May 16.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1517

from N. Reef Lt.-h. “Discoloured water” has been charted in this position. March.

BARRIER REEF.—TRINITY OPENING.—Information has been received of the existence of the following reefs, and the amended positions of and non-existence of others, in Trinity Opening: 1. A sunken coral reef, about 4 cables n’ly and s’ly, carrying 5 ft. to 6 ft. at L.W., exists in approx. 16° 29¾′ S., 146° 7¼′ E., about 4 miles S. 38° E. from the new position of Onyx Reef, as given in paragraph 3. 2. A sunken coral reef, ½ mile e’ly and w’ly, carrying 2 fms. at L.W., exists in approx. 16° 32¾′ S., 145° 57¾′ E., 5¹⁄₁₀ miles N. 83° E. from Pixie Reef. 3. Onyx Reef, 4 cables in extent, carrying 2¾ fms., is in approx. 16° 26¼′ S., 146° 5¼′ E., ½ mile S. 38° E. from its position previously shown on the chart. 4. The 3-fm. patch shown on the chart in 16° 32′ S., 146° 8¼′ E., is about ½ mile to the N.-e’rd of this position, its centre, which is its shoalest part, being in approx. 16° 31¾′ S., 146° 8¾′ E. This reef is ¾ mile N.N.W’ly and S.S.E’ly. 5. The two small reefs shown on the chart 3¾ and 4¾ miles N. 30° E. respectively from Pixie Reef do not exist. March.

NEW CALEDONIA.

PORT NOUMEA APPROACH.—A shoal, named Biessard, is, as defined by the 5-fm. contour-line, about 1¾ cables long N. 27° W. and S. 27° E., and ½ cable broad, carrying 2¾ fms., exists in approx. 22° 19½′ S., 166° 38′ E., in the approach to the port, with the summit of Nde Isl. N. 63° W., 2¹⁄₁₀ miles, and the sm. extr. of Porcupine Isl. S. 75° W. A green oyl. buoy has been moored on it. March.

The iron beacon on the wrn.-most of the four nrm. banks, prev. about 7½ miles S. 40° E. of Port Noumea Flagstaff (22° 16¼′ S., 166° 26½′ E.), has disappeared. Aug.

The red beacon surm. by a ball on Amédée Shoal, prev. in approx. 22° 28½′ S., 166° 27¾′ E., about ½ mile wrd. of Amédée Lt.-h., has been removed. Sept.

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Notice to Mariners No. 33 of 1907.

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 8th May, 1907.

THE Auckland Harbour Board notifies that, owing to the tide-deflector under the Railway Wharf, there is an acceleration of the flood tide westward of that wharf, causing vessels to swing suddenly in towards the outer tee of Queen Street Wharf, and masters of vessels are therefore cautioned to navigate with great care when off the Railway and Queen Street Wharves.

J. A. MILLAR.

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Notice to Mariners No. 34 of 1907.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 14th May, 1907.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the Hydrographic Office, Washington, D.C., United States of America, are published for general information.

J. A. MILLAR.

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AFRICA.

CAPE COLONY.—SIMON’S BAY.—DOCKYARD-EXTENSION WORKS.—LIGHT ESTABLISHED.—LIGHT-BUOY WITHDRAWN.—Referring to Notice to Mariners No. 12 (418) of 1905, further information, dated 11th January, 1907, has been received from the Commander of H.B.M. Dockyard, Simon’s Bay, that a fixed red light has been established on the elbow of the dockyard-extension works, extending from Block-house Point about 720 yards N. 16° W. true (N. by E. ½ E. e’ly mag.) from the block-house on the point.

The light-buoy exhibiting a fixed white light, marking the extremity of the works, has been withdrawn.

Approx. position: Lat. 34° 11′ 15″ S., long. 18° 26′ 30″ E.

Hydrographic Office Chart.—No. 1601.

British Admiralty Charts issued to U.S. Vessels.—Nos. 636 and 1849. H.O. Light List, Vol. ii, No. 936**. H.O. Publication No. 105, West Coast of Africa, 1893, page 540. “Africa Pilot,” Part iii, 1905, page 83.

WEST COAST.—WALFISCH BAY.—WALFISCH PENINSULA.—BEACONS ERECTED.—Through the courtesy of the Honourable Secretary of State, information has been received from Mr. Julius G. Lay, American Consul-General at Cape Town, South Africa, that six beacons have been erected by the naval authorities on Walfisch Peninsula, Walfisch Bay, west coast of Africa. These beacons are arranged in three pairs: The northern pair, bearing S. 83° E. true (S.E. by E. ½ E. e’ly mag.), when in line are 641 yards apart. The western beacon of this pair is located 837 yards S. 8° W. true (S.S.W. ⅓ W. w’ly mag.) from Pelican Point beacon, and is marked by a small circular disc with a horizontal batten across the centre. The eastern beacon is marked by a small diamond with a short yard close under it. The centre pair of beacons, bearing N. 42° 30′ E. true (E.N.E. mag.), when in line are 630 yards apart. The western beacon is located 2,000 yards S. 10° W. true (S.W. ⅔ S. mag.) from the eastern beacon of the northern pair. Both beacons are marked by small St. Andrew’s crosses. The southern pair of beacons, bearing S. 83° E. true (S.E. by E. ½ E. e’ly. mag.), when in line are 838 yards apart. The western beacon is located 5,200 yards N. 61° 30′ W. true (N.W. ⅔ N. mag.) from the southern navigational beacon, which is just westward of the entrance to the lagoon at the head of the bay. It is marked by a small circular disc. The eastern beacon is marked by a small diamond.

These beacons are 34 ft. high above high water, ordinary springs, and consist of centre poles surmounted by small shapes, with skeleton tripods built around the bases, reaching about ⅓ their heights from the ground. As there is no provision for the maintenance of these beacons they should not be relied upon for navigational purposes.

In thick or foggy weather vessels should guard against mistaking any of these beacons for the navigational beacons.

Approximate position of Pelican Point beacon: Latitude 22° 54′ 20″ S., longitude 14° 25′ E.

Hydrographic Office Charts.—Nos. 1131, 2205, and 2267. H.O. Publication No. 105, West Coast of Africa, 1893, page 471.

JAVA.

NORTH COAST.—SEMARANG HARBOUR.—BUOY REPLACED BY LIGHT-BUOY.—The Netherlands Government has given notice that the red conical buoy marking the wreck of the barque “Cheshire,” sunk in Semarang Harbour, north coast of Java, will be replaced by a light-buoy exhibiting an intermittent white light every 20 seconds, thus: light 10 seconds, eclipsed 10 seconds. visible 6 miles.

Approx. position: Lat. 6° 54′ 15″ S., long. 110° 24′ 45″ E.

Hydrographic Office Charts.—Nos. 854B and 1170.

British Admiralty Charts issued to U.S. Vessels.—Nos. 1653 and 932. H.O. Light List, Vol. ii, No. 310 (remarks). Eastern Archipelago, Part ii, 1904, page 107.

AUSTRALIA.

EAST COAST.—QUEENSLAND.—CAPRICORN GROUP.—DISCOLOURED WATER REPORTED.—Information has been received from the navigating officer of H.B.M.S. “Pegasus” that on 6th December, 1906, that vessel passed ¼ mile to the southward of a large patch of discoloured water, where apparently there were depths of only a few feet, located about 10 miles N. 68° E. true (N.E. by E. ¼ E. e’ly mag.) from North Reef Lighthouse, Capricorn Group, east coast of Australia.

Approx. position: Lat. 23° 07′ 15″ S., long. 152° 06′ 30″ E.

Hydrographic Office Chart.—No. 825A.

British Admiralty Charts issued to U.S. Vessels.—Nos. 2763 and 346. “Australia Directory,” Vol. ii, 1898, page 201.

EAST COAST.—QUEENSLAND.—TRINITY OPENING.—HYDROGRAPHIC INFORMATION.—Information, dated 24th December, 1906, has been received from Captain C. H. Simpson, H.B.M. surveying-vessel “Penguin,” of the existence and corrected positions of the following reefs in Trinity Opening, east coast of Australia:—

Onyx Reef, about 800 yards in extent, with a least depth of 2¾ fathoms over it, is located about ½ mile S. 32° E. true (S.E. ⅔ S. mag.) from its charted position, in (approximately) latitude 16° 26′ 20″ S., longitude 146° 05′ 10″ E.

A sunken coral reef, about 800 yards in extent, trending in a north and south magnetic direction, with depths of 5 ft. to 6 ft. over it at low water, is located about 4 miles S. 32° E. true (S.E. ⅔ E. mag.) from the new position of Onyx Reef, in (approximately) latitude 16° 29′ 45″ S., longitude 146° 07′ 20″ E.

A sunken coral reef, ½ mile in extent, trending in an east and west magnetic direction, having a least depth of 2 fathoms over it at low water, is located 5·1 miles N. 89° E. true (E. ⅔ N. mag.) from Pixie Reef, in (approximately) latitude 16° 32′ 50″ S., longitude 145° 57′ 40″ E.

The 3-fathom patch shown on the chart in latitude 16° 32′ S., longitude 146° 08′ 30″ E., is located about ½ mile to the north-eastward of this position; its centre, which is the shoalest part, being in (approximately) latitude 16° 31′ 45″ S., longitude 146° 08′ 40″ E. This reef is ¾ mile in extent and trends in a north-north-west and south-south-east magnetic direction.

The two small reefs shown on the chart about 3¾ and 4¾ miles N. 36° E. true (N.N.E. ⅔ e’ly mag.), respectively, from Pixie Reef do not exist.

Hydrographic Office Chart.—Nos. 826A.

British Admiralty Charts issued to U.S. Vessels.—Nos. 2763, 2764, and 2924. “Australia Directory,” Vol. ii, 1898, page 376.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

STRAIT OF GEORGIA.—FRASER RIVER ENTRANCE.—GAS BUOY ESTABLISHED.—The Canadian Government has given notice that a steel cylindrical gas buoy, painted red and exhibiting