NOTICE TO MARINERS.

"Pelorus at Sea,
Lat. 18° 40' South, Long. 172° 53' East,
26th July, 1861.

SIR,—I have the honor to acquaint your Excellency that at 9.15 a.m. on the 12th inst., while on her passage from New Zealand to the Fiji’s, Pylstant Island in sight, bearing N. 23° E. (true), 37 miles, Her Majesty’s Ship under my command passed within 650 yards of a reef not laid down in any chart in our possession.

2. It is about a quarter of a mile in length from East to West. There does not appear to be more than one or two fathoms water on the Western end, at the extremity of which breakers were visible, it lies in latitude 22° 55' 15" S., and longitude 176° 27' 50" W., and being situated directly in the track of vessels bound from New Zealand to the windward Islands of the Fiji group, is very dangerous to the navigation of these seas.

3. I have further to acquaint you that after dark on the evening of the 12th inst., while steering N.W. under reduced sail, the leadsman in the fore chains reported soundings in 7 fathoms, followed by two casts of 6½ fathoms and 6 fathoms respectively. The Ship was immediately brought to the wind and tacked but no soundings having afterwards been obtained either with the hand lead or the deep sea line with 63 fathoms out, she was brought to her former course. This bank if it exist, is situated in latitude 21° 43' 00" S., longitude 176° 42' 00" W.

4. On my arrival at Ovalau I was informed by H.B.M. Consul for the Fiji’s that the Natives of the Tonga Islands, who maintain much intercourse with the Fiji group, by means of their large canoes, are aware of the existence of many shoals between Tongatabu and the One Islands, but are unable to define their position. The only bank of which any reliable information could be procured was one of some extent having 22 fathoms of water on it which was discovered in August, 1860, by three American Whalers cruizing in company, and which by the mean of their observations lies in latitude 22° 43' 00" S., longitude 176° 11' 0" W.

I have, &c.,

F. BEAUCHAMP SEYMOUR,
Commodore Commanding the Australian Station.

A PROCLAMATION.

Appointing Circuit Courts to be held at Napier.

By His Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty’s Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c., &c., &c.

WHEREAS by an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, intituled "The Supreme Court Act, 1860," it is provided that there shall be held Circuit Courts for the despatch of Civil and Criminal business of the Court before one of the Judges thereof, at such times and places as the Governor in Council may from time to time appoint; And whereas by a Proclamation dated the 26th day of February, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, Circuit Courts were appointed to be held for the Middle District of the said Colony at the town of Wellington, and at the town of Nelson, on the several days therein respectively mentioned, and it is expedient that Circuit Courts shall be also held for the said District at the town of Napier.

Now, therefore, I, the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of New Zealand, in pursuance and further exercise of the said power and authority Do hereby proclaim and appoint that a Circuit Court shall be held at Napier, in the Middle District of the said Colony, on the eighth day of October next, for the despatch of Civil and Criminal business of the Court, before the Judge thereof to whom the said District has been assigned. Provided that the hereinbefore recited Proclamation and the appointments thereby made shall not be annulled, varied, or altered by this Proclamation.

Given under my hand, at the Government House, at Auckland, and issued under the Seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this sixth day of September, in the year of Our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.

T. GORE BROWNE,
By His Excellency’s command,
WILLIAM FOX.