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SOIT
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THE HONGKONG
Government Gazette.
Published by Authority.
WITHDRA
No. 49.
VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER, 1872.
VOL. XVIII.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
No. 223.
The following Hydrographic Notices, received from the Admiralty, are published for general information.
By Command,
CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 28th November, 1872.
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. 9.]
CHINA PILOT. NOTICE NO. 23.
HAITAN STRAIT.
The following information relative to a sunken rock in Haitan Strait, upon which the American steam-vessel Suwo-nada struck in January 1872, (the position of which was ascertained by the officers of the United States ship Ashuelot, under the orders of Rear-Admiral John Rodgers,) has been received from the Vice-Admiral Commanding-in-chief in China, 1872.*
[All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation 1o Westerly in 1872.]
This sunken danger, which has been named the "Ashuelot Rock," lies nearly in the centre of the southern part of Haitan Strait about 3 cables to the westward of Low Island; it has 10 feet on it at low water springs, and 6 to 71⁄2 fathoms were found at two boat's lengths from the rock.
From the rock, Low island bears E. † N., Junk Sail rock S.E. by S., and the middle of Pass island S. by W. § W.
The position of this rock narrows the southern part of Haitau strait to 24 cables at low water, and renders this part unsafe at that time of tide for vessels drawing more than 9 or 10 feet.
[This Notice cancels former No. 23, of the same date.]
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, 22nd April 1872.
* See Admiralty Charts :-China, East Coast, sheet V., No. 1761; and Haitan Strait, No. 1985: Also, China Pilot, page 134.
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. 14. ]
CHINA SEA DIRECTORY, VOL. II. NOTICE No. 10.
NORTH-WEST COAST OF BORNEO.
The following account of some outlying shoals on the north-west coast of Borneo has been received from Captain W. Arthur, R.N., of H.M.S. Iron Duke, 1872.*
[All Bearings are Magnetic. Variation 1° 20′ Easterly in 1872.]
During the passage of H.M.S. Iron Duke from Singapore to Labuan, soundings were obtained in 5 fathoms in latitude 5° 5' N., and longitude 14° 40′ F., about 44 miles N.N.W. of the Bruni patches with the eastern extreme of the Bruni cliffs, bearing S.E. E.
Information was also received from the Captain of a vessel trading between Labuan and Singapore, of a similar patch about 16 miles to the north-east of that found by the Iron Duke, reported to be in latitude 5° 13′ N., and longitude 114° 53′ E. This position was deter- mined from cross bearings of Kuraman island and mount Pisang.
Commander George Robinson, of H.M.S. Rinaldo also reports, that during the passage from Labuan to Manila, when about 21 miles from the coast of Borneo, the leadsman suddenly got soundings in 7 fathoms decreasing to 5 fathoms, the bottom being distinctly visible and discoloured water seen from the masthead to the northward.
From this shoal water the west extreme of Gaya island bore S. E. and the mountain of Kini Balu S.E. by E. į E., the depth of 5 fathoms being in latitude 6o 26′ N., and longitude 115° 56′ E.
* See Admiralty Charts :--Borneo, N.W. coast, Nos. 2109, 2110, and 2112; China sea, No. 2660 B; Gulf of Siam, No. 2720; Bangkok river, No. 999: also, China sca Directory, Vol. II., pages 118, 148, and 318.