NOTICE TO MARINERS.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 593, 20 December 1851, Page 2

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

[From the Government Gazette.} H. M. Surveying Vessel Pandora, Auckland, 11th December, 1851. Sir, — I hasten to report, for the interest of navigation, the existence of a dangerous Bank in the direct course of vessels bound to the west coast of this Island round Cape Maria Van Diemen, on which Her Majesty's Surveying Vessel under my command had a favourable opportunity of anchoring and sounding. The magnetic hearings from Cape Maria Van Diemen are from S. £ E. to S. S. W., to outer edge 8 miles, and from Motu Pea, E. by N. N. to E. % S., to the outer edge 10 miles ; has from sto 7 fathoms on it ; coarse sandy bottom. This bank covers three square miles, and has hitherto been considered only as a tide-race, but would be dangerous at most seasons from the heavy westerly swell prevailing on the west coast. I have, &c.t (Signed) Byron Drury, Commander. N. B.— The Island of Motu Pea (not in the existing charts) is 8. E. 11 miles from Capa Maria Van Diemen, and is 2 miles from off the long sandy beach. The Honourable The Colonial Secretary, Auckland.

Engagement with a Si.aveh. — By advices from tbe TbPtis, 58, Captain A. L. Kuper, we learn that she was at Monte Video on the 24th of May. She left Rio Janeiro for that place on Good Friday, (April 18,) and whilst on her passage down, sighted a clipper vessel, showing Portuguese colours at the main, and Yankee at the fore, proving to be n slaver mourning no less than 20 guns. She was on the weather bow of the Thetis, lying on the port tack, and on the Thetis firing her bovr gun did not heave to. " We," says our informant, " then gave her our starboard broadside, which she returned by her own, carrying away our rigging m some places. Another broadside from the Thetis act her on fire, and we bad only time to save tbe remainder of her crew, of which 14 had been killed and 6 wounded. We bad 4 killed and 14 wounded." — Portsmouth paper.