2466
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 90

42" S., longitude 141° 55' E. The ship was drawing 18 ft. of water, and the water astern was muddy for about 25 yards. From the noise the vessel made it was supposed the bottom consisted of stone and shells.

Hydrographic Office chart: No. 826A. British Admiralty charts (issued to U.S. vessels): Nos. 447, 2375, 437, 1043, and 2354; Australia Directory, Vol. ii., 1898, page 470.

(2147) SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

New Hebrides Islands—Reef reported in Latitude 19° 25' South, Longitude 171° 4' East.—The officer in charge of the Branch Hydrographic Office at Port Townsend, Washington, reports that the master of the British barque “Samaritan” found discoloured water, evidently covering a reef, in latitude 19° 25' S. and longitude 171° 4' E.

Hydrographic Office charts: Nos. 128B, 1500, 825A, and 2027; Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., 1900, page 401.

(2148) SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

New Guinea—North Coast—Geelvink Bay—Reefs reported.—The commander of the Netherlands man-of-war “Zeemeeuw” reports a reef, indicated by discoloured water, with an estimated least depth of 3 fathoms, situated westward of Moeswar Island, 8 miles S. 77° E. true (E. by S. mag.) from the south point of Rumanderi Island.

Approx. position: Lat. 2° 4' S., long. 134° 17' 18" E.

The reef projecting from Buserun Point does not exist; 100 yards distant from the point nothing could be seen.

An extensive reef is situated in Jauer Bay, with 2½ fathoms least water.

Approx. position: Lat. 2° 55' S., long. 134° 45' E.

Hydrographic Office chart: No. 826A. British Admiralty charts (issued to U.S. vessels): No. 942B; Pacific Islands, Vol. i., 1900, page 259.

(2186) CEYLON.

Colombo—Lightship founded.—The Marine Department of the Government of Bengal gives notice that a telegraphic communication has been received from the harbour authorities at Colombo, Ceylon, stating that the lightship—south end north-east breakwater—has founded, and that it will be replaced as soon as possible.

Hydrographic Office chart: No. 1591. British Admiralty charts (issued to U.S. vessels): Nos. 813 and 914; H.O. Light List, Vol. ii., No. 792A; Bay of Bengal Pilot, 1901, page 73; West Coast of Hindustan Pilot, 1898, page 95.

(2187) CHINA SEA.

Singapore—Fort Canning Light—Change in Characteristic.—Information has been received from the Master Attendant, Singapore, that on 12th October, 1903, Fort Canning light will be changed from fixed white to an intermittent light showing 1 eclipse every 20 seconds, thus—light 17 seconds, eclipse 3 seconds—and exhibiting the following sectors: Red from the bearing of N. 11° W. true (N. by W. ½ W. mag.) to N. 26° W. true (NNW. ¼ W. mag.) over the dangers near Peak Island; white from N. 26° W. true (NNW. ½ W. mag.), through west, to S. 86° W. true (W. ½ S. mag.); red from S. 86° W. true (W. ½ S. mag.) to S. 76° W. true (WSW. ½ W. W'ly mag.), and obscured elsewhere.

The light, dioptric of the first order, will be shown at an elevation of 202 ft. above high water from a white steel lighthouse, and should be visible in clear weather from a distance of 18 miles.

Approx. position: Lat. 1° 17' 30" N., long. 103° 51' E.

Hydrographic Office charts: Nos. 797, 1170, 1595, 1205, and 1243; H.O. Light List, Vol. ii., No. 235; China Sea Directory, Vol. i., 1896, page 222.

(2188) SUMATRA.

Banka Strait—Southern Entrance—Wreck.—The Netherlands Government gives notice that the wreck of the schooner “Saidor Rachman,” with the masts showing above water, lies in 8 fathoms of water in approximately latitude 3° 32' S., longitude 106° 16' E.

Hydrographic Office chart: No. 1170. British Admiralty charts (issued to U.S. vessels): Nos. 2149, 2597, and 2808; China Sea Directory, Vol. i., 1896, page 425.

(2192) CHINA SEA.

Swatow Approach—Breaker Point—Wreck.—Information has been received that there is a wreck (Chinese gunboat “Wentai”), with her mastheads showing above water at low tide, in 16 fathoms of water, 15 miles S. 82° E. true (E. ¾ S. mag.) from Breaker Point Lighthouse.

Hydrographic Office chart: No. 798; China Sea Directory, Vol. iii., 1894, page 143.

(2193) CHINA.

Yangtze-kiang Entrance—South Channel—Kiutoan Light-vessel changed in Position—Wreck Buoy replaced by Light-buoy.—Information has been received that the Kiutoan light-vessel, South Channel, Yangtze-kiang entrance, has been shifted to a position 1 mile N. 68° W. true (NW. by W. ¾ W. mag.) from her former station.

Also that the unlighted buoy marking the “Fairy” wreck (see Notice to Mariners No. 41 (1171) of 1900) has been replaced by a gas-lighted bell buoy, with a conical topmark, painted green, bearing the word “wreck” in white letters, and showing an intermittent white light every 6 seconds, thus: Light, 4 seconds; eclipse, 2 seconds.

Hydrographic Office charts: Nos. 1305, 1445, and 1696. British Admiralty charts (issued to U.S. vessels): Nos. 1262 and 1199; China Sea Directory, Vol. iii., 1894, page 423.

(2198) SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

New Caledonia—Bellona Shoals—Reefs reported to the Southward.—The officer in charge of the Branch Hydrographic Office at Port Townsend, Washington, reports that Captain H. H. Dexter, master of the British barque “Samaritan,” passed close to two reefs, almost at the surface, from 20 to 30 miles south-eastward from South Bellona Reef, in 1897.

Approx. positions: Lat. 22° 5' S., long. 159° 45' E.; and lat. 22° 20' S., long. 159° 50' E.

These reefs have never been reported before.

Hydrographic Office charts: Nos. 1283, 1500, and 825A. British Admiralty charts (issued to U.S. vessels): No. 2763; Pacific Islands, Vol. ii., 1900, page 296.

By order of the Bureau of Equipment.

W. H. H. SUTHERLAND,
Commander, U.S.N., Hydrographer.

Notice to Mariners No. 84 of 1903.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 23rd November, 1903.

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

WM. HALL-JONES.

AFRICA.

PORT ELIZABETH HILL LT.—On 25th Sept., 1903, the f. white and red lt. exh. from the lt.-h. (33° 57¾' S., 25° 37¼' E.) near Lady Donkin’s Monument was to be replaced by an occ. lt. every 10 secs.—vis. 7 secs., ecl. 3 secs.—showing red from S. 22° W. to S. 67° W., white from S. 67° W. through W. to N. 67° W., red from N. 67° W. to N. 22° W., and obsc. elsewhere. Oct.

PORT NATAL.—On 1st Sept., 1903, a fl. white lt., showing 6 fls. every min., R. 5 miles, was to be exh. from a triangular beacon surm. an iron standard, 30 ft. high, in 29° 51¼' S., 31° 2¾' E., at the Rocket Station, 1½ miles N. 21° W. from Cape Natal Lt.-h. Oct.

CHINA SEA, ETC.

TA LIEN HWAN APPROACH.—SAN SHAN TAU.—A f. white lt. vis. from S. 74° W., through W. and N., to S. 34° E., elev. 216 ft. above h.w., R. 17 miles, is exh. in 38° 51¼' N., 121° 50½' E., on the S. extr. of S. San shan tau in the entr. to Ta lien hwan. Oct.

AUSTRALIA.

West Coast.

FREMANTLE.—With reference to Admiralty Notices to Mariners No. 305 of 1902 and No. 751 of 1903: Further notice has been received that, on 27th July, 1903, the breakwater lts. were altered as follows: N. breakwater lt. (32° 3' S., 115° 43¼' E.) from f. green to f. red, elev. 46 ft. above h.w., exh. from a temp. frame tower. S. breakwater lt. to a f. green lt., elev. 46 ft. above h.w., exh. from the existing lt.-h. Oct.

East Coast.

INNER ROUTE TO TORRES STRAITS.—A reef a few hundred yds. in extent, carrying 2 fms. at l.w., has been reported by the ketch “Onyx” to exist in approx. 16° 26' S., 146° 5' E., in Trinity Opening. Oct.

Torres Strait (and as far as Pera Head).

NORMANBY SOUND AND THURSDAY ISL. HARB.—On 1st Aug., 1903, all the leading lts. in Normanby Sound were to be disc. Sept.

PROUDFOOT SHOAL LT.-V.—On 31st Jan., 1904, this lt.-v. (10° 32¼' S., 141° 27' E.), moored off the S.W. end of the Proudfoot Shoals, is to be perm. withdrawn. Oct.

PACIFIC OCEAN.

Mariana Islands.

GUAM ISL.—In the area between the parallels of 12° 43' N and 13° 6' N., and meridians of 144° 16' E. and 144° 38' E., s.-wrd. of Guam Isl. the btm. is uneven and irregular, and