696
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 30

The number of marriages (excluding those contracted between Maoris) solemnized in 1914 is estimated at 9,275, giving a rate of 8·51 per 1,000 of the mean population, against 8,813 and 8·25, the actual number and rate in 1913. The fluctuations of the birth, death, and marriage rates for the last ten years are as under:—

Per 1,000 of Population.
Birth-rate. Death-rate. Marriage-rate.
1905 .. .. .. .. .. .. 27·22 .. 9·27 .. 8·28
1906 .. .. .. .. .. .. 27·08 .. 9·31 .. 8·48
1907 .. .. .. .. .. .. 27·30 .. 10·95 .. 8·91
1908 .. .. .. .. .. .. 27·45 .. 9·57 .. 8·82
1909 .. .. .. .. .. .. 27·29 .. 9·22 .. 8·33
1910 .. .. .. .. .. .. 26·17 .. 9·71 .. 8·30
1911 .. .. .. .. .. .. 25·97 .. 9·39 .. 8·70
1912 .. .. .. .. .. .. 26·48 .. 8·87 .. 8·81
1913 .. .. .. .. .. .. 26·14 .. 9·47 .. 8·25
1914 .. .. .. .. .. .. 25·99 .. 9·31 .. 8·51*

*Subject to revision.

Registrar-General’s Office,
Wellington, 23rd February, 1915.

MALCOLM FRASER,
Government Statistician.

Government Offices to be closed on Wednesday, 17th March, 1915 (St. Patrick’s Day).

Office of Public Service Commissioner,
Wellington, 23rd February, 1915.

AS provided under the Public Service Regulations, the Government Offices throughout New Zealand will be closed on Wednesday, the 17th March, 1915, being St. Patrick’s Day.

D. ROBERTSON,
Public Service Commissioner.

Easter Holidays.

Office of Public Service Commissioner,
Wellington, 23rd February, 1915.

IT is hereby notified for general information that on Friday, 2nd April, Saturday, 3rd April, and on Monday, 5th April, 1915, the Government Offices throughout New Zealand will be closed.

D. ROBERTSON,
Public Service Commissioner.

Branch of Friendly Society registered.

Friendly Societies Department,
Wellington, 23rd February, 1915.

THE Court Pride of Edendale, No. 9678, situated at Edendale, is registered as a branch of the United Otago District of the Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society, under the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, this 18th day of February, 1915.

ROBT. E. HAYES,
Registrar of Friendly Societies.

Branch of Friendly Society registered.

Friendly Societies Department,
Wellington, 23rd February, 1915.

THE Court Southern, No. 9298, situated at South Invercargill, is registered as a branch of the United Otago District of the Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society, under the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, this 18th day of February, 1915.

ROBT E. HAYES,
Registrar of Friendly Societies.

Government Insurance Department Agency opened at Trentham Camp.

Government Insurance Department,
Wellington, 22nd February, 1915.

AN Agency of the Life Branch of the above Department will be opened at

THE POST-OFFICE, TRENTHAM CAMP,

as from the 23rd February, 1915.

J. H. RICHARDSON,
Commissioner.

Sale of Unclaimed Property.

Police Department,
Wellington, 12th February, 1915.

IT is hereby notified that the undermentioned unclaimed property in the hands of the police at the stations named will be sold by public auction on 13th March, 1915, if not claimed before that date:—

Auckland.—Umbrellas, bicycles, watches, purses, articles of jewellery, and clothing, &c.
Hamilton.—Bicycle, umbrellas, purses, articles of clothing, &c.
Napier.—Bicycles, articles of jewellery, and clothing, &c.
Wanganui.—Bicycles, articles of clothing, &c.
Wellington.—Bicycles, umbrellas, purses, articles of clothing, and jewellery, &c.
Christchurch.—Bicycles, umbrellas, purses, articles of clothing, and jewellery, &c.
Dunedin.—Bicycles, purses, articles of clothing, and jewellery, &c.
Invercargill.—Bicycles, purses, tools, &c.

J. CULLEN,
Commissioner of Police.

Notice to Mariners No. 10 of 1915.

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 20th February, 1915.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the Hydrographic Office, London; the Hydrographic Office, Washington, D.C.; the Marine Board, Melbourne; the Marine Department, Brisbane; the Marine Board, Port Adelaide; and the Minister of State for Communications, Tokyo, Japan, are published for general information.

GEORGE ALLPORT,
Secretary.

CHINA SEA.

BANKA STRAIT.—CORRECTION TO CHART NO. 941A.—Position: (a) Lat. 1° 56′ S., long. 105° 2′ E.; (b) Lat. 1° 54′ S., long. 105° 2′ E. Correction: The 2½ and 2¾ fathom shoals, shown on Chart No. 941A as being situated in the above positions, do not exist, and are to be expunged from the chart.

URUGUAY.—RIO DE LA PLATA.

ENGLISH BANK.—ALTERATION IN POSITION OF LIGHT AND WHISTLE BUOY.—Former Notice: No. 285 of 1914. New position: At a distance of about 2½ miles north-eastward from former position. Lat. 35° 11′ 15″ S., long. 55° 43′ 15″ W., on Chart No. 1749. Description: A light and whistle buoy exhibiting a flashing white light every six seconds and fitted with a submarine bell, as described in the former notice quoted above. Note: The submarine bell is still experimental, and a note to this effect is to be inserted on the charts.

SOUTH AFRICA.—CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

(1.) SLANG KOP POINT.—LIGHT NOT YET ESTABLISHED.—Former Notice: No. 1537 of 1914; hereby cancelled. Position: Lat. 34° 9′ S., long. 18° 19¼′ E. Remarks: The group flashing white light, which, according to information received, it was proposed to exhibit on or about the 1st October, 1914, has not yet been established, and is to be expunged from the charts.

(2.) CAPE POINT.—LIGHT NOT YET ESTABLISHED.—Former Notices: Nos. 1676 and 1275 of 1914; hereby cancelled. Position: Lat. 34° 21¼′ S., long. 18° 29¾′ E. Remarks: The group flashing white light, which, according to information received, it was proposed to exhibit on or about the 15th November, 1914, has not yet been established; it is to be expunged from the charts and the former light substituted, the details of which are here given. DETAILS—Position: At a distance of about 4 cables north-westward from Cape Point. Lat. 34° 21′ 11″ S., long. 18° 29′ 30″ E., on Chart No. 636. Character: A revolving white light every minute, thus—light 12 seconds, gradual eclipse 48 seconds. Elevation: 816 ft. Visibility: 36 miles, obscured by land from 119° (S. 34° E. mag.) to 126° (S. 27° E. mag.), and from 144°