May 6.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1249

In connection with periodical exercises or manœuvres, or in the event of relations becoming strained between Great Britain and any naval Power, an examination service may come into force at the ports or localities mentioned at the end of this notice.

Masters are warned that before attempting to enter any of these ports they must, in their own interests, strictly obey all instructions given to them by the vessels which will be charged with the duty of examining ships desiring to enter the ports, and allotting positions in which the ships shall anchor. In case of fog they should on no account attempt to enter before receiving permission from the Examination Officer.

The institution of an examination service at any port will never be publicly advertised, but at all times when the relations of Great Britain with foreign Powers are known to be in a state of tension, special care should be taken in approaching the ports, by day or by night, to keep a sharp look-out for the examination steamer, and to be ready to “bring to” at once when hailed by her or warned by the firing of a gun.

If the entrance to a port is closed three red vertical lights by night, or three red balls by day, will be exhibited in some conspicuous position, in or near to its approach, and as far as possible notice of this fact will be given by look-out vessels in the offing.

If the examination service is in force the examination steamer will be distinguished at night—

(a.) When the port is closed, by three red vertical lights.

(b.) When the port is open, by three white vertical lights.

The pilots attached to the ports will be acquainted with the regulations to be followed.

Ports or Localities referred to.

PORT, AUSTRALIA.—APPROXIMATE POSITION.

Adelaide.—Lat. 34 deg. 50 min. S., long. 138 deg. 30 min. E.

Albany.—Lat. 35 deg. S., long. 117 deg. 55 min. E.

Brisbane.—Lat. 27 deg. 20 min. S., long. 153 deg. 10 min. E.

Fremantle.—Lat. 32 deg. S., long. 115 deg. 45 min. E.

Melbourne.—Lat. 37 deg. 50 min. S., long. 145 deg. E.

Newcastle.—Lat. 32 deg. 55 min. S., long. 151 deg. 45 min. E.

Sydney.—Lat. 33 deg. 50 min. S., long. 151 deg. 10 min. E.

Thursday Island.—Lat. 10 deg. 35 min. S., long. 142 deg. 15 min. E.

Townsville.—Lat. 19 deg. 15 min. S., long. 146 deg. 50 min. E.

Wollongong.—Lat. 34 deg. 25 min. S., long. 150 deg. 55 min. E.

TASMANIA.

Hobart.—Lat. 42 deg. 55 min. S., long. 147 deg. 20 min. E.

Examination Anchorages have been selected for the following Ports.

Thursday Island.—Seaward (westward) of a line passing N. and S. through Black Rock.

Brisbane.—Moreton Bay, outside Pile Light.

Newcastle.—No anchorage. Vessels will be examined before entering.

Sydney.—Quarantine Bay.

Port Phillip.—Seaward of the lines Queenscliff—Pope’s Eye Annulus—Observatory Point.

Adelaide.—S. of a line passing E. and W. through Wonga Shoal.

Fremantle.—N. of the line Straggler’s Rocks—Hall Bank buoy—Buckland Hill.

Hobart.—S. of the line Mount Nelson—Gellibrand Point.

For the Naval Board.

W. R. CRESWELL,
Naval Director, Capt.

Defence Department,
Melbourne, 20th March, 1909.

Notice to Mariners No. 35 of 1909.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 30th April, 1909.

MAGNETIC VARIATION ON THE COAST OF NEW ZEALAND FOR THE YEAR 1910.

Annual Increase, + 3'.

THE following table is the result of numerous observations which have been taken by the New Zealand Government Survey Department. The observations show an increase of 1° to 1½° on the variations shown on the Admiralty charts, except the charts resulting from the late survey of H.M.S. “Penguin,” which agree closely with the New Zealand Survey Department observations.

J. A. MILLAR.

VALUES OF THE MAGNETIC DECLINATION, COMMONLY CALLED THE VARIATIONS OF THE COMPASS, AT PLACES ON THE COAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND. — CORRECTED FOR THE YEAR 1910.

MAGNETIC DECLINATION FOR SOUTH ISLAND.

Charts, &c., affected: All the New Zealand coast charts; “New Zealand Nautical Almanac,” 1909, pages 235 and 236.