Nov. 21.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3819

Notice to Mariners No. 70 of 1918.

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 19th November, 1918.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the Hydrographic Office, London, and from the Hydrographic Office, Washington, D.C., are published for general information.

GEORGE ALLPORT,
Secretary.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

VANCOUVER ISLAND — VICTORIA HARBOUR ENTRANCE — OGDEN POINT BREAKWATER — FOG-SIGNAL TO BE ESTABLISHED — FOG-SIGNAL TO BE DISCONTINUED.

About 15th September, 1918, and without further notice, a diaphone fog-signal operated by compressed air, which will sound 1 blast every 15 seconds—thus, blast 2 seconds, silent 13 seconds—will be established in the lighted beacon on the outer end of Ogden Point Breakwater.

The horn projects from the top of the beacon at a height of 38 ft. above high water and points 205°.

When the fog-signal is established on Ogden Point Breakwater the fog-signal on McLoughlin Point will be discontinued.

Approximate position: 48° 24′ 48″ N., 123° 23′ 37″ W.

NOVA SCOTIA.

CAPE BRETON ISLAND — EAST COAST — INGONISH ISLAND LIGHT — CHARACTERISTIC CHANGED.

About 15th October, 1918, and without further notice, the fixed white light on Ingonish Island will be replaced by a flashing white catoptric light showing 1 group of 3 flashes every 25 seconds—thus, flash, interval 4 seconds, flash, interval 4 seconds, flash, interval 16 seconds. For one-half the period, or 12 seconds, the light will be totally eclipsed; for the other half a light of 500 candle-power will be visible, and this will be intensified by the flashes of 40,000 candle-power.

The illuminant will be petroleum vapour burned under an incandescent mantle.

Approximate position: 46° 41′ 20″ N., 60° 20′ 10″ W.

SOUTH-EAST COAST. — HALIFAX HARBOUR APPROACH. — SAMBRO OUTER BANK LIGHT-VESSEL TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM STATION. — GAS-AND-WHISTLE BUOY TO BE ESTABLISHED. — CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHTS TO BE CHANGED.

About 30th September, 1918, and without further notice, Sambro Light-vessel No. 15 will be withdrawn from her station for repairs, and the station will be marked by a combination gas-and-whistle buoy, painted black, showing an occulting white light.

The light-vessel will be off her station about six weeks, and further notice will be given when she is replaced.

When the light-vessel is replaced she will show from each masthead a fixed white light.

Approximate position: 44° 20′ 30″ N., 63° 30′ 20″ W.

BAY OF FUNDY. — CAPE ST. MARY LIGHT. — CHARACTERISTIC CHANGED.

About 15th September, 1918, and without further notice, the alternating light at Cape St. Mary will be replaced by a group flashing white catoptric light showing 1 group of 2 flashes every 24 seconds—thus, flash, interval 6 seconds, flash, interval 18 seconds. For one-half the period, or 12 seconds, the light will be totally eclipsed; for the other half a light of 500 candle-power will be visible, and this will be intensified by the flashes of 50,000 candle-power.

The tower will be surmounted by a new octagonal iron lantern painted red, and the illuminant will be incandescent petroleum vapour.

While alterations are being made a provisional fixed white light will be shown from an anchor lens lantern.

Approximate position: 44° 05′ 08″ N., 66° 12′ 45″ W.

NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

SANDWICH ISLANDS, HONOLULU HARBOUR. — CHANNEL LIGHT-BEACON NO. 4. — ALTERATION IN POSITION.

New Position.—At a distance of 270 yards, 28° (N. 18° E. mag.), from former position, on the eastern side of the entrance channel, and 253° (S. 63° W. mag.) from the Crematory chimney. Lat. 21° 18′ N., long. 157° 52½′ W.

Description.—No. 4 pile light-beacon exhibiting a fixed red light.

Remarks.—The structure is concrete and consists of 3 pile supports painted red.

Variation.—10° E.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

MAUI ISLAND. — NORTH COAST. — KAHULUI HARBOUR APPROACH. — SPARTAN REEF. — BUOY ESTABLISHED. — BELL BUOY DISCONTINUED.

On 23rd August, 1918, Spartan Reef Buoy 1, a first-class can was established in place of Spartan Reef Bell Buoy 1, which was discontinued.

Approximate position: 20° 56′ 00″ N., 156° 25′ 15″ W.

SOUTHWEST COAST. — MAALAEA BAY. — KIHEI RANGE LIGHTS TO BE DISCONTINUED.

About 1st November, 1918, Kihei Range lights will be permanently discontinued.

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

THE LINE ISLANDS. — MALDEN ISLAND. — WRECKS. — CURRENTS.

On 22nd May, 1918, a barque of 1,144 tons register, making passage from San Francisco to Melbourne, was wrecked on Malden Island, one of the small “Line Islands” of the Pacific Ocean, situated in 4° 03′ S., 155° 01′ W. On 9th June, eighteen days later, a schooner was wrecked on this island at the identical spot where the barque was wrecked, the schooner actually striking between the sunken masts of the barque.

This remarkable incident calls especial attention to the dangerous character of the currents and the great necessity for caution in navigating through this region.

The equatorial and counter-equatorial currents which here prevail run in opposite directions, and are sometimes of great strength, a record of more than 4 knots an hour for the southern division of the former having been recorded. It has been supposed, however, that the counter-equatorial current in its limits does not extend below the Equator. It is noteworthy that the lines of division between these currents are stated to be sometimes distinctly marked and the streams of the equatorial generally at their greatest strength when near these lines of division. The embarrassment to the navigator from currents of such a character is manifest and should lead to special measures for the safety of the vessel.

The following extract from the report of the master of the barque will be found interesting: “For five days previous to the accident the ship had set steadily to the eastward, so that I decided to pass to the eastward of the island and to sight it to verify our position to ensure a safe passage through the reefs to the southward. At noon on the 21st of May I found by observation that we had set 21 miles to the eastward of our course, and that we had 146 miles to go to bring Malden abeam. The island is only visible at a distance of 15 miles from a ship’s deck. I therefore set a course to pass 17 miles off, and I estimated that the current would add another 6 miles to that distance, and that at daylight we should sight it from the masthead, but the current after 6 p.m. must have set very strongly to the westward and southward, for the ship struck at 3.40 a.m., the log showing only 127 miles run from noon. When on the reef I found the current setting like a mill-race to the westward; this was unexpected, and was the direct cause of the loss of the ship.”

RED SEA.

ZEBAYIR ISLANDS. — CENTRE PEAK ISLAND. — ROCK REPORTED EASTWARD OF.

Position (approximate).—At a distance of 2·1 miles, 90° (S. 89° E. mag.) from Centre Peak Island Lighthouse. Lat. 15° 01¼′ N., long. 42° 11½′ E.

Depth.—Not stated.

Note.—This rock, which was not examined, is to be indicated on the charts by the symbol for a rock with a depth of less than 6 ft. and marked “Reported (1917).”

Variation, 1° W.

CHINA SEA.

ANAMBA ISLANDS. — MINES.

The possibility exists that on the route from Singapore to the northward, westward of the Anamba Islands, in the latitude of Mangkai (Manki) Island, mines may be strewn. On this account ships are advised to give this island a wide berth.

Approximate position of Mangkai: 3° 05′ N., 105° 36′ E.