No. 55.
THE HONGKong goverNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH MARCH, 1876.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
119
The following Notice to Mariners, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 11th March, 1876.
NOTICE TO MARINERS.
TORRES STRAITS.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
The following information respecting Dangers in Torres Straits and the Inner Route was obtained during the recent Expedition to New Guinea, and is supplied by Captain Edwards, of the "Chevert":-
A Shoal was found to the Southwards of Poll Islet, with apparently 2 or 3 fathoms water over it. From its Western edge
Poll Islet bore N. by E. E. Sand Bank, S.E. § E.
A Coral Reef, with Sand Bank upon it awash at or near low water, and nearly a mile in length N.N.W. and S.S.E., lies W.N.W. 2 miles from the North end of Warrior Island.
The Reef to the Northwards of Warrior Island does not exist as shown on the Charts. A Narrow Reef lies in the position of its Eastern edge N. by E. and S. by W., 24 miles long.
A Small Rock, nearly awash, was found in the following position, viz.:—
Lat. 9° 40′ 20′′ S.
142° 56′ 40′′ E.
Also another Rock, nearly awash, in
Lat. 9° 38′ 15′′ S.
142° 57′ 35′′ E.
A Rocky Shoal, upon which the "Chevert" touched while drawing 15 feet, extends some 2 miles South-westwards from the Sand Bank marked on the Chart, in
Lat. 9° 15′ 40′′ S. Long. 148° 3′ 30′′ E.
A series of Coral Reefs, dry at low water springs, and Sunken Banks, with Channels between them, was found between this Sand Bank and the Coast of New Guinea.
Casts of 7 and 4 fathoms were obtained upon a Rocky Shoal, the centre bearing N.E. & N. from the Dry Sand Bank to the North-eastward of Darnley Island, and lying in
Lat. 9° 24′ 40′′ S. Long. 143° 55′ 20′′ E.
This foul ground extends for some 2 miles N.W. by N. and S.E. by S., but is less than a quarter of a mile in width. To Vessels entering the Straits from the Eastward and making Bramble Cay late in the day, Captain Edwards recommends the anchorage under the Cay, in preference to standing on in the dark to anchor under Stephens Island, where the water is deeper and the bottom not so good.
Melanie Reck, Eastward of the Pipon Islands, is about mile in extent, and half-moon shaped. A good mark for clearing this danger when working down, is to keep the Peak of North Bay Point to the Eastward, or outside of the Peak near Cape Bowen, and marked on the Chart as 1,662 feet in height.
G. P. HEATH, Commander R.N.,
Department of Ports and Harbours, Brisbane, 11th January, 1876.
No. 56.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Portmaster.
The following Notice to Mariners, received from the Government of India, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 11th March, 1876.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE,
NOTICE TO MARINERS. (No. 3.)
Bay of Bengal--Coromandel Coast-Madras.
Colonial Secretary.
PROHIBITED ANCHORAGE NEAR THE BRITISH INDIAN SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLE.
The Madras Gavernment has given notice, with a view to the prevention of damage to the British Indian Submarine Telegraph Cable, and under the provisions of the "Indian Conservancy Act," that all vessels are strictly prohibited from anchoring in any part of the Madras Roadstead to the southward of the Lighthouse. Vessels arriving from the Colonies with horses should anchor in not less than 7 fathoms water, with the Lighthouse bearing from West to W. by S., and nothing to the southward of the former bearing. Commanders infringing these directions will be prosecuted under the provisions of Act XII of 1875.
By Direction of the Government of India,
MARINE SURVEY DEPARTMENT, CALCUTTA, 3rd February 1876.
A. DUNDAS TAYLOR, Superintendent, Marine Surveys.
This Notice affects the following Admiralty Charts:-Bay of Bengal, Coromandel Coast, No. 71 c and d; also Taylor's Sailing Directory, Vol. I., page 457.
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