4456

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Character.-Group flashing white light showing two flashes in quick succession every ten seconds, thus: Flash ½ sec., eclipse 1 sec.; flash ½ sec., eclipse 8 secs.

Elevation.-675 ft.

Visibility.-23 miles.

Power.-5,000 candles.

Remarks.-The light will be unwatched. No further notice will be given.

Charts affected.-Admiralty Charts Nos. 2389, St. Vincent and Spencer Gulfs; 2759B, Australia, southern portion.

Publications affected.-“Admiralty List of Lights and Time-signals,” Part VI, 1917; “Australia Directory,” Vol. I, 1907, page 187.

EAST COAST, INNER BARRIER ROUTE.-CHAPMAN ISLAND.-INTENDED NEW LIGHT.-BEACON TO BE DISCONTINUED.

Mariners and others are hereby notified that-

(1.) The new single flashing white light will be exhibited experimentally on or about 1st December, 1917.

(2.) The square black beacon will be discontinued on or about 1st December, 1917.

Position.-On the north-west end of the reef, about 1½ cables northward of the existing beacon. Lat. 12° 53’ S., long. 143° 35½' E.

Structure.-Steel skeleton tower, painted red and white, on concrete piers ; height, 61 ft.

Character.-Single flashing white light, showing one flash every five seconds, thus : Flash ½ sec., eclipse 4½ secs.

Elevation.-56 ft.

Visibility.-13 miles.

Power.-1,500 candles.

Remarks.-The light will be unwatched. Further notice will be given.

Charts affected.-Admiralty Charts Nos. 2920, Cape Direction to Cape Grenville ; 2921, Claremont Point to Cape Direction ; 2764, Coral Sea, sheet 2 ; 2759A, Australia, northern portion; 780, Pacific Ocean, south-west sheet.

Publications affected.--“Australia Directory,” Vol. II, 1907, page 421 ; “Admiralty List of Lights and Time-signals,” Part VI, 1917; “Sailing Directions and other Information for the Ports and Harbours of Queensland,” 1917, page 50, &c.

JAPAN.

NORTH COAST OF HOKKAIDO.-NEW LIGHT TO BE SHOWN.

Notice is hereby given that the light of newly established Notoro Misaki Lighthouse, on Notoro Misaki, Province of Kitami, Hokkaido, will be shown as follows on the 1st of October, 1917 :-

Notoro Misaki Lighthouse.

Position.-Lat. 44° 6' 30” N., long. 144° 14' 30” E. (according to the Japanese Admiralty Chart No. 42).

Description.-Octagonal concrete tower, painted white.

Height of Light.-61 shaku above the base, 187 shaku above the water.

Character of Light.-Fourth-order flashing white, showing one flash every 15 seconds.

Illuminated Arc.-An arc 238°, from S. 77° E., through S. and W., to N. 19° W. (magnetic bearings taken from seaward).

Power.-39,000 candles.

Visible distance.-20 nautical miles in clear night.

No light will be exhibited during the months of January and February every year.

SOUTH COAST OF HONSHU.

Notice is hereby given that the candle-power of the light of Hino Misaki Lighthouse, on Hino Misaki, E. side of Kii Suido, has been increased as follows since the 28th of September, 1917:-

Hino Misaki Lighthouse.

Power.-350,000 candles.

GULF OF TOKYO.

Notices are hereby given that Fort No. 2 Staff light, and Ashika Jima beacon light, Gulf of Tokyo, have been destroyed by the hurrican which occurred on the 1st October, 1917.

Further notices will be given after the rebuilding of the above light.

CHINA.

EAST COAST.-HONG KONG.-NEW STORM-SIGNALS ESTABLISHED.

Position.-Hong Kong, lat. 22° 18' N., long. 114° 10' E. The undermentioned systems of storm-signals have been substituted for those formerly in use at Hong Kong:-

[No. 176

1. LOCAL STORM-SIGNALS.

Day Signals.

Signal. Symbol.

1 🪨 A typhoon exists which may possibly cause a gale at Hong Kong within twenty-four hours.

2 🔺 Gale expected from the north (N.W. to N.E.).

3 ▼ ,, south (S.E. to S.W.).

4 🔶 ,, east (N.E. to S.E.).

5 ⬤ ,, west (N.W. to S.W.).

6 🔷 Gale expected to increase.

7 ✚ Wind of typhoon force expected (any direction).

The symbol for signal No. 1 is coloured red, the remaining symbols are black.

Signal No. 7 will be accompanied by three explosive bombs, fired at intervals of 10 seconds at the Water-police Station and repeated at the Harbour Office.

The signals will be lowered when it is considered that all danger is over.

The day signals will be displayed at the masthead of the storm-signal mast on Blackhead Hill, the Harbour Office, H.M.S. “Tamar,” Green Island signal mast, a flagstaff on the premises of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company at Kowloon, a flagstaff on the premises of the Standard Oil Company at Lai-chi-kok, and a flagstaff near the Field Officer’s Quarters at Lyemun.

Night Signals (Lights).

The night signals will be displayed, at sunset, on the tower of the Railway-station, on H.M.S. “Tamar,” and on the Harbour Office flagstaff. They will have the same signification as the day signals.

Signal No. 7 will be accompanied by explosive bombs as above in the event of the information conveyed by this signal being first published at night.

Supplementary Warnings.

When signals are displayed in the harbour a cone will be exhibited at the following stations:-

To notify the fact to native craft and passing ocean vessels. Further details can always be given to ocean vessels, on demand, by signal from lighthouses.

The object of the code is to give at least twenty-four hours' warning of a gale (Force 8 by Beaufort Scale, or 40-45 m.p.h., mean velocity by Dines Anemometer), and also warnings of expected changes in the direction and force of the wind. Owing, however, to the uncertain movements of typhoons and to insufficient telegraphic observations, it will occasionally happen that signals 2 to 5 may be displayed without a gale occurring at Hong Kong, or even Gap Rock; but the reverse is not likely to happen, except in the case of typhoons forming in the vicinity and travelling rapidly towards Hong Kong, or of a located typhoon increasing its rate of progression abnormally.

Signal No. 1 is intended as a warning to “Stand By” and watch for the next signal.

2. NON-LOCAL STORM-SIGNALS.

The signals are made by means of ten symbols representing the ten numerals--

They are displayed at the yardarms of the storm-signal mast on Blackhead Hill, and remain until an order to change or lower is received from the Observatory.