NOTICES TO MARINERS.

West Coast Times, Issue 218, 31 May 1866, Page 2

NOTICES TO MARINERS.

(From the Government Gazette, of March 6.) Kobth -East C6ast of Australia.— Cobaij Patch in Blaokwood Channel. Information has beon received at tho Admiralty that H.M.S. Salamander, January 20, 1865, whilst steering to tho south-west through tho Blackwood channel, on tho route recommended, from Raiuo Island towards tho Middle Bank, struck on an unknown coral patch, with only seven feet on its shoalest part at low waters The patch lies about a mile E.S.E. of tho eastern part of tho Middle Banks, or in lat. lldcg. 47niin. lOscc. S. 5 lon. 143dcg. 4'lmin. 35sec. E. It is about 230 yards long,, east and west, 110 yards wide, has ten to bovoiitecn fathoms nil round it, and fifteen to seventeen fathoms iv the channel, a mile wide, between it and the reef in connection with tho eastern sand bank on the Middle Banks. From its shoalest spot of seven feet, the centre of tho eastern sand bank on tho Middle Banks bears W. $ N., distant two and a half miles, and tho south extreme of Sir Charles Hardy Islands S.W. fourteen and a half Bailee. Vessolß entering tho Great Barrier Roof by the Raine Island entranco, should, as soon as possible after passing nojrth or south of Raine Island, bring its beacon' to bear N. E. £ E., steering S.W. f W. (allowing for tido and a northerly set) for Sir Charles Hardy Islands. As soon as tho beacon is lost sight of, tho vessel will be cleav of tho shoal patches westward of the 100 fathoms line of soundings, and on the bank. Look out now for Sir Charles Hardy Islands, and when they aro plainly scon, Btecr for thoir south extreme on a S.W. f W. bearing, and when the eastern\iost sandbank on the middle banks boar N. vV\ by W.> nnd tho west Ashmoro bank (Jf seen S.S.W. 4 W., tho vessel will bo well to tho south-west of tho Salnmaudor patch, and a course may then bo shaped for either tho north or Pollard channels. (All bearings are magnetic. Variation sdeg. E. in 1865.) B command of their lordships,! <sfoso. Henby Rioiunns, Hydrographcr. Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, London, July 7, 1865. This notice affects tho following Admiralty charts: — Australia, north nnd oast coasts, sheet 21, .M. 2,354 j Coral Sea, No. 2,764 : and Australia, northern portion, No. 2,759 a ; also, Australia Directory, vol. 2, page 228. ' > LEADiNa Lights and Beacons von Newcastle, New South Wales. In order to increaso tho facilities for navigating Newcastle Harbor, leading lights for entering, and also lending lights for taking the north channel, will bo exhibited on and after Tuesday, tho Ist May, 1866. The two fairway lights for entering (red and bright), will be shown from boacons 228 feet apart, in a S.W. half S. and NE. half N. direction, erected on a clear space of ground on tlio hill at tho back tho town, between tho "Wesloyan and Catholic enurcheß. Those for taking tho north channel, also red bright, will bo shown from boacons erected of he breakwater in tho vicinity of the old Bun Beacons, at a distance of 100 feet apart, in W. by N. and E. by S. direction. In both cases, whon tho ligh's »o iv lino, the bright will be tho uppermost nnd tho red the lowermost of tho two. In tho daytimo, however, the order of colors will bo reversed, as it is intended to paint tho upper beacons red and the lower ones white. The lowor or north-eastern of the two obelisks at present used for tho leading mark in, situated on Shepherd's Hill, will bo removed, as likewise will bo tho remnant of tho Bull beacons on the breakwater. TliOvOxhibition of these leading lights will not necessitate different sniling directions to thoso already published, any more thnn tho lights and now beacons boing substituted for the obolisks and boacons which are at present in uso. > In entering tho port of Newcastle nt night great caution will bo necessary, in consequence of tho strength of tho tide, and duo allowanco will have to bo mado for ebb or flow, on sighting the' north channel lights, and about to alter course from S.W. J S., with tho fairway lights in one, to W. by N., tho direction which a vessel will havo to steor to keep tho north channel lights in line to gain an anehorago in the north harbor. JTranois Hixson, Superintendent,