THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH MARCH, 1882.
243
5. No doubt Sir J. POPE HENNESSY adds, other Australian Newspapers have given circulation to inaccurate statements as to the alleged insanitary habits of the Hongkong Chinese and to the "small- pox dens" to be found in the Chinese quarter of Hongkong, but he urges that it is particularly unfair to speak of an epidemic of small-pox as being possible in Hongkong, as in fact the Chinese of Hongkong, at their own expense, maintain the only real system of vaccination that exists in the Colony, which, up to this time has kept the Colony remarkably free from small-pox.
6. I have to request Your Lordship to communicate this despatch and its enclosures to your Government.
Governor The Right Honourable
Lord AUGUSTUS W. F. S. LOFTUS, G.C.B.,
&c.,
&c.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 90.
The following Hydrographic Notice is published for general information.
By His Excellency's Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th March, 1882.
M. S. TONNOCHY, Acting Colonial Secretary,
The information contained in this Notice is to be carefully considered, to be noted in the Sailing Directions, and compared with the chart when. the ship is navigating the parts to which it refers.
Hydrographic Notice. [No. 39.]
CHINA SEA DIRECTORY, VOL. III.
NOTICE No. 16.
CHINA-EAST COAST.
The following information has been received from Captain R. H. Napier, H. M. surveying vessel Magpie, 1881.*
(All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation 2° Westerly in 1881.)
SAN-MOON BAY TO YANG-TSE-KIANG.
CLIFF ISLANDS.-The island formerly marked on the chart at about one mile N.E. from the northernmost Ch# island, is a rock which dries 5 feet at low water.
MONTAGU ISLAND.-There is good anchorage in the bay on the south side of Montagu island, but the depths have decreased since the survey of 1843; the bottom is even and consists of mud.
Ellis Island, situated 4 miles south of Montagu Island, has a rock lying about 2 cables from its north-west end. Nose Islet, which is nearly connected with the cast coast of Nyew-Tew island, has a reef of rocks extending on it in an easterly direction, for a distance of 2 cables.
Heroine Rock is small, dries 4 feet at low water springs, and has depths of 5 to 7 fathoms close around. From this rock the summit of East Twin bears E. by N. & N., Cape Conway, N.N.W. 4 W., and small islet near west end of Leaming island, N.W. by W. W. This position of Heroine rock confirms that assigned to it by Commander E. 0. Matthews, U.S.S. Ashuelot, 1875.†
Mouse Islet, situated N.N.W. 5 miles from the north-east extreme of Kweshan islands, is 20 feet high; at 11⁄2 cables N.W. N. from this islet lies a rock which covers at half tide.
Pylades Rock was unsuccessfully searched for by the Magpie, a depth of 3 fathoms having been obtained on its assigned position, but a rock (probably Pylades) awash at low water springs, was found about a mile S.W. by S. of that position. From this rock the summit of Mosan island is seen between the Whelps, bearing N.E. by N., Castle rock in line with Buffaloe's Nose (summit) N. W., and Thornton Peak W. } S.
Starboard Jack Rocks, 30 feet high, are easily distinguished by their black appearance.
Mariner Reef is 200 yards long, east and west, and 17 yards broad, with 5 fathoms close around. From this reef Volcano island lighthouse bears S.W. by W. 4 W., Skead island, S. E., and Borrow head E. † S.
Bonham Islands. A spit with 4 to 6 fathoms mud, extends 14 miles in a westerly direction from the northernmost Bonham island.
The 9 foot rock, formerly reported as being about midway between Bonham and Morrison islands, though searched for by the Magpie, was not found, it has therefore, been removed from the chart.
Gutzlaff Island.-The 2 fathoms bank reported to extend a mile from the west side of Gutzlaff island, was unsuccessfully searched for by the Magpie; this bank has, therefore, been expunged from the chart.
Tonbridge Rock, on which the vessel of that name was said to have struck, in the year 1872, at 24 miles northward of Chesney island, is reported by Captain Anduson, of the Chinese Imperial revenue steam vessel Qua-ksing, not to exist. The Magpie remained at anchor near the reported position of Tonbridge rock during two spring tides, but no indication of a rock or shoal was seen.
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 8th December, 1881.
* See Admiralty charts :—China, eastern coast, sheet viii; Hieshan isles to Yang-Tse-Kiang, No. 1,199; Hong Kong to Liau-Tung, No. 1,202 : Approaches to the Yang-Tse-Kiang, No. 1,602 ; and plan of San-Moon bay, No. 1,994; also China Sea Directory, Vol. III., 1874, pages 294, 20%. 209, 326, 328, 329, and appendix page 576; and Hydrographic Notices, No. 29 of 1876, No. 31 of 1879.
† New Notice to Mariners, 168 of 1875,