1746
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 75

(4.) Disney Reef, marked on the H.O. charts as P.D. in latitude 19° 15′ S., and longitude 173° 40′ W., was originally reported in 1841 by Captain Disney, of the whaling-ship “Frolic,” who obtained a sounding of 9 fathoms hereabouts. This reef was searched for by H.I.G.M. ship “Hertha” in 1896, and in September, 1898, by H.B.M. surveying-vessel “Penguin,” also again in November, 1898, when soundings were obtained over a large area round its reported position without any sign of danger being discovered, or any shoaling of the water, the depths increasing slowly and steadily eastward of the Akkumanes Banks to 2,000 fathoms. It is therefore considered probable that Captain Disney really sounded on the Falcon Bank, which is in nearly the same latitude as the position he reported, but twenty-four miles farther west.

(5.) Bethune Patch, Latitude 19° 34′ S., Longitude 174° 20′ W.—Careful search was made for this patch, which was reported to have 3 fathoms on it, but no sign of danger was discovered. It had previously been unsuccessfully searched for by H.B.M.S. “Espiègle” in 1884, and H.I.G. Majesty’s surveying-vessel “Gazelle” in 1876, and moreover none of the captains of the steamers running between Haapai and Vavau know anything of its existence.

(6.) Falcon Island, Latitude 20° 19′ S., Longitude 175° 25′ W.—On the morning of 9th December, 1898, H.B.M. surveying vessel “Penguin” approached to within two miles of the position where Falcon Island formerly existed. Nothing was then visible above water, but the sea was breaking heavily over the area the island originally occupied. (See Notice to Mariners No. 39 (848) of 1898.)

(7.) Reef in Latitude 18° S., Longitude 174° 28′ W.—This reef, reported as existing four miles westward of Fanuailai Island, was searched for unsuccessfully by H.B.M.S. “Penguin.”

Information, dated 22nd February, 1899, has been received from Mr. J. B. Watkin, of the Tongan Mission, that there is an apparently well-founded native report that a shoal exists southeastward of Uiha, Haapai Group, and between thirty and forty miles distant therefrom, in (approximately) latitude 20° 23′ S., longitude 174° 3′ W. This locality was not examined by H.B.M.S. “Penguin” during the recent survey. (N.M. 28, 1899.)

(Notices to Mariners Nos. 194 and 248, Admiralty, London, 1899.)

Hydrographic Office charts: Nos. 1500, 1283, 526, and 825A.

British Admiralty charts (issued to U.S. vessels): Nos. 1829, 2421, 474, and 1385. Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., 1891, pages 40, 41–47, and 50. H.O. publication No. 41A, “Reported Dangers in the South Pacific Ocean,” Nos. 904, 871, 853, and 864, pages 113, 111, 108, 105, and 107.

722. FRANCE.—NORTH-WEST COAST.—ILE D’OUESSANT.—FOG-SIGNAL ESTABLISHED AT CREAC’H LIGHTHOUSE.—PERN POINT FOG-SIGNAL DISCONTINUED.

A fog-siren, operated by compressed air, has been established on the upper gallery of Creac’h Lighthouse. During thick or foggy weather the siren will give every two minutes two blasts, each of about three seconds duration, separated by an interval of three seconds.

This siren will replace the fog-signal on Pern Point, which has been discontinued. (N.M. 30, 1899.)

(Avis aux Navigateurs No. 128, Paris, 1899.)

Hydrographic Office charts: No. 22A. Light List, Vol. iii., No. 1476, page 102.

British Admiralty charts (issued to U.S. vessels): Nos. 1598, 1104, 2644, 2675A, 2643, and 2694. Channel Pilot, Part II, 1897, page 21. West Coasts of France, Spain, and Portugal, 1891, page 21.

747. MAGELLAN STRAIT.—EASTERN ENTRANCE.—DUNGENESS LIGHT EXHIBITED.

February 20, 1899, a light was exhibited from the lighthouse erected on the extremity of Dungeness, north side of eastern entrance to Magellan Strait. Dungeness light is a flashing white light of the first order, showing a flash of eight seconds duration every minute, the duration of the eclipse being about fifty-two seconds.

The light is 87 ft. above the sea, and visible fifteen miles in clear weather. Immediately under the illuminating apparatus, on the eastern side of the tower, a fixed white light of the sixth order is shown, covering Nassau Rock.

The lighthouse, 98 ft. high, is a cylindrical iron tower resting on a base of concrete, with keeper’s dwelling at foot of the tower. The tower has been painted white with green trimmings, as also the dwelling, but this is temporary, as it is intended to paint the tower red and white in horizontal stripes in order to make it more conspicuous.

Approx. position: Lat. 52° 23′ 55″ S., long. 68° 25′ 45″ W.

Importation of Dogs into Great Britain.—Notice No. 553.

Department of Agriculture
(Live-stock Branch),
Wellington, 6th September, 1899.

THE following memorandum, issued by the Board of Agriculture of Great Britain, is published for general information.

W. C. WALKER,
For Minister for Agriculture.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.—IMPORTATION OF DOGS INTO GREAT BRITAIN.

Memorandum as to the Conditions which have been prescribed in order to prevent the Introduction of Rabies.

1. The disease of rabies in dogs and of hydrophobia in man, which remains prevalent in almost all other parts of the world, has become practically extinct in this country; but, as it may remain latent in a dog for a very long period, it has become necessary, in the interests of owners of dogs in this country, to adopt precautions against the reintroduction of the disease by means of dogs which may, unknown to their owners, have become infected whilst in a foreign country.

2. The Importation of Dogs Orders, therefore, prohibit the introduction of dogs into Great Britain from any foreign country, or British possession other than the Channel Islands, without the sanction of the Board of Agriculture; and the landing of a dog from abroad (whether originally exported from Great Britain or not) will, unless a license has previously been obtained, render the owner liable to a penalty of £20, and the possible seizure of the dog.

3. Every person wishing to introduce a dog into Great Britain must, before the dog is embarked, obtain a license permitting the landing of the dog on arrival; and the attention of owners, charterers, and masters of vessels carrying dogs is drawn to the fact that, by permitting the landing of such dogs from their vessels without the requisite licenses, they render themselves liable to legal proceedings.

4. Every application for a license for landing a dog should be made in writing, on a form which will be supplied to bonâ fide applicants. It must be signed by the owner of the dog, or by his agent specially authorised in writing for the purpose, and should be sent to the Secretary, Board of Agriculture, 4, Whitehall Place, London, S.W., in sufficient time to enable the Board to make full inquiries into the circumstances of the application, and the suitability of the proposed premises for the isolation of the dog, and to communicate to the owner their decision before the embarkation of the dog is to take place.

5. In order that the Board may have it on record that the conditions on which alone a license can be issued are fully known by the owner of the dog (or the person, if other than the owner, in whose charge it is to be detained), the signature of the owner or of the proposed custodian of the dog is to be subscribed to the undertaking printed on the back of the form of application. The signature of an agent cannot in any case be accepted as sufficient unless he is prepared personally to undertake the charge of the dog during the whole period of detention.

6. In very exceptional cases the Board are prepared to entertain applications made by telegram, on the following conditions:—

(a.) The telegram must set forth the description of the dog, stating as far as possible for purposes of identification the particulars of its breed, sex, age, and colour, and the place where it is proposed that the animal should be detained.

(b.) The place of detention must be the residence of a householder, or other responsible resident of long standing, in Great Britain, who is prepared to detain the dog on the premises for not less than ninety days, in accordance with the conditions of the license; and the full name and address of the person must be given, so as to enable the Board, before the license is issued, to place themselves in communication with him to ascertain whether he is in a position to fulfil the requisite conditions.

(c.) An address must also be named in the telegram to which the Board can send the license (if issued), or otherwise communicate their decision to the applicant. This should be some place in the country of embarkation, as shipowners cannot properly permit the embarkation of any dog on board their vessels, for importation into this country, unless the dog is accompanied by the requisite license.

(d.) The telegram should contain the undertaking of the owner to carry out the conditions imposed.