New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania:—

"In advising the erection of a Light-house on this Island, the Commissioners wish to guard themselves from affording the public any reasonable supposition that this Light can be at all considered in the position of a great highway Light for the navigation of the Straits. The south coast of New Holland, at the western entrance of Bass’s Straits, being free from danger, affords, in their opinion, the safest shore for the prudent Mariner to approach; and they conceive that the Light on King’s Island is only to be regarded as a Beacon for warning Navigators of danger, rather than as a leading Light to a great thoroughfare."

The bearings following were taken in 1855, by Commander Ross, R.N., from the sight of the Light-house:—

Western extremity of Harbinger Reef, N. 69° W.; distance, 4½ miles.
Eastern extremity, N. 54½° W.; distance, 4 miles.
Navarino Shoal, N. 34½° E.; distance, 2½ miles.
Southern extremity of New Year’s Island, S. 39° W.; distance, 9 miles.
Northern ditto, S. 49½° W.; distance, 7½ miles.

The bearings are magnetic; variation 10° east.

C. M. MAXWELL,
Chairman Marine Board.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

[No. 26.]
SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN.
REEF OFF STEWART ISLE, NEW ZEALAND.

It appears from an examination of the Weather book of the ship Bruce, Thos. Meiklejohn, Commander, in her passage from Otago by the south of New Zealand to Calcutta, in November last, when passing the south-east extreme of South or Stewart Island, discovered a dangerous Reef, which is not laid down in the Admiralty or any other Charts, or noticed in the New Zealand Pilot or Sailing Directions.

This danger which is described as two low rocks from 3 to 6 feet high, and close together, on which the sea breaks heavily, lies in the direct track of vessels closely rounding Stewart Island in proceeding to or from the southern settlements of New Zealand.

Its position, which appears to have been determined with some accuracy, is as follows:—

Seven-tenths miles E. by N. ¼ N. from Owen Island off Lord’s River.
Five one-tenth miles E. by N. ¼ N. from the extreme of the Break Sea Isles.
3¼ miles E. by S. ¾ S. from Wreck Reef off Port Adventure.
7¼ miles S.E. ¾ E. from East Head, north of Port Adventure.

Or, in latitude 47° 7' 35" S. and long. 168° 21' 35" E.

Soundings, though tried for, were not obtained in sailing neighbourhood, from the rapid rate of the ship in passing the danger.

CAUTION.—It is creditable to Captain Meiklejohn to have entered the discovery of this Reef in his Weather book; but it is greatly to be regretted that he did not take some steps immediately on his arrival at Calcutta or in England to make public the existence of this very serious danger which lies but little out of the sailing track of ships bound to the southern settlements of New Zealand.

Had not the remark been seen by Rear-Admiral Fitz Roy (who was searching this book for Meteorological facts, and at once transmitted it to the Admiralty for publication) this reef might not have been heard of until it had caused the wreck of a vessel.

On being applied to for further information Captain Meiklejohn readily sent up his original Chart on which the reef was marked at the time, and there can be little doubt of its existence; Masters of vessels are therefore warned to keep a good look out in this neighbourhood. They are further requested, on the discovery of any danger, to report the same immediately on arriving at the first port, in order that other vessels may be put on their guard, and for the general benefit of the Mariner.

[All bearings are magnetic. Variation, 16° 20' East in 1861.]

By Command of their Lordships,
JOHN WASHINGTON,
Hydrographer.

Hydrographic Office,
Admiralty, London,
15th August, 1861.

This Notice affects the following Admiralty Charts:—New Zealand, General, No. 1212; Foveaux Strait and South Island, No. 2533; New Zealand Plans No. 2542; Pacific Ocean, General, No. 2683, and Sheet 10, No. 2468; and New Zealand Pilot, p. 224.