June 14.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1687

No Vessel under any Circumstances to neglect Proper Precautions.

Art. 29.—Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner or master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper look-out, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

Reservation of Rules for Harbours and Inland Navigation.

Art. 30.—Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of a special rule, duly made by local authority, relative to the navigation of any harbour, river, or inland waters.

DISTRESS-SIGNALS.

Art. 31.—When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance from other vessels or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, viz. :

In the daytime—
(1.) A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute ;
(2.) The International Code signal of distress indicated by N.C. ;
† (3.) The distant signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball ;
(4.) A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus.

At night—
(1.) A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute ;
(2.) Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar-barrel, oil-barrel, &c.) ;
(3.) Rockets or shells, throwing stars of any colour or description, fired one at a time at short intervals ;
(4.) A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus.

AIDS TO MEMORY.

In Four Verses, by the late Mr. THOMAS GRAY, C.B.

1. Two Steamships meeting.

When both sidelights you see ahead—
Port your helm and show your RED.

2. Two Steamships passing.

GREEN to GREEN—or, RED to RED—
Perfect Safety—Go ahead !

3. Two Steamships crossing. NOTE.—This is the position of greatest danger; there is nothing for it but good look-out, caution, and judgment.

If to your starboard RED appear,
It is your duty to keep clear.
To act as judgment says is proper:—
To Port—or Starboard—Back—or, Stop her.
But when upon your Port is seen
A Steamer's Starboard Light of GREEN,
There's not so much for you to do,
For GREEN to Port keeps clear of you.

4. All Ships must keep a good look-out, and Steamships must stop and go astern, if necessary.

Both in safety and in doubt
Always keep a good look-out ;
In danger, with no room to turn,
Ease her, stop her, go astern.

• If a master of a vessel uses or displays, or causes or permits any person under his authority to use or display, any of those signals of distress, except in the case of a vessel being in distress, he shall be liable to pay compensation for any labour undertaken, risk incurred, or loss sustained in consequence of that signal having been supposed to be a signal of distress; and that compensation may, without prejudice to any other remedy, be recovered in the same manner in which salvage is recoverable. (Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, section 434 (2).)

† A further distress-signal is provided in the International Code of Signals. It is a distant signal consisting of a cone, point upwards, having either above it or below it a ball, or anything resembling a ball. This signal has not been sanctioned by Order in Council under the provisions of section 434 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.