Dec. 1.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2201

Notice under “The Shops and Shop-assistants Act Amendment Act, 1896.”

Department of Labour,
Wellington, 28th November, 1899.

IN exercise of the power in this behalf conferred upon me by “The Shops and Shop-assistants Act Amendment Act, 1896,” and in accordance with a requisition signed by a three-fifths majority of the shopkeepers in the Borough of Riverton, I, Thomas Thompson, Minister of Justice, acting for and on behalf of the Minister of Labour, hereby intimate that the Gazette notice of the 15th February, 1896, relating to the closing of shops in the Borough of Riverton at 9 of the clock on the evening of Saturday in each week, is hereby revoked.

T. THOMPSON,
For Minister of Labour.

Customs Holiday.

Department of Trade and Customs,
Wellington, 28th November, 1899.

HIS Excellency the Governor, by his Deputy, has been pleased to order that all the Customhouses in the Colony shall be closed on Wednesday, the 6th day of December next, from mid-day.

T. THOMPSON,
For Commissioner of Trade and Customs.

Notice to Mariners, No. 45 of 1899.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 21st November, 1899.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the Board of Trade, London, are published for general information.

T. THOMPSON,
For Minister of Marine.

NEW GUINEA.

STEPHENS ISLS.—These isls., charted in 0° 22′ S., 136° 10′ E., have been expunged from the Admiralty charts. March.

SOLOMON ISLANDS.

MALAITA.—MANOBA ISL.—A shoal, said to extend about 2 miles N.W. and S.E., carrying about 4 fms., and on which the sea was breaking, is reported to lie in approx. 8° 13′ S., 160° 38′ E., about 6 miles N.W. of Manoba Isl. at the N.W. extr. of Malaita. October.

PANDORA BANK.—In Oct., 1898, the ship “Kornmo” is reported to have obtained a sounding of 14 fms. in approx. 12° 1′ S., 172° 9′ E., near the position of Pandora Bank. This shoal cast may be on a part of the Pandora Bank, which may be much more extensive than originally supposed, or it may be a separate shoal. It has been marked on the Admiralty chart as 14 fms., 1899. July.

NEW CALEDONIA.

PORT MUÉO.—The following buoys have been placed in the port: (a.) A black can buoy moored in 3½ fms., in approx. 21° 23′ S., 164° 58½′ E., with S. pt. of Didot Isl. N. 71° E., 2⅓₀ miles, and Observation Rk. N. 20° W. (b.) A black can buoy moored in 4½ fms., in approx. 21° 23¾′ S., 164° 57¾′ E., with S. pt. of Didot Isl. N. 57° E., 3⅖₀ miles, and Observation Rk. N. 3° W. The beacon 2 miles S. of Observation Rk. has been removed. Note.—Mariners proceeding to New Caledonia should understand that, Nouméa being the only port for entry and clearance, as stated in Pacific Isls., Vol i., Part ii., page 56, merchant ships must proceed there to obtain leave to visit any other port. There are no pilots elsewhere. April.

PORT NOUMÉA APPROACH.—The beacons marking the Prévoyante Shoal (22° 20½′ S., 166° 33′ E.) and Thisbé Shoal (22° 27′ S., 166° 28′ E.), in the approach to the port, have been perm. removed; a black buoy is moored in approx. 22° 20′ S., 166° 38′ E., on the srn. edge of Oliver Bank. July.

NOUMÉA.—On 15th April, 1899, a F. red lt., elev. 59 ft. above H.W., R. about 8 miles, is to be exh. from a pyra., 6 ft. high, to the srd. of Ducrot Summit, Dubouzet or Nu Isl., and has been charted in 22° 16¼′ S., 166° 26′ E., near the water’s edge, 1½ cables S.S.E. from Ducrot Summit lt., in line with which it leads between Île Maître and Île aux Canard. April.

FIJI ISLANDS.

VANUA LEVU.—COCOANUT PT.—A reef, square in area and about ½ mile in extent, carrying depths of 3 ft. to 4 fms. L.W. springs, lies with its centre in approx. 17° 1¾′ S., 178° 42¼′ E., with Cocoanut Pt. N. 17° W., 1⁹⁄₁₀ miles, and Vuya Pt. N. 56° E. June.

FRIENDLY OR TONGA ISLANDS.

TONGATABU.—A shoal patch, about 10 yds. in extent, with 2 fms. least water, marked by a red can buoy on its wrn. edge, lies in approx. 21° 2¼′ S., 175° 15¼′ W., in Egeria Chan., Tongatabu Harbr. entr., with E. extr. (Δ 93) of Atatá S. ¾ E., 5½ cables, and Malinoa Δ E. by N. March.

FALCON ISL.—On the 9th December, 1898, H.M.S. “Penguin” approached to within 2 miles of the position (20° 19′ S., 175° 25′ W.), where this isl. formerly existed. Nothing was then vis. above water, but the sea was breaking heavily over the area the isl. originally occupied. A notation to this effect has been charted. May.*

NOMUKA GROUP.—The srn. and ern. sides of Nomuka Bank have been recently defined by H.M.S. “Penguin,” and a line of dangers discovered extending in a sly. direction from Telekitonga Isl. for 11½ miles to 20° 35′ S., 174° 36′ W. Erd. of these dangers the depths increase rapidly to over 100 fms. May.

A shoal is reported to exist between 30 and 40 miles S.-erd. of Uiha, Haapai group. As this locality was not exam. during the recent survey, a shoal, marked P.D., has been charted in 20° 23′ S., 174° 3′ W. June.

OUTLYING DANGERS.—The following reported dangers in the vicinity of the Tonga isls. have been searched for unsucc., and expunged from the Admiralty charts:—(1.) North Star Reef, in 20° 49′ S., 174° 40′ W. (2.) Sandbank, in 19° 52′ S., 174° 7′ W. (3.) Disney Reef, charted as P.D. in 19° 15′ S., 173° 40′ W. (4.) Bethune Patch, in 19° 34′ S., 174° 20′ W. (5.) Reef, in 18° 0′ S., 174° 28′ W. Note.—The charts of the Tonga Isls. are undergoing large corrections, and will be issued in due course. May.

SAMOA ISLANDS.

UPOLO ISL.—FALEALILI HARB.—A detached coral patch about ¾ cable long, N.E. by E. and S.W. by W., with a least depth of 6 ft., lies in approx. 14° 0¼′ S., 171° 39¼′ W., at the entr. to the harb., about 80 yds. from the N.W. edge of the reef extending from Satalo, its N.-ern. edge lying with the N. point of Satalo S. 75° E., 3 cables, and the church N. 5° E. July.

PHOENIX ISLANDS.

REEF.—The ship “Carondelet” is reported to have passed 2 miles dist. from a dangerous reef, ¼ mile N.E. by N. and S.W. by S. in extent, and upon which the sea occasionally broke heavily, in approx. 5° 35′ S., 173° 58′ W., about 60 miles srd. of the Phoenix Isls. It has been charted in this position, and marked E.D. May.

MARIANA ISLANDS.

GUAM ISL.—PORT SAN LUIS D’APRA.—A shoal patch, with a depth of 4½ fms., lies in approx. 13° 26¾′ N., 144° 39′ E., in the port, with the W. point of Apapa or Cabras Isl. N.E., 4½ cables, and Santa Cruz Isl. fort S. 21° E. At a dist. of about 30 yds. there are depths of 15 fms. on all sides of this shoal. June.

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

HAWAII.—HILO OR BYRON BAY.—A F. red lt. is exh. at the boat-wharf, Waiakea; and the colour of Paukaa lt. (19° 46¼′ N., 155° 5½′ W.) has been altered from white to green. Sept.*

OAHU.—LEAHI (DIAMOND) HEAD.—On 1st July, 1899, a F. lt. showing white from S. 83° W., through N., to N. 89° E.; red from N. 89° E., through E., to S. 80° E.; and obsc. in other directions; elev. 145 ft. above H.W., R. 15 miles, was to be exh. from a white stone tower 40 ft. high, on the head, in 21° 15¼′ N., 157° 48½′ W., in the approach to Honolulu. Sept.*

ADMIRALTY CHARTS that have received large corrections:—
No. 3027. New chart, New Guinea, N., plans of anchorages, Tana Mera Bay; Wooi Bay, Jappen Isl., S.; Tipin Road, Salwatti Isl., N.; Mambare Bay (Duvira); Porlock Harb.; Miei Road; Berlin Harb.; Berlin Road and Harb. May.
No. 524. New chart, New Britain, Blanche Bay. Sept.
No. 3033. New chart, Pacific Ocean, New Hebrides and New Caledonia. May.
No. 9368. New Caledonia, S.E. part, Port Muéo to Isle of Pines. May.
No. 2069. New Caledonia, S., approaches to Port Nouméa. May.
No. 480. New Caledonia, S., Port Nouméa. May.
No. 2421. S. Pacific Ocean; Tonga or Friendly Isls. Aug.
No. 2363. Pacific, Friendly Isls., Tongatábu. April.
No. 474. S. Pacific, Tonga or Friendly Isls., Nomuka group. June.
No. 3097. New chart, S. Pacific, Friendly Isls., anchorages, Vavau group, Neiafu anchorage and approaches; Haapai group, Ofolanga Isl. and anchorage. July.
No. 1936. N. Pacific, isls. April.