}
488 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH NOVEMBER, 1876.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
LORD HOWE'S GROUP, OR ONGTONG JAVA, RONCADOR, AND FRINDSBURY REEFS.
Captain ROSENGREN, having recently visited Lord Howe's Group, reports that its extent and position are incorrectly shown on the chart. The positions he assigns to some of the islands of the Group, and which he states agree with those obtained from the observations of Captain Ferguson, of the s.s. "Ripple," are as follow, viz. :—
North-east Islet, Lat. 5° 27′ S.; Long. 159° 34′ E.
North-west Islet
(Hammond Islet)
Lat. 5° 18′ S.; Long. 159° 17′ E.
Lat.
South-west Islet, Lat. 5° 38′ S.; Long. 159° 21′ E.
These longitudes depend upon that of Cape Astrolabe being 160° 29′ E.
The Group consists of a number of small, very low and sandy islands, lying within a quadrilateral reef, the diagonał measurement of which is about 34 miles north-west and south-east, and 21 miles north east and south-west. The islands- which are also connected by numerous reefs-are covered with cocoanut trees, and are thickly inhabited. The sling is the only weapon used by the natives, but they are very treacherous, and should be approached with caution.
To the westward of the Group a strong current was, in July, found setting to the W.N.W., at a rate of from 2 to 24 knots per hour.
Roncador or Candelaria Reef was found to be correctly placed on the chart. The sea breaks heavily upon it. On its north-western edge, about one-third of the way from its northern extremity, a small rock, was observed which, at a distance, appeared like a small vessel. Just to the north-wards of this rock, was apparently an opening into a lagoon, extending towards the northern end of the reef.
Frindsbury Reef-The position assigned to this reef was passed within three miles, but nothing could be seen of it from the mast-head.
G. P. HEATH, Commander R.N.,
Portmaster.
Department of Ports and Harbors, Brisbane, 22nd September, 1876.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
NORTHUMBERLAND ISLES.
Outlying Dangers, h.h. Cluster.
Captain LowRIE, of the s.s. "Blackbird," reports the existence of two dangers near the h.h. cluster, which are not shown upon the chart.
1. Reef awash at low water, 3 cables S.W. of westernmost Island of the group. Staff Commander Bedwell, R.N., the Admiralty Surveyor, corroborates the position of this reef, and adds, that a shoal spit extends southwards from it for upwards of a mile.
2. A shoal with not more than 2 fathoms at low water, lying from 1 to 14 miles W.S.W. from h. Peak Islet. Captain Bedwell also reports shoal water as lying nearly a mile to the south-westward of the same Islet, and recom- mends vessels not to approach the h.h. cluster within 4 miles, until the examination of the ground is completed, as detached dangers exist all round the group.
G. P. HEATH, Commander R.N.,
Portmaster.
Department of Ports and Harbors, Brisbane, 22nd September, 1876.
Government of India.
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AGRICULTURE, AND COMMERCE.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
(No. 15.)
INDIA-BAY OF BENGAL.
Notice is hereby given that the blue-light exhibited during the south-west monsoon at half-hourly intervals from the éastern channel light-ship, will be continued annually until the end of October instead of, as hitherto, to the 15th September.
By Direction of the Government of India,
A. DUNDAS TAYLOR, Comdr. (late I. N. ),
Superintendent, Marine Survey of India.
MARINE SURVEy Department; CALCUTTA, the 6th October 1876.
This Notice affects the following Admiralty Charts: Bay of Bengal, No. 70A; Hugli river, Soonderbunds, No. 138; Palmyra point to Chittagong, No. 1681; and Mutlah river, No. 82: also Admiralty List of Lights in South Africa, East Indies, &c., 1876, and the Indian Marine Survey Light List, 1876, No. 77.
If this Notice is received on boardship, the substance of it should be inserted on the Charts affected by it, and introduced into the Sailing Directions to which it relates.