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Kumara Times, Issue 896, 14 August 1879, Page 4

The last calculations on the depth of the ocean, founded on the large mass of observations resulting from the voyages of the Challenger and other vessels, show that the mean depth of all the oceans and seas is about 215 miles —i e., 1877 fathoms—and that their areas contain 140,427.536 square miles. The Pacific Ocean heads| the list with a mean depth of 3887 fathoms, while the shallowest body of water is in the Persian Gulf, which only runs fathoms throughout. The meteorological section of the War Department in the United States, wl ich is well known, is strenuously endeavoring to bring qpder some recognised form of law the science of- storms, issued during the mo th of March in the present year, 199 caution signals to the numerous ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States, and also to the ports on those vast inland seas which form the lakes sytem ot the continent. Of these 199 notices, 167, or 78 9 per cent., were justified as to direction ; and out of 81 off-shore caution signals, 69, or 85 2 per ent., were found to be correct. J. W. Carr and Son, of Auckland, are constructing a minature steam launch to the order of Wm. Firth (son of J. C. firth). When completed, it will be the smallest launch afloat m the Colonies. The extreme SfrfV 1 l he os! eal ? er wiU be 16ft; beam, Sift; depth, 2ft. It will be fitted with an engine of 1£ horse power, only standing 17in m height ; diameter of cylinder, 'with Sim stroke. It is intended by the owner for his personal use on the river at his father s estate, Mata Mata. Constable Bridgeman has resigned the position of Resident's Magistrate’s Clerk at Okarito, <as also Clerk to the Licensing Courts for Waitara, Okwito, Wekeha and tne Haast, and his resignation has been cotpted.