THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 10TM SEPTEMBER, 1870.
463
with regard to winds and currents.
After May no rain falls until the 20th of October; and it is hardly an exaggeration to that not a drop of rain falls during the south-west monsoon. The current runs N. E. from one to three knots. June, July, August and September-Throughout these four months one day resembles another, the south-west monsoon ing strong and steadily, generally beginning about 10 A. M., by noon increasing to a gale, so continuing until 4 P. M., then decreasing towards sun-set; if the gale continues after sun-set, it moderates after 10 P. M., never attaining ghout the night aught beyond a strong breeze. There is a strong current setting N. N. E. from one to three knots. soon as the sun passes southward of the line, the regular monsoon ceases on the south coast of Ceylon, the wind becomes ratable, land and sea breezes setting in with an intervening calm.
A remarkable circumstance occurs with regard to current during the south-west monsoon. After running three knots the N. E. for ten days, suddenly it slackens, and runs from 2 to 3 knots S. W. or from the Bay of Bengal, lasting etimes only one day, at other times for a week; these changes happen at all times of the moon, and appear to obey no nized law. By observing these changes in the current, monthly communication was, with extreme difficulty and much rak, kept up with Potana Bay, and thence by land with Galle.
October-During this month regular land and sea breezes prevail, the S. S. W. current runs strong towards the end of month, at times attaining a rate of five knots. The light vessel does not swing again until the middle of March, so that five months and a half the current runs steadily out of the Bay of Bengal, with a velocity of from one to 3 knots, and etimes of five knots. In communicating with the shore on the 15th December, the light vessel's boat was swept past ana, and could neither return to the ship nor land; but at length, when out of food and water, the coast was reached at Krinde, where the boat remained until February 15th, before a return to the light vessel could be attempted.
November, although rainy with thunder and lightning, is not a bad month at the Little Basses. The north-east monsoon blowing strong and steadily sets in towards the end. The S. S. W. current runs strong, invariably setting floating
ubstances out to sea, accounting for the fact of so few things coming on shore on the south coast of Ceylon.
December. During this month a strong north-east monsoon prevails, and the current attains its greatest strength. The light vessel is uneasy and rolls violently. In December no ship should proceed to the northward along the south-east st of Ceylon. The period during which ships may proceed north is that intervening between February 15th and November 15th; for three months in the year it should not be attempted.
Summary.There are no regular tides, but the currents from the middle of November, or during the north-east mensoon, set S. S. W. out of the Bay of Bengal for five months without variation; thus, a steamer, steering N. N. E, has t only to oppose a three-knot current, but also has the wind dead against her; some steamers make barely two miles an Lear when bound to the northward. During the remaining seven months the currents are nearly equally divided; for about wice a month in the south-west monsoon, the current will suddenly change from N. N. E. to S. S. W. When the sun esses northward of the light vessel, there is no more north-east monsoon. During the south-west monsoon, in the event of A vessel making Dondra Head when bound to Galle, which is not uncommon, the Master should never attempt to beat to Galle, but re-cross the line.
HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE; Admiralty, London, 22nd April 1870.
H. K. BURNE, Colonel, Secretary to the Government of India.
No. 119.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
It is hereby notified that under the Provisions of Ordinance No. 11 of 1844, Friday, the 21st of October next, is fixed for a Special Sessions of the Justices of the Peace, to be held at the Police Magistrates' Office, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon of that day, for the purpose of considering Applica- tions for Licenses for the sale of Spirituous and Fermented Liquors during the Year commencing on
1st December next.
Applications for such Licenses must be lodged at the Police Magistrates' Office at least Ten days before the Sessions, in the Form prescribed in the said Ordinance, and no Application will, after that period, be received for submission to the Sessions.
Printed Forms of Applications may be obtained by intending Applicants at the Police Magis- trates' Office between the Hours of 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 10th September, 1870.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
NOTICE.
Consignees and Masters of Ships are hereby informed that, after the 15th Proximo, the Boundary, North of which Vessels shall not anchor, is as follows:--
Kellet's Island bearing E. by S. S.
All Ships to be properly moored with 35 fathoms Chain (East and West).
The passage
is to be kept clear.
between the North Boundary of Men-of-War anchorage and the Kowloon Peninsula
Steamers and Vessels not having definite employment will remain on the North side, not mooring within 500 yards of the "Gunpowder Depôt."
Harbor Master's Office, Hongkong, 6th September, 1870.
H. G. THOMSETT, R.N.,
Harbor Master, &c.