Aug. 27.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3309

4. The mean range of the tide at springs and at neaps to the nearest ¼ ft. according to the best available determination.

5. The datum to which soundings are reduced referred to :—
   (a.) Ordnance datum or other fixed mark exactly.
   (b.) The level of mean low-water springs approx.
   (c.) The mean tide-level approx.

The term low-water ordinary springs will not, in future, be used, the datum which has hitherto been referred to in these terms being now called “ mean low-water springs. ”

As neither the level of mean L.W. springs nor the mean tide-level can be exactly ascertained except from a very prolonged series of tidal obsers., the datum to which soundings on the chart are reduced with reference to these levels (see 5 (b) and (c) ) will always be given as approx.

It will be seen that when the datum of the charts is approx. mean L.W. springs, the rise and range of spring tides (3) and (4) will be equal. When, however, the datum is other than mean L.W. springs, spring rise will indic. the mean height of H.W. springs above the datum of the soundings on the chart, and spring range the mean heights of H.W. springs above the level of mean L.W. springs. Moreover, in either case the neap rise (3) will indic. the mean height of H.W. neaps above the datum for soundings on the chart, and neap range (4) the mean height of H.W. neaps above mean L.W. neaps.

On charts of places for which the above information is not all available, as much as is known will be given.

The following is an example of the tidal information tabulated in accordance with the foregoing :—

Tidal Information.

June, 1914.

MOSSSEL BAY.—CAPE ST. BLAIZE LT.-H.—A fog explosive sig., giving 1 report every 10 mins., is est. on top of the lt.-h. (34° 11¼′ S., 22° 9½′ E.). July.

BANKA STRAIT.—DAON ISL. LT.—This F. white lt. (2° 54¼′ S, 106° 13¼′ E.) is shortly to be replaced by a fl. white lt. (U). July.

MALACCA STRAIT.—PENANG HARB.—The s.s. “Ban Ho,” in 5° 22¾′ N., 100° 19¾′ E., on W. extr. of the middle bank, in the S. chan. to Penang, marked by a wrk. buoy in 4½ fms. July.

CANTON RIVER.—WHAMPOA CHAN., ERN. ENTR.—A lt.-beacon, red, exh. a red lt., is est. in 23° 5½′ N., 113° 24¾′ E., about 2½ cables N.-erd. from Sulphur Pt., and 4 cables 130 yds. 317° (N. 43° W. mag.) from the flagstaff on Signal Hill, Whampoa. The beacon marks the end of the spit that extends to the S.-erd. from Pedder Isl. July.

AUSTRALIA.

CAUTION WITH REGARD TO SPEED TRIALS.—The following cautionary note has been placed on charts showing measured dists.: “ Flag A, International Code, when flown by H.M.A. or other ships in the vicinity of any measured dist., indic. that such vessels are running speed trials on that measured dist. For mutual safety, vessels, both steam and sailing, should endeavour to keep out of the way whilst these trials are in progress. ” July.

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY REGULATIONS.—The regulations under this head (Statutory Rules 1911, No. 128) are amended by inserting after the regulation under the head of “ Charges ” the following regulation: “ Ocean Forecasts and Weather Reports.—Ocean forecasts sent by the Commonwealth Meteorologist will be transmitted from radio-telegraph stations owned, operated, and maintained by or on behalf of the Postmaster-General to vessels at sea, and weather reports received at such radio-telegraph stations from vessels at sea, and addressed to the Commonwealth Meteorologist, will be transmitted, on payment of the following charges: For each communication not exceeding 20 words, 2s.; for each additional word, 1d.; plus the ordinary land-line charges.” July.

PANAMA.—COLON HARB.—The accompanying reproduction of portion of Chart No. 3111 shows the positions and descriptions of 4 lt.-buoys recently est. to mark the outer edge of the dredged chan. leading to the Panama Canal. Position: Dredged chan. entr., 9° 23′ N., 79° 55½′ W.

[Image: Reproduction of Portion of Chart N° 3111.]

PANAMA.—ALMIRANTE BAY.—1. Crawl Cay Chan.—Caution.—The following cautionary note has been placed on the plan of Crawl Cay Chan. on Chart No. 1795: “ Recent surveys of this vicinity show considerable differences in the banks and soundings. This plan should therefore be used with extreme caution. ” Position: 9° 15′ N., 82° 8½′ W.

2. Shepherd Harb.—Amendments to Chart.—(a.) The coral ledge off Iguana Pt. extends to about 2 cables from the H.W. line with its S.-ern. extr. 4·4 cables 277° (N. 88° W. mag.) from Shepherd Isl. lt. (9° 14¾′ N., 82° 22′ W.). (b.) A shoal, with 1½ fms. on its wrn. extr., which is 2 cables 264° (S. 79° W. mag.) from the 4¼-fm. coral head about 2 cables nrd. from Agama Cay, extends for about 1¼ cables in an E.S.-ely. direction, and has on its ern. extr., which is 1·2 cables 242° (S. 57° W. mag.) from the above 4¼-fm. coral head, a depth of 2¾ fms. (c.) A shoal spit extends off Agama Cay in a N.-ely. direction to about 0·9 cable from the H.W. line, with its N.-ern. extr. 1·6 cables 176° (S. 9° E. mag.) from the above 4¼-fm. coral head. July.

PANAMA. — BOCA DEL DRAGO AND BOCA DEL TORO. — SHOALS.—The accompanying reproductions of portions of Charts Nos. 1799 and 1793 show certain shoals which have been found to exist in the Boca del Drago and Boca del Toro. Position: Cauro Pt., 9° 25¼′ N., 82° 20¾′ W., Long Bay Pt., 9° 23¼′ N., 82° 15¼′ W.