552

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 28

It is also notified that on and after Monday, the 12th day of March, until and including Saturday, the 31st day of March, 1894, small floating buoys will occasionally be moored to the north of an imaginary line between Nos. 5 and 9 black buoys, South Channel.

By order.

ALEXR. WILSON,

Port Officer.

Harbour Office, Customs, Melbourne, 8th March, 1894.

Notice to Mariners, No. 16 of 1894.

Marine Department,

Wellington, 2nd April, 1894.

THE following Hydrographic Notice, received from His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, Australian Station, is published for general information:-

J. G. WARD.

SYDNEY, SOLOMON ISLANDS, SAMOAN ISLANDS, QUEENSLAND, HOBART, ETC.

"Orlando," at Akaroa, 6th March, 1894.

Hydrographic Notice No. 1.

THE following information received from various ships is hereby promulgated:-

Hydrographic Remarks.

1. Sydney, New South Wales-

No. 4 Buoy, Farm Cove, is now placed S.S.E., 119 yards from its old position, as given in Chart 1890.

Garden Island flagstaff is now placed S. 10° E., 49ft. 3in. (or 16½ yards) from the spot marked "Summer House" on Chart 1890.

2. Solomon Islands, Rendova Harbour, 9ft. patch-

A 1½-fathom patch lies S. by E., ½ cable from its position as shown on the plan; from it the south-east point of Simpson Island bears N. 43½° E., 1½ cables. Three-fathom patch exists where the 1½-fathom patch is now marked.

A buoy (10-gallon rum-cask, painted red), moored with a small chain to a coral head, has been placed on the new position.

Chart affected: Plan of Rendova Harbour, sheet 214.

Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. i. (Western Groups), 2nd edition, 1890, page 405.

3. Solomon Islands, Brougham Shoal-

The Brougham Shoal lies twelve miles S. 15½° E. from C. Pitt. It is about one mile and a half in diameter, least water hitherto obtained being 6 fathoms. Further examination is being made. It is clearly visible under favourable conditions of light.

Position: Latitude, 9° 2' S.; longitude, 158° 14½' E. (approximate). From western extreme of shoal, Mount Rendova, N. 76° W.; Kisa Island, N. 31° E.; summit Russell Island, N. 85° E.

Chart affected: No. 214, Solomon Islands.

Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. i. (Western Groups), 2nd edition, 1890, page 392.

4. Coral Shoal, Louisiade Archipelago-

A coral shoal, with apparently 3 to 4 fathoms on its shoalest part, exists about 50 yards to the southward of the position assigned by the bearings given.

Position: Latitude, 10° 30' S.; longitude, 151° 40' E. (approximate). Cape Pierson, N. 44° W.; centre of Dawson Island, N. 77° W.; south point Hastings Island, N. 41° E.

Charts affected: Nos. 2123 and 2764.

Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol i. (Western Groups), 2nd edition, page 213.

5. Pango Pango Harbour, Samoan Group-

A small shoal patch of 3 fathoms exists in the following position: Extreme of land at Loa Loa, 35° 40'; Observation Point, 34° 50'; red-roofed house, Tonga Tonga.

Chart affected: No. 1730, Samoan Islands.

Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., page 66.

6. Sea Volcano, Manua Group, Samoan Islands-

The volcano in the sea between Tau and Olosega (Manua Group) is rising, and where 90 fathoms was reported by H.M.S. "Falcon" in 1866, there now is only 25 fathoms or less.

Chart affected: No. 1730, Samoan Islands.

Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., page 64.

7. Nandi Waters, West Coast of Viti Levu-

The master of the s.s. "Fiona" reports a shoal (Fiona Patch) lying from Curaçoa Rock, S.W. ¼° W., one mile and five-sixths. H.M.S. "Rapid," while proceeding to the northward, discovered several discoloured patches in the neighbourhood. The two Sand Cays (so called), which bear from Curaçoa Rock N. 46° W., one mile and a quarter, and N. 79° W., two miles, respectively, are coral patches just awash.

Position: Latitude, 17° 47' 15" S.; Longitude, 177° 16' 30" E.

Charts affected: Nos. 845 and 2691.

Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., pages 136 and 144.

8. Dongaloa Reef, North Coast of Viti Levu-

This reef, north-east of Ba anchorage, is about twice the length shown on the chart, the western end lying with the eastern entrance to Ba River, bearing about S. by W. A few mangrove bushes lie on its western end, not eastern, as stated in Sailing Directions, page 145.

Chart affected: No. 2691.

Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., page 145.

9. Vanua Levu, Barrier Reef-

A coral patch, with 6ft. (approximate) of water over it, lies inside the Vanua Levu barrier reef, where 17 fathoms are shown on the chart, with Sesaleka Point N. 29° W.; it can be clearly seen with the sun in a favourable position.

Chart affected: No. 2691.

Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., pages 168 and 169.

10. Princess Charlotte Bay-

The following soundings were obtained while H.M.S. "Paluma" was searching for the dangers reported in Admiralty Notice to Mariners, No. 393 of 1893; the positions given being approximate:-

Five fathoms and a quarter: Latitude, 14° 7' 20" S.; longitude, 143° 56' E.; Dhu Reef beacon, N. 87° E., distance four miles.

Five fathoms and three-quarters: Latitude, 14° 12' 30" S.; longitude, 143° 55' E.; north extreme Cliff Island, S. 83° W., distance nine miles.

Six fathoms: Latitude 14° 12' S.; longitude, 143° 57' 15" E.; north extreme Cliff Island, S. 81° W., distance eleven miles.

Chart affected: No. 2922.

Sailing directions: Australian Directory, Vol. ii., 1889, page 366, and Supplement, 1892, page 37.

11. Shoal off Snake Island, D'Entrecasteaux Channel-

A rocky shoal lying in a N.W. by W. and S.E. by E. direction, 250 yards long by 120 yards broad, with a depth of 6ft. L.W.S., exists 2½ cables S.S.W. of Snake Island, D'Entrecasteaux Channel.

Position: Latitude, 43° 10' 50" S.; longitude, 147° 17' 50' E. (approximate).

Charts affected: Nos. 960 and 1079.

Sailing directions: Australian Directory, Vol. i., 1884, page 509.

12. New Zealand, Awarua-

The red buoy moored in mid-channel, southward of Tewaewae Point, has no staff and globe, but is an ordinary conical buoy.

Position: Latitude, 46° 36' 38" S.; longitude, 168° 23' E.; Stirling Point Lighthouse, S. by E. ¼° E., 6 cables; Tewaewae Rock beacon, E. by N., 5½ cables.

Chart affected: No. 2540.

Sailing directions: New Zealand Pilot, 6th edition, 1891, page 329.

13. Half-Moon Bay, Stewart Island-

A sunken rock exists with 10ft. water at low-water springs. Position may be recognised by extensive kelp growing round the spot.

Position: Latitude, 46° 53' 27" S.; longitude, 168° 10' 4" E.; Rock Islet in bay 93°, Akers Point 72°, north-east point of bay.

Chart affected: No. 2541.

Sailing directions: New Zealand Pilot, 6th edition, 1891, page 340.

14. Abbott Passage, Stewart Island-

A sunken rock, with 18ft. of water (approximate) at low-water springs, is reported by fishermen at Oban. It was unsuccessfully searched for by H.M.S. "Lizard" in December, 1893.

Position (doubtful): Latitude, 46° 53' S.; longitude, 168° 14' E.; north bluff of Akers Point, S. 53° W.; eastern extreme of Passage Island, S. 13° E.

Chart affected: No. 2541.

Sailing directions: New Zealand Pilot, 6th edition, 1891, page 340.

The following Hydrographic Notices are hereby cancelled: No. 18 of 1890; No. 7 of 1891; Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5 of 1892; and Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of 1893.

N. BOWDEN-SMITH,

Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.

The respective Officers Commanding

H.M. Ships, &c., Australian Station.