Aug. 10.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1487

Services of Volunteer Corps accepted.

Defence Office,
Wellington, 2nd August, 1899.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to accept, under clause 39, (1), “The Defence Act, 1886,” the services of the

Hampden Rifle Volunteers
(North Otago Sub-District). Acceptance to date from the 7th July, 1899.

W. C. WALKER,
For Minister of Defence.

Volunteer Officers resigned.

Defence Office,
Wellington, 8th August, 1899.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to accept the resignations of the commissions held by the under-mentioned officers:—

Temuka Rifle Volunteers.
Lieutenant Arthur Gore Campbell. Date of resignation, 4th July, 1899.

Totara Rifle Volunteers.
Lieutenant William Ernest Thiele. Date of resignation, 25th April, 1899.

T. THOMPSON.

Designation of Battalion changed.

Defence Office,
Wellington, 7th August, 1899.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to cancel the warrant, dated the 21st June, 1899, altering the designation of the “1st Battalion, Auckland Rifle Volunteers,” published in New Zealand Gazette No. 56, of the 29th June, 1899, page 1218, and to approve of the designation of that battalion being changed to the “1st Battalion, Auckland Infantry Volunteers, ‘Countess of Ranfurly’s Own,’” with the seniority of the first-mentioned battalion in the New Zealand Volunteer Force, and with effect from the 24th day of May, 1899.

W. C. WALKER,
For Minister of Defence.

Resignation of Trustees of Punakitere Public Cemetery accepted.

Department of Lands and Survey,
Wellington, 3rd August, 1899.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to accept the resignations of

THOMAS BAKER and
MICHAEL O’CONNELL

as Trustees of the Punakitere Public Cemetery.

WM. HALL-JONES,
For Minister of Lands.

Letters of Naturalisation issued.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 2nd August, 1899.

HIS Excellency the Governor has been pleased to issue Letters of Naturalisation, under “The Aliens Act, 1880,” in favour of the under-mentioned persons:—

J. CARROLL.

Result of Poll for Proposed Loan, Horowhenua County Council.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 2nd August, 1899.

THE following notice, received from the Chairman of the Horowhenua County Council, is published in accordance with the provisions of “The Local Bodies’ Loans Act, 1886.”

J. CARROLL.

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

In the matter of proposal to borrow £200 under “The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886,” for the erection of a low-level bridge over the Waikawa Stream, in the Otaki Riding, the following is the result of the poll of ratepayers taken on Wednesday, 26th July, 1899:—

Number of voters on the roll, 123; votes exercisable on the roll, 185: Number of ratepayers who voted, 40; number of votes in favour of proposal, 51; number of votes against the proposal, 8.

As a minority of the ratepayers voted in favour of the proposed loan, and the numbers so voting are not entitled to more than one-half of the votes that can be exercised by the whole number of ratepayers, I hereby declare the proposal to be lost.

F. W. VENN,
Chairman, Horowhenua County Council.

Notice to Mariners, No. 24 of 1899.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 5th August, 1899.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the Department of Ports and Harbours, Melbourne, Victoria, and the Portmaster, Brisbane, Queensland, are published for general information.

WM. HALL-JONES.

VICTORIA.

Port Phillip Bay.—Sunken Wreck off Point Cook.

MARINERS and others are hereby informed that the steamship “Excelsior” has sunk in eight (8) fathoms of water off Point Cook, and about four and a half (4½) miles S. 28° W. from Point Gellibrand floating light.

The position of the wreck is marked by a portion of the mast projecting about 20 ft. above water, and a wreck-buoy placed close to the eastward thereof.

Until further notice the wreck will be also marked between sunset and sunrise by the exhibition of two red lights in a vertical line one over the other, not less than 6 ft. apart, and between sunrise and sunset by two black balls, not less than 6 ft. apart, placed in line as described for lights.

Caution.—Notice has been given for the removal of the wreck, and in the meantime mariners navigating in the vicinity are warned to look out for floating wreckage, and are also requested to report the discovery of the same to this office.

C. W. MACLEAN,
Harbour Office, Customs,
Melbourne, 12th July, 1899.

Port Officer.

QUEENSLAND.

Inner Route, Torres Strait.—Alteration of “Course recommended.”

THE new survey of the Inner Route by H.M.S. “Dart” being now completed as far south as Aye (1) Reef, it is found that the safest course to be followed to clear the North and South Khandalla Shoals lies to the westward of Heath Reef, and in order to facilitate navigation on the course now recommended the Claremont Island Lightship will, on the 1st November, 1899, be removed to a position south 85° west, distant 8 cables from the western extreme of Heath Reef.

After that date the “course recommended” from Fife Island will be as follows:—

When Fife Island tree bears north 85° east, distant 6½ cables, steer north 19° west for a distance of 11·4 miles, passing to the eastward of the lightship at a distance of about 2 cables. When the west extreme of Heath Reef bears north 85° east, the course is again changed to north 8° west. Continue this course 8·6 miles, when it will intersect the “course recommended” before laid down.

Chart affected, No. 2921; and Australia Directory, Vol. ii.

T. M. ALMOND,
Portmaster.

Marine Department, Brisbane, 7th July, 1899.

Sandy Cape Lighthouse.—Alteration of Interval of “Revolution of Light.”

On and after the 1st November, 1899, the interval of revolution for Sandy Cape Light will be reduced from two minutes (2) to one and a quarter minutes (1·15).

Chart affected, No. 1068; and Australia Directory, Vol. ii.

T. M. ALMOND,
Portmaster.

Marine Department, Brisbane, 7th July, 1899,