THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1868, 31 July 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY FRI DAY, JULY 31, 1874.

The following additional telegraphic regulation, which is of great importance to masters of vessels trading to the port of Greymouth, was made an Order in Council at the Government House, Wellington, on 22nd July, 1874:—"Telegrams from masters of vessels trading in New Zealand to harbormasters. — The master of any ahip or vessel trading coastwise in the Colony of New Zealand, and whose ship or vessel is ready for sea, or about to proceed on a voyage, may, upon payment of a fee of sixpence, send a telegram addressed to the harbormaster at the port where his vessel may pass in the prosecution of her voyage, asking for information as to the state of the weather at any such port, in accordance with these regulations." The regulations direct that the term harbormaster shall include the deputy or any person discharging the duties of the harbormaster. In sending the telegram the master may sign his name, or the name of his vessel instead, and the harbormaster, instead of signing his name to the reply, may give the name of the port at which he has control. The harbormaster's reply i 3 to be considered a "reply paid " telegram, and the charge is to be included in the first fee of sixpence. Telegrams must relate strictly to information respecting the weather, and telegrams or replies shall not exceed ten words. Information respecting the weather may be obtained by asking any question of the following kinds, on a combination thereof : — ' ' As to the state of the barometer, the strength and direction of the winds, or the state of the sea. At bar harbors the state of the bar may be described in the same terms as are used in describing the state of the sea ; but in no case is the state or both bar and sea to be sent in the same telegram." The telegrams will, in every other respect, be accepted and transmitted in conformity with the rules and regulations relating to ordinary telegrams. Any attempt at evasion of the foregoing rules will render the telegram liable to refusal. There is no doubt such a regulation was much required, and will be a great convenience to the masters of coasting vessels, and especially of steamers, whose masters and owners will now be enabled to ascertain at a nominal expense reliable official information, which may be of great service to them in making their arrangements and calculations.