May 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1703

Notice to Mariners No. 33 of 1916.

Marine Department.
Wellington, N.Z., 8th May, 1916.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the Board of Trade, London; the Hydrographic Office, Washington; the Hydrographic Office, London; the Department of Trade and Customs, Melbourne; and the Department of Ports and Harbours, Melbourne, are published for general information.

GEORGE ALLPORT,
Secretary.

GENERAL NOTICES.*

GENERAL NOTICES ISSUED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE SINCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR.

Giving Information to the Enemy.

MASTERS, officers, and seamen are warned of the great danger of talking with strangers or in the presence of strangers regarding the business in which their ship is employed, or of naval or military movements and operations, or movements of shipping of which they may have knowledge. The greatest caution should be exercised in this matter both in the United Kingdom and in foreign ports as enemy agents are constantly on the look-out for such means of obtaining information. Under the Defence of the Realm Regulations it is an offence to communicate information to the enemy.

ENGLAND.

WEST COAST.—RIVER MERSEY.—AMENDED REGULATIONS RESPECTING WATCH-VESSELS.

The regulations respecting watch-vessels in the River Mersey have been amended by a recent Order in Council, and are now as undermentioned:—

Watch-vessels.

The words “watch-vessel” shall mean a vessel anchored to mark the position of a wreck or other obstruction.

A watch-vessel shall carry in all weathers—

(a.) Between Sunset or Sunrise: Four green lights in globular lanterns not less than 10 in. in diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light visible all round the horizon, at a distance of at least a mile, the four lights to be carried as follows—two in a vertical line, one over the other, not less than 6 ft. apart, at each end of a cross-yard on the foremast, with a horizontal distance between the lights at either end of the cross-yard not exceeding 25 ft. The height of the two lower lights not to exceed 20 ft. above the hull of the watch-vessel.

(b.) Between Sunrise and Sunset: Four green balls in the positions ordered with regard to the lights aforementioned.

A watch-vessel during fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain-storms, whether by day or night, shall ring a deep-toned bell as follows: Three strokes in succession, to be repeated three times in a period of about fifteen seconds in each minute, to be followed by an interval of about forty-five seconds silence.

SOUTH COAST.—PLYMOUTH AND DEVONPORT DOCKYARD PORTS.—PROHIBITED ANCHORAGES.

Notice is hereby given that new editions of Admiralty Charts Nos. 973, 871, 1967, and 30 have been published, showing new cables and prohibited anchorages within the limits of the dockyard ports of Plymouth and Devonport, in accordance with clause 14 of the First Schedule of Order in Council dated 14th day of October, 1915.

WASHINGTON.

PUGET SOUND.—ADMIRALTY INLET.—POINT HUDSON LIGHT-STATION.—FOG-SIGNAL ESTABLISHED.—On 5th February, 1916, a third-class reed horn, which sounds 1 group of 2 blasts every 20 seconds—thus, blast 3 seconds, silent 2 seconds; blast 1 second, silent 14 seconds—was established at Point Hudson Light-station.

The horn is placed in a grey frame building close to the light.

Approx. position: Lat. 48° 7′ 4″ N., long. 122° 44′ 54″ W.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

VANCOUVER ISLAND.—VICTORIA HARBOUR.—MIDDLE ROCK REMOVED.—LIGHT-BUOY WITHDRAWN.—BEACON-LIGHT ESTABLISHED.—Middle rock has been removed by dredging to the standard depth of Victoria Harbour, 20 ft. at low-water spring tides.

The lighted platform buoy marking the rock has been withdrawn, and a fixed white electric light, elevated 16 ft. above high water and visible 1 mile from all points of approach, has been exhibited from a platform on piles, surmounted by a staff carrying a latticework drum and a lantern, the whole painted black, located 300 ft. 133° from Pelly Island.

An electric cable makes connection with the shore at the foot of Mary Street, Victoria West.

VICTORIA.—TIME-SIGNAL ESTABLISHED.—STORM-SIGNAL MOVED.—A time-ball has been established by the Meteorological Service of the Dominion of Canada, on the Belmont Building, at the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets, Victoria, 142 ft. above the ground and 162 ft. above mean sea-level.

Approx. position: Lat. 48° 25′ 20·5″ N., long. 123° 22′ 4·4″ W.

The time-ball is half-masted at 12 h. 45 m. p.m.; masted at 12 h. 55 m. p.m.; and dropped at 1 h. 00 m. p.m., Pacific standard time (120th meridian) corresponding to 9 h. 00 m. Greenwich mean time.

The signal is made daily and the ball is operated by the superintendent of the Meteorological Observatory at Gonzales Heights.

The storm-signals are no longer made from the Post-office Building, but are shown from the same building and from arms on the same mast as the time-ball.

H.O. Charts Nos. 527, 903, 1769, and 1775.

U.S. Coast Survey Charts Nos. U, 5052, 7002, 6400, 6300, and 6380.

H.O. Pub. No. 96, 1907, page 117.

H.O. Pub. No. 87, 1915, page 127.

STRAIT OF GEORGIA.—BURRARD INLET.—SECOND NARROWS.—BEACONS DISCONTINUED.—The wooden pile beacon on the edge of the northern flats, about ¼ mile westward of Seymour Creek, has been discontinued.

Formerly two beacons were maintained here; the eastern one was carried away in 1910.

The southern edge of the shoal water is sufficiently well marked by the poles of the B.C. Electric Company and by piles driven for various purposes by other interests.

H.O. Charts Nos. 527, 903, 1768, and 1408.

U.S. Coast Survey Charts Nos. U, 7002, 6400, and 6300.

H.O. Pub. No. 96, 1907, page 232.

• PANAMA.

LIMON BAY.—BUOYS ESTABLISHED.—Information has been received that the following buoys have been established in Limon Bay:—

A second-class spar buoy, painted red and black in horizontal bands, in 22 ft., on the bearings—

Washington Hotel, right tangent .. 169° 00′
Toro Point Lighthouse .. 259° 00′
West Breakwater Light .. 304° 45′

A third-class spar buoy, painted black, in 18 ft., on the bearings—

West Breakwater Light .. 52° 00′
Washington Hotel, right tangent .. 102° 00′
Beacon Light No. 2 .. 160° 00′

The following mark the anchorage for vessels carrying explosives:—

A first-class spar buoy, painted white and marked A in black, in 39 ft., on the bearings—

Washington Hotel, right tangent .. 169° 30′
Toro Point Lighthouse .. 257° 00′
West Breakwater Light .. 300° 00′

A first-class spar buoy, painted white and marked A in black, in 42 ft., on the bearings—

Washington Hotel, right tangent .. 188° 00′
Toro Point Lighthouse .. 261° 15′
West Breakwater Light .. 298° 30′

H.O. Charts Nos. 21, 1290, 1176, 945, 5002, and 5000.

U.S. Coast Survey Chart No. 950.

Isthmian Canal Commission Chart No. 1.

H.O. Pub. No. 64, 1907, page 400.

BRAZIL.

EAST COAST.—RIO DE JANEIRO HARBOUR.—FORT LAGE LIGHT.—CHARACTERISTIC CHANGED.—The characteristic of the light on Fort Lage has been changed from fixed red to flashing white every 3 seconds—thus, flash 0·6 second, eclipsed 2·4 seconds.

The new light has a visibility of 10 miles.

Approx. position: Lat. 22° 56′ S., long. 43° 8′ 45″ W.

RIO DE JANEIRO APPROACH.—MARICA ISLANDS.—LIGHT ESTABLISHED.—Chief Officer K. Hodgson, of the British steamer “Byron,” reports having observed a flashing white