2026
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 94

Notice to Mariners, No. 35 of 1896.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 7th December, 1896.

THE following Hydrographic Notices, received from His
Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, Austra-
lian Station, are published for general information.

W. C. WALKER,
For Minister of Marine.

AUSTRALIAN STATION.
"Orlando," at Port Melbourne,
26th October, 1896.

(Hydrographic Notice No. 29.)

Shoals inside Barrier Reefs.

1. INFORMATION has been received from H.M.S. "Dart"
   that Tanadice Rock is situated in latitude 12° 39′ 52″ S.,
   longitude 143° 31′ 18″ E., and from it the summit of Restora-
   tion Rock bears N. 59° W., 4·3 miles. The rock is situated
   on the N.W. corner of a shoal about 6½ cables long in a
   N.W. and S.E. direction, and is about 4 cables broad.
   There is 5ft. of water on the rock at low water ordinary
   springs, and 3 to 7 fathoms, coral, on the shoal. It is steep-
   to on its north side, and 10 to 16 fathoms close round the
   remainder.

2. Foul ground extends off the western edge of Bih (b)
   Reef for half a mile, and it is not safe to approach.

3. The north point of Lansdown Reef has 2 fathoms on it,
   and 9 to 10 fathoms close to the northward. It is situated
   in latitude 12° 48′ 10″ S., longitude 143° 33′ 30″ E. From the
   north point the reef trends S. 43° E. 6 cables, then S. 31° E.
   1½ miles. Southward of this the reef is correctly charted.
   Charts affected: 2920, 2921, 2764.
   Sailing directions: Australia, Vol. ii., pages 374 and 376.
   (H.M.S. "Dart," Note No. 4, 11th September, 1896:
   Office No. 87.)

CYPRIAN A. G. BRIDGE,
Rear-Admiral.

To the respective captains, commanders, and
officers commanding Her Majesty's ships and
vessels on the Australian Station.

AUSTRALIAN STATION.
"Orlando," at Port Melbourne, 29th October, 1896.
(Hydrographic Notice No. 30.)

1.—Rock off Ovalau, Fiji.

INFORMATION has been received of a small coral head about
30ft. in diameter, with 5ft. of water over it at low water
springs, and 6 to 7 fathoms around it. It lies in latitude
17° 36′ 32″ S., longitude 178° 43′ 23″ E., or W. by N. ½ N.
4½ miles from Tumana Peak, Ovalau Island.
Charts affected: 905, 1249.
Sailing directions: Pacific, Vol. ii., page 124.
("Waterwitch," Note No. 3, 14th September, 1896: Office
No. 87.)

2.—Gavutu Harbour, Solomon Islands.

Information has been received of the following additions
at Gavutu:—
South Beacon: A beacon 5ft. high, with a pole in the
centre, the whole being about 18ft. above low water, has
been erected in the following position: Eastern extremity of
Ghaomi Island 13° Pier, 32½° south extremity of Gavutu
Island.
North Beacon: Another beacon about 6ft. high, with a
pole in the centre, has been erected with eastern extremity
Ghaomi Island 34½° Pier, 84° south extremity of Gavutu
Island. A small buoy lies in 1½ fathoms N. 58° E., 80 yards
from the North Beacon, to mark the elbow of the reef. The
causeway joining Gavutu and Tanambogho Islands is now
completed.
Chart affected: 2658.
Sailing directions: Pacific, Vol. i., page 378.

3.—Ulawa, Solomon Islands.

Information has been received that the Mission-station is
situated half-way down the west coast of Ulawa Island, and
not on the N.W. corner as shown in Chart 214. Deep water
was found by H.M.S. "Pylades" half a mile from the shore
off the Mission-station.
Chart affected: 214.
Sailing directions: Pacific, Vol. i., page 369.
("Pylades," Notes Nos. 7 and 8, 20th and 24th September,
1896; Office Nos. 87.)

4.—Santa Cruz.

The following information has been received from H.M.S.
"Pylades," and agrees entirely with the observations taken
by H.M.S. "Orlando" during the visit to this island in
July, 1895:—
A very strong tide-rip extends across the entrance to
Graciosa Bay.
The remark shown on plan of Graciosa Bay, "Greatest
depth about 27 fathoms," is quite incorrect: 70 to 40 fathoms
were obtained by both the above-named ships when running
into the anchorage.
Tinakula Island, N.W. of Santa Cruz, is certainly in-
correctly charted, and appears to be three to five miles
S.E. of the position shown on chart. A great many of the
positions about this neighbourhood appear to be incorrectly
charted.
Chart affected: 17.
Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. i., Part i., page
349; Part ii., page 277.
("Pylades," Note No. 6, 15th September, 1896: Office
No. 87.)

5.—Rotumah Island.

Information has been received from H.M.S. "Penguin"
that the 1½-fathom patch shown as P.D. on Chart 987 is
situated with summit of Emery Island N. 16° W. 3½ miles,
and has 3 fathoms on it with deep water all round. It
breaks in heavy weather.
Chart affected: 987.
Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., page 219.
("Penguin," 6th October, 1896: Office No. 87.)

6.—Tongatabu.

With reference to Hydrographic Notice No. 21, of 29th
June, 1896, information has now been received that all the
buoys therein mentioned have been placed in their proper
positions, that on Campbell Rock being painted "white."
Two conical iron buoys painted "red" have (in addition)
been placed in the northern passage, one on Augusta Rock,
the other on Juno Reef.
Charts affected: 1385, 2363.
Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., pages 31-36.
(Vice-Consul, Tonga, 8th October, 1896: Office No. 85.)

CYPRIAN A. G. BRIDGE,
Rear-Admiral.

To the respective captains, commanders, and
officers commanding Her Majesty's ships
and vessels on the Australian Station.

AUSTRALIAN STATION.
"Orlando," at Port Melbourne,
10th November, 1896.

(Hydrographic Notice No. 32.)

Shoals on N.W. Coast of Ovalau Island, Fiji.

INFORMATION has been received from H.M.S. "Waterwitch"
of the following dangers off the N.W. coast of Ovalau
Island.
(1.) Latitude 17° 36′ 53″ S., longitude 178° 43′ 17″ E. This
is the position of the 1½-fathom patch S.E. of Naingani
Island.
(2.) Latitude 17° 36′ 55″ S., longitude 178° 43′ 8″ E.: 4ft.
rock close to (1).
(3.) Latitude 17° 36′ 9″ S., longitude 178° 44′ 38″ E.: 6-
fathoms coral patch.
(4.) Latitude 17° 37′ 52″ S., longitude 178° 44′ 38″ E.: 2½-
fathoms patch.
(5.) Latitude 17° 37′ 58″ S., longitude 178° 44′ 38″ E.: 4-
fathoms patch.
(6.) Latitude 17° 37′ 42″ S., longitude 178° 44′ 9″ E.: Coral
patch awash.
(7.) Latitude 17° 37′ 40″ S., longitude 178° 44′ 13″ E.: 4ft.
coral patch.
(8.) 23 fathoms were obtained on position of 1½-fathom
shoal, 2½ miles N.W. of Ovalau. The buoy does not exist.
(9.) Naingani Island appears to be to the eastward of
position now shown on chart.
(10.) The Harbourmaster at Levuka reports a 3-fathom
shoal ¼ of a mile N.N.E. from the rock reported in Aus-
tralian Station Hydrographic Notice No. 30 (1) of 29th
October, 1896.
Charts affected: 1249, 905.
Sailing directions: Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., page 124.
("Waterwitch," Note 4, 21st October, 1896: Office
No. 87.)

CYPRIAN A. G. BRIDGE,
Rear-Admiral.

To the respective captains, commanders, and
officers commanding Her Majesty's ships and
vessels on the Australian Station,