FEB. 15.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 723

RODNEY COUNTY.

Notice of Result of Poll on Loan.

In the matter of the Counties Act, 1908, and of the Local Bodies’ Loans Act, 1908, and the Acts amending the same respectively.

I HEREBY give notice that on the 2nd day of February, 1912, a proposal was submitted by the Rodney County Council to the ratepayers of the Matakana Special-loan District for raising a special loan of £1,000 for forming and metalling the Matakana-Omaha and the Matakana-Warkworth Roads; and that the number of votes recorded respectively for and against the proposal was as follows: For, 33; against, 20.

And I declare the said proposal to be carried.

Dated this 3rd day of February, 1912.

G. W. THOMSON,
Chairman, Rodney County Council.

Notice to Mariners No. 12 of 1912.

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 5th February, 1912.

THE following Notice to Mariners, received from the Department of Communications, Tokyo, Japan, is published for general information.

J. A. MILLAR.

[Translation.]

HIYORIYAMA LIGHTHOUSE TO BE ALTERED IN LIGHT AND TO BE FITTED UP WITH A FOG-SIREN.

Notice is hereby given that Hiyoriyama Lighthouse, on Takashima-misaki, outside Otaru Harbour, Hokkaido, will be permanently altered in light on 15th December, 1911, as follows:—

Character of Light: Acetylene-gas group-flashing white light, showing 3 flashes in succession during 3 seconds separated by an eclipse of 5 seconds.

Candle-power: 1,000.

Distance visible: 19 nautical miles in clear weather.

The lighthouse will be fitted up with a fog-siren, which will be sounded during thick or foggy weather on and after the same date as follows: Blast, 4 secs.; silent interval, 1 m. 20 secs.; blast, 4 secs.; silent interval, 1 m. 20 secs.

COUNT HAYASHI TADASU,
Minister of State for Communications.

Tokyo, 30th November, 1911.

Notice to Mariners No. 14 of 1912.

TOKOMARU BAY.—LIGHTS ON LEADING-BEACONS.

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 7th February, 1912.

REFERRING to Notice to Mariners No. 162 of 1911, the Waiapu County Council has notified that the front beacon at Tokomaru Bay now carries a red light, and the back or higher beacon a white light.

Charts, &c., affected: Admiralty Charts Nos. 2527 and 3500; “New Zealand Pilot,” eighth edition, 1908, Chapter iv, page 121; “New Zealand Nautical Almanac,” 1912, page 326.

J. A. MILLAR.

Notice to Mariners No. 15 of 1912.

AUCKLAND HARBOUR LIGHT.

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 9th February, 1912.

REFERRING to Notice to Mariners No. 148 of 1911, the Auckland Harbour Board have further notified that an unwatched 500 c.p. Lux light is now exhibited from the St. Helier’s Bay Wharf.

The light will be 16 ft. above H.W., and visible to seaward about 7 miles on a clear dark night, and takes the place of the kerosene light at present exhibited from the wharf.

Charts, &c., affected: Admiralty Charts Nos. 1970 and 1896; “New Zealand Pilot,” eighth edition, 1908, Chapter ii, page 38; “New Zealand Nautical Almanac,” 1912, page 32.

J. A. MILLAR.

Pelagic Sealing Treaties.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 10th February, 1912.

THE following despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with copies of the treaties regarding pelagic sealing referred to therein, are published for general information.

J. A. MILLAR.

(New Zealand.—No. 412.)

Downing Street, 29th December, 1911.

MY LORD,—With reference to my despatch No. 236, of the 13th of July, and previous correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of two treaties on the subject of pelagic sealing. I have to add that the treaty of the 7th July was ratified on the 12th instant.

2. It will be seen by comparison of the treaties that the treaty between this country, the United States of America, Russia, and Japan practically superseded the treaty of the 7th February between the United Kingdom and the United States.

3. I have to invite the special attention of your Ministers to the obligation imposed upon the whole of the Empire by Articles 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the treaty of 7th July. Your Ministers will no doubt take such steps as may be necessary to carry out the obligations of New Zealand under these articles.

I have, &c.,

L. HARCOURT.

Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington.

K.C.M.G., D.S.O., &c.

TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES RESPECTING MEASURES FOR THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF THE FUR-SEALS.

(Signed at Washington, February 7, 1911.—Ratifications exchanged at Washington, July 7, 1911.)

His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and the United States of America, being desirous of adopting effective measures for the preservation and protection of the fur-seals, have resolved to conclude a Treaty for that purpose, and to that end have named as their Plenipotentiaries:

His Britannic Majesty, the Right Honourable James Bryce, O.M., His Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Washington; and

The President of the United States of America, Philander C. Knox, Secretary of State of the United States;

Who, having communicated to each other their respective full powers, which were found to be in due and proper form, have agreed to and concluded the following Articles:—

ARTICLE 1.

The High Contracting Parties mutually and reciprocally agree that their subjects and citizens, respectively, and all persons subject to their laws and treaties, and their vessels shall be prohibited while this Article remains in force from engaging in pelagic sealing in that part of the Behring Sea and North Pacific Ocean north of the thirty-fifth degree of north latitude and east of the one hundred and eightieth meridian, and that every such person or vessel offending against this prohibition may be seized and detained by the naval or other duly commissioned officers of either of the High Contracting Parties, but they shall be delivered as soon as practicable to the authorities of the nation to which they respectively belong, who alone shall have jurisdiction to try the offence and impose the penalties for the same, the witnesses and proof necessary to establish the offence being also sent with them, or otherwise furnished to the proper jurisdictional authority with all reasonable promptitude; and they agree, further, to prohibit during the same period the use of any British or United States port by any persons for any purposes whatsoever connected with the operations of pelagic sealing in said waters, and to prohibit during the same period the importation or bringing of any fur-seal skins taken in such pelagic sealing into any British or United States port, and by the necessary legislation and enforcement of appropriate penalties thereunder to make such prohibitions effective.

Such prohibitions, however, shall not apply to Indians dwelling on the coasts of the territory of Great Britain or of the United States and carrying on pelagic sealing in canoes not transported by or used in connection with other vessels, and propelled wholly by paddles, oars, or