Mar. 3.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 747

Relief light-vessel No. 76 will show a light and sound-signals, having the same characteristics as those of light-vessel No. 70, except that the light will be fixed white, instead of flashing white every 15 seconds.

Relief light-vessel No. 76 is a flush-deck steam-vessel, with two masts, schooner-rigged, no bowsprit, and a black smokestack and steam-whistle between the masts, but differs from light-vessel No. 70 in having all visible parts from the bow to the middle of the foremast, and from the middle of the mainmast aft, painted red; all visible parts between the fore and main masts, including the middle third of each lantern-mast, white.

The day-marks at the mastheads have five vertical stripes, three red and two white, and on the spring stay, midway between the two masts, there is an oval day-mark, with one white and two red vertical stripes.

The number “76” is in white on each bow and each quarter, and in black on each side of the spring stay day-mark. The word “Relief” is painted in large black letters on the middle of each side.

Approx. position: Lat. 37° 45′ 03″ N., long. 122° 41′ 30″ W.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY.—EAST BROTHER ISLAND LIGHT-STATION.—FOG - SIGNAL REPORTED IRREGULAR.—The fog-signal at East Brother Island Light-station, California, is not working regularly, and mariners are cautioned not to rely upon it until repairs have been made.

Approx. position: Lat. 37° 57′ 42″ N., long. 122° 26′ 01″ W.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY.—EAST BROTHER ISLAND LIGHT-STATION.—FOG-SIGNAL AGAIN IN OPERATION.—Referring to Notice to Mariners No. 49 (2758) of 1909, further notice is given that the fog-signal at East Brother Island Light-station, California, which was reported irregular, is again in working order.

Approx. position: Lat. 37° 57′ 42″ N., long. 122° 26′ 01″ W.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY.—FOUR-AND-ONE-HALF FATHOM GAS BUOY REPLACED.—NUN BUOY WITHDRAWN.—Four-and-one-half fathom gas buoy has been replaced in position 2,700 ft. eastward of the Pacific Mail Steamship Wharf, San Francisco Bay, California, and the horizontally striped nun buoy temporarily marking the station has been withdrawn.

Approx. position: Lat. 37° 47′ 06″ N., long. 122° 22′ 35″ W.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY.—SAN PABLO BAY.—CARQUINEZ STRAIT.—INTENDED LIGHT AND FOG - SIGNAL.—About 15th January, 1910, a fourth-order fixed red light, elevated 56 ft. above high water and visible 13 miles, will be established just inside the long wooden dyke on the northern side of the entrance to Carquinez Strait, San Pablo Bay, California, on the following bearings:—

Carquinez Strait, tangent to northern side, 114° 15′.

Mare Island Lighthouse, 286°.

Magazine Wharf, south-eastern corner, 329° 30′.

The light will be shown from a black lantern on a cream-coloured, square, frame tower with white trimmings, surmounting a two-and-one-half-story dwelling and fog-signal building with white trimmings and red roof. The tower, dwelling, and fog-signal building are erected on a pile foundation in 8 ft. of water.

On the same date a first-class compressed-air siren will be established at the light-station, which will sound blasts of 3 seconds’ duration, separated by silent intervals of 27 seconds.

Approx. position: Lat. 38° 04′ 09″ N., long. 122° 14′ 35″ W.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

ACTIVE PASS.—HELEN POINT.—CHANGE IN FOG-BELL.—The explosive fog-bell heretofore maintained at Helen Point Light-station, Active Pass, has been replaced by a bell operated by machinery, which will sound 1 stroke every 5 seconds.

The fog-bell tower is an open framework structure 25 ft. high, square in plan with sloping sides, painted white, erected close to the gas beacon.

Approx. position: Lat. 48° 51′ 36″ N., long. 123° 20′ 33″ W.

A small rocky head, marked by kelp, having a least depth of 12 ft. at low water, lies in the centre of Schooner Passage, 0·85 mile 30° from (X).

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 46′ N., long. 130° 24′ W.

A very small rocky head, marked by kelp, with a depth of 12 ft. over it, lies in the middle of Schooner Passage, 0·41 mile 24° from (X). The 2-fathom rock shown on the published charts is evidently intended for this danger.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 45′ 30″ N., long. 130° 24′ 15″ W.

NOTE.—The two dangers in Schooner Passage must be placed on the published charts by using the bearings and distances given, as all other objects are too much in error in position to be used.

A small rocky shoal, marked by kelp, with a depth of 18 ft. over it at low water, lies in the southern entrance to Schooner Passage, on the following bearings:—

(X) 27° 15′ distant 1·41 miles.

(Z) 112° distant 0·35 mile.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 44′ 15″ N., long. 130° 26′ 00″ W.

A small rocky patch, marked by kelp, with a depth of 24 ft. over it at low water, lies in the southern entrance to Schooner Passage, on the following bearings:—

(X) 22° 45′ distant 1·89 miles.

(Z) 47° 45′ distant 0·52 mile.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 43′ 30″ N., long. 130° 26′ 00″ W.

A small detached rock, which dries 4 ft. at low water, lies on the following bearings:—

(X) 73° 30′ distant 1·73 miles.

(Z) 123° 45′ distant 1·60 miles.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 44′ 45″ N., long. 130° 27′ 00″ W.

A very small rocky head, marked by kelp, with a depth of 18 ft. at low water, lies on the following bearings:—

(X) 66° 15′ distant 1·50 miles.

(Z) 126° 45′ distant 1·31 miles.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 44′ 45″ N., long. 130° 27′ 00″ W.

A small rocky head, marked by kelp, with a depth of 18 ft. at low water, has been located off the northern coast of Banks Island on the following bearings:—

Deadman Islet, 116° 30′ distant 1·11 miles.

Islet (30 ft.) inside White Rocks, 250° 45′ distant 2·59 miles.

Rock awash at high water, 228° distant 0·93 mile.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 38′ 45″ N., long. 130° 29′ 45″ W.

A small detached rocky head, with a depth of 6 ft. over it at low water, lies at the outer edge of the kelp extending off the northern coast of Banks Island, on the following bearings:—

Rock awash at high water, 132° distant 0·25 miles.

Islet (30 ft.) inside White Rocks, 255° 15′ distant 1·60 miles.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 38′ 30″ N., long. 130° 31′ 45″ W.

DIRECTIONS.—To avoid the dangers mentioned above, vessels entering Schooner Passage from the southward should bring Anchor Mountain in line with (X) on the bearing 36° 30′, and keep it so until within ½ mile of (X), then change the course to pass midway between (X) and the rocky point of Dolphin Island lying immediately to the westward. After passing (X) close the shore of Dolphin Island to a distance of 150 yards until past the 12 ft. rock in the passage.

BROWNING ENTRANCE.—BEAVER AND SCHOONER PASSAGES.—ROCKS.—Capt. J. F. Parry, R.N., H.B.M., surveying-vessel “Egeria,” furnishes the following information concerning rocks in Browning Entrance and Beaver and Schooner Passages, Hecate Strait, British Columbia:—

A rocky patch, marked by kelp, has been found in the centre of Beaver Passage, on the following bearings:—

Connis Island, 306° 30′ distant 0·32 mile.

Wooded Islet, 90° 30′ distant 0·26 mile.

S. Twin Island, 344° 30′ distant 2·19 miles.

At low water a depth of 12 ft. was found on the western edge of the patch with depths of 45 fathoms 150 yards farther westward.

Approx. position: Lat. 53° 45′ 15″ N., long. 130° 19′ 00″ W.

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

NEW GUINEA.—NORTH COAST.—FRIEDRICH WILHELM HARBOUR.—SHOAL TO THE SOUTHWARD.—BUOY ESTABLISHED.—The commander of the German man-of-war “Planet” reports, under date of 11th September, 1909, that a shoal, about 55 yards in extent, with a least depth of 6½ ft., lies southward of Friedrich Wilhelm Harbour, north coast of New Guinea, 3·7 miles 179° from the light on Schering Peninsula.

The shoal is marked by a small barrel buoy, with a tree as a top-mark.

Approximate position on B.A. Chart No. 1084: Lat. 5° 16′ 30″ S., long. 145° 49′ 15″ E.

Notice to Mariners No. 15 of 1910.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 24th February, 1910.

THE following Notice to Mariners, received from the Port Officer, Melbourne, Victoria, is published for general information.

J. A. MILLAR.

SOUTH CHANNEL PILE LIGHTHOUSE, PORT PHILLIP.

With reference to Notice to Mariners No. 60, dated 4th January, 1910, mariners and others are hereby notified that it is intended that on or after the 24th February, 1910, the fog and tidal signals used at the South Channel Pile Lighthouse, as described in the General Notice to Mariners, dated 1st August, 1907, page 70, will be discontinued, and the lighthouse without other alteration will be unattended except at intervals, when necessary, for the maintenance of the light.

Charts affected: Admiralty, 2747B and 1171A; Departmental Chart, South Channel.

C. W. MACLEAN,
Port Officer.

Melbourne, 10th January, 1910.