Due allowance must of course be made after hauling up to the southward for the proportionate speed of the vessel and the rate of the tide, which runs N.N.E. and S.S. W. from 2 to 3 knots.

G. P. HEATH, Lieut. R.N.,

Port Master and Marine Surveyor.

August 7th, 1862.

BRISBANE RIVER BAR.

Buoys marking the channel to be dredged are now placed in two parallel lines 300 feet apart, running N. 13° W., and S. 13° E. The easternmost line, commencing at a distance of about two cables northward of the lightship, and passing at rather more than half a cable's length eastward of the North beacon.

Vessels, and especially steamers, crossing the bar, are hereby cautioned against running foul of these buoys, and are reminded that at present the deepest water on the bar lies to the eastward of the line in question. G. P. HEATH, Lieut. R.N.,

August 15th, 1862.

Port Master.

DEEP WATER Entrance of KAIPARA HARBOUR, New Zealand— Middle West Channel.

We find the following on entering this harbour in the Shipping Gazette of the 22nd of August:

Report of Captain W. H. Yule, ship "City of Manchester,

dated Kaipara, May 29th.

"Arrived off the heads of Kaipara from Auckland on the 12th inst., after a passage of seven days. Could not see any distinguishing or leading marks on the heads, as per chart. Brought the North Head to bear N.E. (magnetic), and steered in boldly for the Head on the same bearing, when a fine, open, broad channel presented itself to my view, bearing a N.E. course right through, carrying seven fathoms at half ebb, wind N.W. I consider Kaipara a safe place to enter in any weather. From reports in Auckland and elsewhere I expected to have had great difficulty with my ship, coupled with danger, which made me take a pilot with me from Auckland to take the ship through the Heads, which I should not have otherwise done. I would advise every shipmaster who may chance to come this way to make the land a little to the North of the Heads, say eight or ten miles. By doing so the Heads cannot be mistaken, and no difficulty or danger need be apprehended. As you sail along the land, say five miles off, and bring the North Head to bear N.E. (magnetic), steer boldly in, and a fine open channel will burst on your view, about 1 mile wide, as near as I could judge. I cannot see why Kaipara should have such a mighty bad name, as ships of the largest tonnage can enter at any time of tide. It has the advantage of all the other ports on the West coast, which are bar harbours, whereas Kaipara has no difficulty such as that to surmount; and, should it be my lot to be on a lee shore in

this locality, I should make directly for Kaipara, having so much confidence in it myself."

Referring to our chart of the harbour of Kaipara, No. 2,614, we find the channel alluded to by Captain Yule through the "outer limit of breakers," and a note on the chart giving the bearings adopted by him, with the following information:

"The barque Galatea in August, 1856, passed through a clear and strait channel to sea on this line of bearing, carrying seven fathoms at high water." The bearing is the "Middle Green Patch on the North Sand Head, N.E. & N." There are however no soundings on

the chart.

The information, however, is important, as confirming that of the Galatea, so that at high water (slack) there seems to be a fair channel with deeper water in it than in either of the others.

SIGNAL STATIONS IN THE HOOGHLY.

Act No. 1 of 1862, passed by the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal in Council. (Received the Assent of the Governor-General on the 14th April, 1862)

An Act to enforce the hoisting of signals of the names of vessels passing signal stations established on the River Hooghly, and the branches thereof.

1. The Master of every inward or outward bound vessel, on artiving within signal distance of any signal station established within, the limits of the River Hoogly, or within the limits of any channel which which may be made subject to the provisions of Act XXII. of 1855, shall, on the requisition of the Pilot who may be in charge, signify the name of the vessel by hoisting the number by which she is known, or by adopting such other means to this end as may be practicable and usual, and shall keep the signal flying until it be answered from the signal station.

2. Any Master who shall refuse or neglect to conform to the above rule shall be liable on conviction, for each instance of refusal or neglect, to a fine not exceeding one thousand rupees.

3. Every Pilot shall require the number of the vessel of which he is in charge to be duly signalled as provided under Section 1 of this Act. When, on a requisition from the Pilot to that effect, the Master not employed in the service of government shall refuse to hoist the number of a vessel, or to adopt such other means of making her name known as may be practicable and usual, the Pilot in charge of such vessel may, on arrival at the first place of safe anchorage, anchor, and refuse to proceed on his course until the requisition shall have been complied with.

4.-Any Pilot in charge who may be proved guilty of neglect to obey or of connivance with the Master in disobeying the provisions of this Act, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 500 rupees for each instance of neglect or connivance, and in addition shall be liable to dismissal from his appointment.

ANNEXATION OF PALMYRA ISLAND TO THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. The following appears in a Sandwich Island paper :

By a notice which was in the last Government Gazette it appears that Palmyra Island, located nearly 1,000 miles distant from this group, has been taken possession of and formally annexed to this kingdom.

This may all be perfectly legal and strictly in accordance with the law of nations, but our authorities, before they proceed any further, and appoint a governor, with tax collectors, judges, or other officers for their newly acquired territory, should investigate the title to the claim which is now set up. It appears that formal possession was taken of Palmyra Island, in October, 1859, for the United States Government, by Dr. G. P. Judd, the Agent of the American Guano Company, who visited the island in the brig Josephine. A notice to that effect was left on the island, with the American flag.

York Island was also taken possession of in the same way, and by the same parties. We believe the United States Guano Company also claim the same islands, and that a proclamation was issued to that effect from the State Department at Washington in favour of one of these claimants. It may be argued that right of possession can only hold good so long as the territory claimed is occupied on behalf of the nation claiming it. This is an open question, how far that argument can uphold or destroy the claim. The Hawaiian Government several years ago took possession of several islands to the N.W. of this group, and since the proclamation was made, there has been no pretension to occupancy, and the islands may remain untenanted for the next fifty years. Now, cannot the American, British, or French Governments lay claim to and occupy them, should either government wish to make a naval depot there? It appears to us that they would have the same right to occupy Bird Island that we have to occupy Palmyra. Captain Bent, in his letter to the Minister of the Interior, makes the following report concerning this island, and no doubt for some purposes it may be worth claiming possession; if we are to set up a prior claim to the American Government, and are going to hold it vi et armis, under the motto that "might makes right," our Secretary of War had better call for a larger appropriation for his department, and order half a dozen Monitors. Nothing like being prepared for any emergency.

but

"By correct observation I found the island to be in lat. 5° 50′ N., long. 161° 53′ W. The island is about ten miles in length and six miles in breadth. The eastern end rises about twenty feet above the level of the sea. The landing is on the west end, and a vessel can lie in perfect safety in three fathoms water. The trees on the island are cocoanut, puhala, and a species of the koa. All kinds of vegetables will grow on the island; I planted some beans, corn, and watermelons. I erected a dwelling-house on the island, and also a curing house for biche de mer. I left on the island one white man and four Hawaiians, who are engaged in curing the biche de mer."