Nov. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2921

CALIFORNIA.

HUMBOLDT BAY.—FOG-SIGNAL ESTABLISHED.—Referring to Notices to Mariners Nos. 30 (1263) and 35 (1501) of 1908, further notice is given that on 15th August, 1908, a first-class compressed-air siren, which will sound, during thick or foggy weather, blasts of 3 seconds’ duration, separated by silent intervals of 17 seconds, was established on the south-eastern point of North Spit, northern side of the entrance to Humboldt Bay, California.

AFRICA.

EAST COAST.—DELAGOA BAY.—ELEPHANT ISLAND.—BEACON GONE.—The captain of the “Port of Lorenzo Marques” reports that the beacon on Gibbon Point, Elephant Island, Delagoa Bay, east coast of Africa, is down.

CALIFORNIA.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY.—OAKLAND HARBOUR.—SAN ANTONIO CREEK BUOY DISCONTINUED.—San Antonio Creek buoy No. 3, a third-class spar, reported adrift on 23rd August, 1908, has been permanently discontinued.

Approx. position: Lat. 37° 47′ 55″ N., long. 122° 20′ W.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

VANCOUVER ISLAND.—ESQUIMALT HARBOUR.—NON-EXISTENCE OF BUOY.—Information has been received from H.B.M.S. “Algerine” that the red conical buoy marking Village Rocks, Esquimalt Harbour, Vancouver Island, and shown on the charts 340 yards N. 85° E. from the crane on the naval coal-wharf, does not exist.

RIVERS INLET.—SCHOONER PASSAGE.—ROCK REPORTED.—Information dated 14th August, 1908, has been received from the British Board of Trade of the existence of a rock with about 7 ft. over it, on which the steamship “Vadso” struck, in the north-eastern entrance to Schooner Passage, Rivers Inlet, British Columbia.

The rock is located about midway between the northern point of Walbran Island and the small island off it, and is not marked by kelp or rippling.

Approx. position on H.O. Chart No. 1584: Lat. 51° 33′ 45″ N., long. 127° 35′ 15″ W.

CHILE.

MAGELLAN STRAIT.—CAPE SAN ISIDRO LIGHT.—ARC OF VISIBILITY.—The Chilean Government has given notice that Cape San Isidro light, Magellan Strait, is visible over an arc of 188° from S. 18° W. to N. 26° E. The northern limit of the light passes about 1¾ miles eastward of the extremity of Georgia Reef and about 1 mile off Santa Anna Point.

Also that the small point shown on the charts just northward of the point on which the lighthouse stands is farther to the westward than shown and does not extend to the northern limit of the light.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 47′ 20″ S., long. 70° 58′ W.

Notice to Mariners No. 82 of 1908.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 2nd November, 1908.

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

J. A. MILLAR.

AFRICA.

DELAGOA BAY.—The following shoal patches exist in the bay: (a.) A patch, carrying 2½ fms., on Domett Shoal, 6¼ miles N. 28° E. from Cockburn Shoal Lt.-h. (25° 53½′ S., 32° 54′ E.). This patch extends about 6 cables S.-ely. from the above position. (b.) A patch, carrying 2½ fms., nrd. of Domett Shoal, 9¾ miles N. 20° E. from Cockburn Shoal Lt.-h. This patch extends 5 cables sly. from the above position. Sept.

BEIRA HARB.—The following black buoys marking the old entr. to Rambler Chan. have been withdrawn: (a.) Spher. buoy C, 8¼ miles S. 21° E. from Chiveve Pt. Port Office F.S. (19° 49½′ S., 34° 49¾′ E.). (b.) Spar buoy B, just over 1⅜ miles N. 83° E. from buoy C. Sept.

ADEN.—On 1st Sept., 1908, a rev. white lt. every 30 secs., elev. 180 ft., R. 15 miles, is to be exh. from a wooden structure 7 ft. high, black and white diagonal, in 12° 45¾′ N., 44° 59¼′ E., on the summit of the headland 173 ft. high, locally known as the Elephant’s Back, wrn. side of Conquest Bay. Also the temporary lt.-v., exh. 2 white lts. hor. and a blue lt. every ½ hour, in 12° 46¾′ N., 44° 57¾′ E., 7½ cables W. from the Residency Flagstaff on Ras Tarshein, is to be replaced by a red lt.-boat carrying a red ball, and exh. 2 F. red lts. vert. 8 ft. apart. Sept.

INDIAN OCEAN.

RIVER HUGLI APPROACH.—The following “directions” are laid down for guidance of masters of vessels, pilots, and others in supersession of the instructions on pages 215, 216, and 217 of the 3rd edition of the “Bay of Bengal Pilot,” 1901: Steam Pilot Vessels.—Cruising-station, Sand-heads.—The steam pilot vessels are 3-masted vessels painted white with yellow funnel. On an inward-bound vessel being sighted, a square blue flag is hoisted at the main when the pilot vessel is under weigh; if the pilot vessel is at anchor, in addition a blue pennant is hoisted at the mizzen; at night the regulation lts. for steam pilot vessels are exh., also a flare-up is shown. During the S.W. monsoon the steam pilot vessels cruise about 8 miles S. to S.W. of the Ern. Chan. lt., in very strong winds and heavy sea about 10 miles; during the N.E. monsoon they cruise or anchor about 2 to 3 miles S. by W. to S.W. of the Ern. Chan. lt.-v. Pilotage is compulsory for all merchant vessels over 100 tons. If a pilot is not taken at the cruising-station considerable loss of time is likely to occur before obtaining one on the river. Approach.—Directions.—Steam-vessels arriving at the Sand-heads, and finding the steam pilot vessel at the station, should close with her and lie-to about 300 yd. dist., under her stern, in the same direction the steam pilot vessel is heading, and in such a manner as to make a lee for the pilot boat, when a pilot will be supplied. To avoid delay, approaching steam-vessels at night should, when about ½ mile off the steam pilot vessel, indic. the gross tonnage by the following steam-whistle sigs.:

Over 3,400 tons gross, 1 short blast.
Between 2,800 and 3,400 „ 2 short blasts.
„ 1,800 and 2,800 „ 3 „
Under 1,800 „ 4 „

Sailing-vessels should sig. net tonnage. Sailing-vessels should make the pilot-station sig. for a pilot, and on the approach of the steam pilot vessel heave-to, and a pilot will then be sent. During bad weather when boating is not safe, or when there are no pilots available, the steam pilot vessels during the day will not show the square blue flag at the main, and at night will not exh. the regulation lts. or flare-up for a steam pilot vessel. Sailing-vessels should not run on the station at night or in threatening weather. The steam pilot vessels are in tel. communication (wireless) with Calcutta. The necessary forms can be obtained from the pilot boat. In Aug., Sept., and Oct., no pilots being available, sailing-vessels are sig. to keep to windward. In this case it is advisable to keep the Ern. Chan. lt.-v. well in sight; drop a kedge if wind falls light to prevent drifting off the station. Caution.—Should it be necessary when approaching the Sand-heads to anchor from any cause, if possible anchor outside a line joining Ern. Chan. and Mutlah lt.-vs., in not less than 15 fms. mud. A vessel will ride easier and bring less strain on her cable if anchored in 15 to 20 fms. than in less depths, especially in an estuary. In the greater depths the cable, with a good scope of chain, is never quite taut, therefore not so liable to part; the sea has less force than in shoal water. Sept.

CHINA SEA, ETC.

NAM KWAN HARB. APPROACH.—A group-fl. white lt., showing 2 fls. every 20 secs., obsc. on various bearings by the adjacent isls., especially by the ern. isls. of the Incog. Group from S. 71° W., through W., to N. 40° W., elev. 149 ft., R. 18 miles, is exh. from a white steel lt.-h. 61 ft. high, in 26° 59¼′ N., 120° 27¾′ E., on wrn. extr. of wrn. isl. of the Incog. Group. Sept.

PACIFIC OCEAN.

PORT NOUMEA APPROACH.—1. The upper leading-lt. (22° 24′ S., 166° 56¼′ E.) on Cape Ndau is reported to be only vis. for about 8 miles, and the lower lt. about 5 miles. As these lts. are, therefore, practically useless for making Savannah Passage, the leading-line on the chart has been amended accordingly. 2. A high beacon, with topmark, is est. in 22° 25½′ S., 166° 33½′ E., on Ka Sand. Sept.

FRIENDLY ISLANDS.

VAVAU.—NEIFAU HARB.—(a.) A small white conical buoy, which is to be replaced by a larger buoy, is est. srd. of Galloway Rk., 3¾ cables S. 59° W. from Kilikili front beacon (18° 39′ S., 173° 59¾′ W.). (b.) A red cyl. buoy is est. on the end of Muitafuni Spit, 1 cable S. 1° E. from the above beacon. There is a depth of 5 fms. in the entr., on the leading-line, 3¾ cables S. 55° W. from the beacon. Sept.