Mid Sand-
   bank on the east coast of New Guinea. Directly after pass-
   ing, the following bearings were taken: Left extreme of
   Lydia Island, N. 57° W.; Cocked Hat, N. 35° W.; right
   extreme, Grace Islet, N. 13° W.; left extreme, Hull Islet,
   N. 57½° E.: bearings magnetic. Approximate position, lat.
   10° 24′ 30″ S., long. 151° 8′ 30″ E. This patch is situated
   N.W. by W. ½ W., two and a half miles from two patches
   marked "Discoloured Water" on Chart No. 2123, New
   Guinea, sheet 7, corrected to January, 1886.

Charts affected: No. 2123, New Guinea, sheet 7; also
Australia Directory, Vol. ii., page 560.

G. TRYON,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.

HERALD PASS, GREAT ASTROLABE REEF, KANDAVU ISLANDS,
FIJI.

(General Memorandum No. 85.)

H.M.S. "Nelson," at Moreton Bay,
18th July, 1886.

THE following information, received from Captain Clayton,
of "H.M.S. "Diamond," is hereby promulgated:—

He reports that, when leaving the Astrolabe Reef by the
Herald Pass on the 4th June, 1886, the "Diamond" touched
upon a coral head just within the entrance of the Pass and
in a position between soundings marked 21 and 22 fathoms.

Approximate position of the danger: Vanua Kula Island,
N.E. ¼ N.; north extreme, Ndravuni Island, E. by N. ½ N.;
south extreme, Ndravuni Island, E. ½ S.

The danger being situated just within the fairway, great
precaution is hereby enjoined on all vessels using the Herald
Pass.

It is necessary that the precise position of this new danger
should be accurately ascertained on the first opportunity, as
its position is only approximately known at present. It is
reported that this danger was not observed from aloft,
although the other reefs were clearly in sight on the occasion
referred to herein.

Bearings magnetic.

Chart affected: No. 167, Kandavu Island and Passage:
also Sailing Directions for the Fiji Islands and Adjacent
Waters, 1882, pages 22 and 23.

G. TRYON,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.

ALLIER BAY, URA OR WALLIS ISLAND.
(General Memorandum No. 87.)

H.M.S. "Nelson," at Sydney,
6th August, 1886.

THE following information, compiled from a report received
from Commander Rooke, of H.M.S. "Miranda," is hereby
promulgated:—

The plan of Allier Bay (from a French Government survey
in 1877) on Admiralty Chart No. 987, plans of islands in the
South Pacific, corrected to September, 1883, is very inaccu-
rate.

Several heads of coral reefs not marked on the chart exist.
The deepest water between the reefs in the passage to Mua
anchorage, indicated by a dotted line on the chart, is 2½
fathoms, while a passage to the westward of the 2½-fathom
shoal shown on the chart, in which 3½ and 4½ fathoms are
marked, is blocked by a reef, on which the "Miranda"
touched.

The greatest caution is therefore necessary when proceed-
ing to the inner of Mua anchorage. The services of the
natives as pilots, although not altogether trustworthy, will be
found useful.

Two channels, neither of which appear on the chart, were
pointed out to H.M.S. "Miranda" by the natives, and used
with safety.

To enter by the western channel, which carries 14ft. to 15ft.
at low-water springs, proceed according to the sailing direc-
tions in the Pacific Islands Directory, Vol. ii. (Central
Groups), 1885, page 28, up to passing Sail Rock; then bring
a clump of trees on the summit of the hill in line with the
west extreme of Nuku Fetau Island, bearing N. by E. ½ E.,
which will lead over the sandbank in 14ft. to 15ft. at low
water. Nuku Fetau Island can be approached within one
cable.

To leave the anchorage by the eastern channel, which is
recommended by the officers of H.M.S. "Miranda," as it is
50 yards wide and has a least depth of 21ft. at low-water
springs, steer for the left extreme of Faioa Island until the
left extreme of trees on Entrance Island comes on with Sail
Rock, bearing S. 25° W. Proceed on this mark, passing
close to the reef, and haul out for the centre of Nuku Atea
Island until the clump of trees on the hill comes on with the
left extreme of Naku Fetau, N. by E. ½ E.

Bearings magnetic.

Charts affected: No. 987, Plans of Islands in South Pacific;
also Pacific Islands Directory, Vol. ii. (Central Groups),
1885, pages 26 to 29.

G. TRYON,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.

Tenders.

Public Works Office,
Wellington, 1st September, 1886.

THE following list of successful and unsuccessful ten-
ders is published for general information.

EDWARD RICHARDSON,
Minister for Public Works.

GREYMOUTH—HOKITIKA RAILWAY.—ARAHURA BRIDGE CON-
TRACT.

Accepted.
£ s. d.
R. McKenzie and Co., Greymouth .. .. 7,160 12 0

Declined.
Black and Allison, Dunedin .. .. 7,703 18 4
John McCormick, Dunedin .. .. 7,996 0 0
John Whittaker, Dunedin .. .. 8,049 11 0
E. J. T. Price, Hokitika .. .. 8,400 0 0
Alexander Bain, Dunedin .. .. 8,494 0 0
Perotti and Fraser, Greymouth .. .. 8,773 10 0
Hungerford and McKay, Greymouth .. 8,818 4 9
J. McLean and Sons, Wellington .. .. 8,967 6 4
John Maher, Hokitika .. .. 9,400 0 0
W. J. Reynolds, Hokitika .. .. 11,979 0 6

Tenders.

Public Works Office,
Wellington, 3rd September, 1886.

THE following list of successful and unsuccessful tenders
is published for general information.

EDWARD RICHARDSON,
Minister for Public Works.

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.—HUNTERVILLE CON-
TRACT.

Accepted.
£ s. d.
Jesse Coates, Palmerston South .. .. 14,242 14 8

Declined.
Matheson Brothers, Dunedin .. .. 16,750 12 0
Alexander and Macfarlane, Wanganui .. 17,184 2 11
Scally and O'Connor, Wanganui .. .. 17,478 1 10
A. and D. Wilkie and J. Wilson, Wanganui.. 18,143 19 4
M. Danaher, Wellington .. .. 19,200 0 0
Mace and Bassett, Belgrove .. .. 20,348 0 0
Thomas Denby, Wanganui .. .. 20,397 0 0
Duncan Sinclair, Wellington .. .. 22,040 2 0

Notice of Intention to take Land for the Construction of
Defence Works at Deborah Bay, Port Chalmers.

NOTICE is hereby given that it is proposed, under the
provisions of "The Public Works Act, 1882," and
"The Public Works Act 1882 Amendment Act, 1885," to
execute a certain public work, to wit, the construction of
works for the purpose of defence at Deborah Bay, Port
Chalmers, and for the purpose of such public work the land
mentioned in the Schedule hereto is required to be taken;
and notice is further given that the plans of the said works
and of the land so required to be taken are deposited in the
Public Works Office at Dunedin, and are there open for
inspection: And notice is hereby given that all persons
affected by the execution of the said public work or by the
taking of the said land shall, if they have any well-