Mar. 13.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 845

FLORES SEA.—PATER NOSTER ISLANDS.—MARIA REIGERS BERGEN BANK.—LIGHT ESTABLISHED.—FURTHER INFORMATION.—The Netherlands Government has given notice that the light recently established on Maria Reigersbergen Bank, Paternoster Islands, Flores Sea, is a dioptric, acetylene, intermittent white light every 4 seconds—thus, light 2 seconds, eclipsed 2 seconds—visible 11 miles.

The light is shown 50 ft. above the sea from a white, skeleton, iron tower located on the eastern side of the bank.

Approx. position : Lat. 7° 51′ S., long. 117° 11′ 30″ E.

OREGON.

COLUMBIA RIVER ENTRANCE.—BUOY CHANGED.—On 7th December, 1912, Clatsop Spit gas-buoy 10, moored at the entrance to the Columbia River, Oregon, was replaced by a first-class nun buoy, without change in position.

GAS-AND-WHISTLE BUOY TO BE ESTABLISHED.—BUOY TO BE DISCONTINUED.—At an early date South Jetty gas-and-whistle buoy 2, cylindrical, with pyramidal skeleton superstructure, showing 17 ft. above the water a flashing red acetylene light of about 210 candle-power every 3 seconds—thus, flash 0·3 second, eclipsed 2·7 seconds—will be established at the entrance to the Columbia River, Oregon, on the bearings—

North Head Lighthouse, 26°.

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, 48°.

Desdemona Sands Lighthouse, 92°.

On the same date Clatsop Spit buoy 2 will be discontinued.

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

CAROLINE ISLANDS.—MARIERE OR WARREN HASTINGS ISLAND.—CORRECTED POSITION.—INFORMATION.—The master of the Swedish steamer “Nippon” reports that Mariere or Warren Hastings Island, Caroline Islands, North Pacific Ocean, charted in latitude 4° 20′ N., longitude 132° 28′ E., was found by astronomical observations to be in latitude 4° 20′ N., longitude 132° 21′ E. The master states that this position may be considered as fairly accurate, it having been obtained by simultaneous observations of the sun and moon, the error of the chronometer being well known.

The “Nippon” passed 2 miles southward of the island, which is fringed by breakers, the reefs extending about 1 mile from shore on the south-western side. The island was covered with low brushwood, above which were seen the white trunks of high dead trees.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

OAHU.—HONOLULU HARBOUR.—BUOY REPLACED BY GAS-BUOY.—On 15th November, 1912, Channel buoy 10, Honolulu Harbour, Hawaiian Islands, was replaced by Channel gas-buoy 10, cylindrical in shape, surmounted by a pyramidal skeleton superstructure, and showing an intermittent red light every 10 seconds—thus, light 5 seconds, eclipsed 5 seconds.

The gas-buoy is moored in 5½ fathoms of water.

GAS - BUOY DISCONTINUED. — On 15th November, 1912, Channel gas-buoy 9, Honolulu Harbour, Hawaiian Islands, was permanently discontinued.

KAUAI ISLAND.—KAHALA POINT LIGHT.—CHARACTERISTIC CHANGED.—On 15th November, 1912, the characteristic of Kahala Point light, north-east coast of Kauai Island, Hawaiian Islands, was changed from flashing white every 1⅘ seconds —thus, flash ⅘ second, eclipsed 1⅘ seconds—to flashing white every 3 seconds—thus, flash 0·3 second, eclipsed 2·7 seconds—without other change.

Approx. position : Lat. 22° 9′ N., long. 159° 17′ 40″ W.

OAHU.—PEARL HARBOUR.—INTENDED CHANGES IN BUOYAGE.—About 15th January, 1913, the following changes will be made in the buoyage of Pearl Harbour, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands :—

Ford Island Spit buoy 19, a second-class spar, will be replaced by a second-class can, numbered 21, without other change.

Ford Island Spit buoy 21, a third-class spar, will be replaced by a second-class can, numbered 23, without other change.

Peninsula Point Shoal buoy 17, a third-class spar, will be replaced by a second-class spar, numbered 1, moored in 3⅔ fathoms of water.

CALIFORNIA.

CORTES BANK.—BANK REPORTED TO SOUTHWARD.—The master of the British steamer “Pectan” reports the existence of an uncharted bank southward of Cortes Bank, sea-coast of California, in (approximately) latitude 31° 59′ N., longitude 119° 5′ W.

On 18th April, 1912, at 8 a.m., heavy breakers and overfalls were sighted about 2 miles eastward of the ship’s position (latitude 32° N., longitude 119° 7′ 30″ W.). A sounding was immediately taken, which gave 50 fathoms, hard bottom. The ship’s course was 141°, and after running 10 miles another cast gave 60 fathoms, coarse sand and mud. After running 3 miles farther on the same course, a third cast gave no bottom at 100 fathoms. A heavy swell was running at the time.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY.—POINT KNOX.—BUOY ESTABLISHED.—On 15th November, 1912, Point Knox buoy 2, a first-class nun, was established in about 6 fathoms of water ⅔ mile 196° from Angel Island Lighthouse, San Francisco Bay, California, to mark the shoal on the south-western side of the island, on the bearings—

Point Blunt, tangent, 84°.

Alcatraz Lighthouse, 143° 15′.

Lime Point Lighthouse, 227° 30′.

SAN PABLO BAY.—PETALUMA CREEK LIGHT.—COLOUR AND NUMBER CHANGED.—On 11th November, 1912, the colour of Petaluma Creek light No. 2, San Pablo Bay, California, was changed from red to white, and the luminous power increased from 42 to 170 candles. The colour of the structure was changed from red to black, and the number from 2 to 1.

This light marks the port side of the new dredged channel, and is located on the following corrected bearings—

Pinole Point, left tangent, 139° 30′.

East Brother Island Lighthouse, 182° 45′.

Petaluma Point, tangent, 304° 45′.

SAN DIEGO BAY.—BALLAST POINT LIGHT.—CHARACTERISTIC TO BE CHANGED.—INTENSITY INCREASED.—About 15th January, 1913, the characteristic of Ballast Point light, San Diego Bay, California, will be changed from fixed white to flashing white every 3 seconds—thus, flash 0·3 second, eclipsed 2·7 seconds. The power of the light will also be increased to about 530 candles by changing the illuminant from oil to acetylene gas.

Approx. position : Lat. 32° 41′ 11″ N., long. 117° 13′ 58″ W.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY ENTRANCE.—SAN FRANCISCO LIGHT-VESSEL WITHDRAWN FROM STATION. RELIEF LIGHT-VESSEL.—On 3rd December, 1912, San Francisco Light-vessel No. 70, moored off the bar at the entrance to San Francisco Bay, California, was temporarily withdrawn from her station, and the station was marked by Relief Light-vessel No. 76.

Relief Light-vessel No. 76 shows a light and sounds signals having the same characteristics as those of Light-vessel No. 70, except that the light is fixed white, elevated 46 ft. above the water, and visible 12 miles in clear weather, instead of flashing white every 15 seconds.

Approx. position : Lat. 37° 45′ 3″ N., long. 122° 41′ 30″ W.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

STRAIT OF GEORGIA.—BURRARD INLET.—ATKINSON POINT LIGHT-STATION.—CHANGE IN FOG-SIGNAL.—The Canadian Government has given notice that on 15th December, 1912, a compressed-air diaphone, which will sound 1 blast every minute —thus, blast 2½ seconds, silent interval 57½ seconds—was established at Atkinson Point Light-station, Burrard Inlet, Strait of Georgia.

The new fog-signal is installed in a white, square, wooden building, with a gable roof, located on the extremity of Atkinson Point, in front of the lighthouse.

Approx. position : Lat. 49° 19′ 32″ N., long. 123° 15′ 30″ W.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.—CAPE ST. JAMES.—NON-EXISTENCE OF DANGER SOUTH-EASTWARD.—A search has been made by whalers for the danger reported by the American steamer “Weiding Brothers” on 15th February, 1910, about 4 miles 151° from the southernmost of the Kerouart Islands, off Cape St. James, southern extremity of Queen Charlotte Islands, but no depths of less than 20 fathoms were found in the vicinity. A tide rip exists in the assigned position.

Approx. position : Lat. 51° 48′ N., long. 130° 57′ 30″ W.

CHANGE IN COLOUR OF LIGHTED BEACONS.—The following gas-lighted beacons, including foundations, framework supporting tanks, tanks and framework supporting lanterns, will, without further notice, be painted white throughout :—

Dock Island beacon, Sidney Channel. Approximate position : Lat. 48° 40′ 30″ N., long. 123° 21′ 44″ W.

Helen Point beacon, Active Pass. Approx. position : Lat. 48° 51′ 13″ N., long. 123° 20′ 39″ W.

Mary Anne Point beacon, Active Pass. Approx. position : Lat. 48° 51′ 29″ N., long. 123° 18′ 45″ W.

Joan Point beacon, Dodd Narrows. Approx. position : Lat. 49° 7′ 52″ N., long. 123° 49′ 2″ W.

Seechelt beacon, on White Islet, off Seechelt Peninsula. Approx. position : Lat. 49° 24′ 50″ N., long. 123° 42′ 32″ W.

Lund beacon, Ragged Islands Passage, Malaspina Strait. Approx. position : Lat. 49° 59′ 42″ N., long. 124° 49′ 10″ W.

Goose Spit beacon, Port Augusta, Baynes Sound. Approx. position : Lat. 49° 39′ 40″ N., long. 124° 54′ 58″ W.

Maud Island beacon, Seymour Narrows. Approx. position : Lat. 50° 7′ 28″ N., long. 125° 20′ 7″ W.