514.-SOUTH PACIFIC.-Fiji Islands.-Viti Levu.—(1.) Mbau Waters--Shoal North-Eastward of Teilau Island.-Commodore J. E. Erskine reports the existence of a shoal lying on the west side of Mbau waters, distant from Teilau island Jabout 3 miles. This shoal, with probably less than 2 fathoms water on it lies with the following mark and bearings:-Thang-galai just open westward of Leleuvia; Mumbualau island centre, S. 58° E.; Mbau island centre, S. 27° W.; West extreme, Viwa island, S. 45° W. Position, lat, 17° 53' 50" S., long. 178° 41' E,

(2.) Suva Harbour.—Na Mbukalou Light altered in Colour.—In July, 1883, the light exhibited near Na Mbukalou, eastern side of Suva harbour, would be altered from fixed green to fixed red. Variation, 93° E.

515.-UNITED STATES.-Mississippi.-Merrill Shell-Bank Lighthouse. The lighthouse at Merrill Shell-Bank, north side of Mississippi sound, was destroyed by fire on the morning of September 6th. A temporary light will be shown as soon as practicable, and the lighthouse will be rebuilt without delay.

516.-NEWFOUNDLAND.-South Coast.-Langlade (Little Miquelon) Island.-Particulars of Plate Point Light.—It is a flashing white light, with flashes every five seconds, elevated 154 feet above the sea, and visible except where obscured by the land, from a distance of about 20 miles. Within the distance of 16 miles, a fixed light will appear between the flashes. The ray of red light shown over Seal rocks extends about one mile westward of that group. The lighthouse, 127 feet high, painted black and white in horizontal bands, is situated 27 yards northward of the fog-siren near the point. Position on Admiralty chart, lat. 46° 49′ 5′′ N., long. 56° 24' 5" W.

517.-NEWFOUNDLAND.-South Coast.—Great Miquelon Island.— Particulars of Cape Blanc Light.-It is an occulting white light, visible for ten seconds every minute, elevated 103 feet above the sea, and visible, except where obscured, from a distance of about 16 miles. This light is partially obscured to the north-eastward by Calvary hills; it is not visible southward of a line passing about 220 yards northward of Chatte rocks-so that vessels approaching Miquelon road with the light in sight, will pass northward Anter

Miquelon and Chatte rocks; it is also obscured to the southward, by the hills of Great Miquelon island. The ray of red light shown over Seal rocks, extends about one mile northward, and 14 mile south-eastward of that group. The lighthouse is painted-lower part white, upper part black, with white lantern. Position on Admiralty chart, lat. 47° 6′ 10′′ N., long. 56° 23′ 55′′ W.

Note. On the exhibition of this light, the light on Miquelon Church tower was discontinued.

518.-CANADA.-Nova Scotia.-S.E. Coast.-Mahone Bay.— Light on Quaker Island.-On 1st October, 1883, a light will be exhibited from a lighthouse erected on the summit of Quaker island, approach to Chester, N.W. side of Mahone bay; it is a fixed red light, elevated 109 feet above high water, and visible from a distance of 11 miles. The lighthouse, 35 feet high, consists of a square tower constructed of wood and painted white, with keeper's dwelling attached. Position, lat. 44°30′ 55′′ N., long. 64°13′ 50′′ W. This light is for the purpose of guiding vessels into Chester basin.

519.-CANADA.-Prince Edward Island.-East Coast.-Cardigan River.-Light on South Bank.-On 1st September, 1888, a light would be exhibited from a lighthouse erected on the south bank of Cardigan river, eastern side of Prince Edward island; it is a fixed light, showing green seaward, and white across the river to the north-eastward; elevated 43 feet above high water, and visible from a distance of 8 miles. The lighthouse, 32 feet high, consists of a square wooden tower painted white, and is situated close to the shore, a short distance above South ferry wharf, and below Morison beach. Position, lat. 46° 12′ 50′′ N., long. 62° 31' 45" W.

Note.-Vessels entering the river should stand to the northward into Cardigan bay, until Panmure head light bears S. by W., and Cardigan river light N.W.; they should then steer towards Cardigan river light, keeping it on the port-bow-thus clearing Macphee (or Horseshoe) shoal on the south side of the river entrance, and Maitland (or Campbell) point shoal on the north side. When Cardigan river white light is opened, safe anchorage off the south ferry ship has been reached.

520.-CANADA.-Gulf of St. Lawrence.-Gaspé Bay.-Light on Flat Island.-On 20th September, 1883, a light would be exhibited from a lighthouse (Point Peter) erected on the summit of Flat (or Plateau) island, off Point Peter, south side of entrance to Gaspé bay-It is a revolving red light, attaining its greatest brilliancy every thirty seconds; elevated about 77 feet above high water, and visible from a distance of 10 miles. The lighthouse, 50 feet high, consists of a square tower constructed of wood and painted white, with keeper's'dwelling attached. Position, lat. 48° 37' 30" N., long. 64° 8' 45" W.

OUR OFFICIAL LOG.

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FISHING VESSELS' LIGHTS.-Her Majesty has by Order in Council directed that the operation of Article 10 of the New Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea shall be suspended until the first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, and that in lieu thereof and in subtitution therefor the Article numbered 9 of the Old Regulations shall continue and remain in force until the said first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four.

The Article in force from the first day of September, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, is as follows:

"Art. 9. Open fishing boats and other open boats shall not be

required to carry the side-lights required for other vessels, but shall, if they do not carry such lights, carry a lantern having a green slide on the one side and a red slide on the other side, and on the approach of or to other vessels, such lanterns shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green light shall not be seen on the port-side nor the red light on the starboard-side.

"Fishing vessels and open boats when at anchor, or attached to

their nets and stationary, shall exhibit a bright white light.

"Fishing vessels and open boats shall, however, not be prevented from using a flare up in addition if considered expedient."

THOMAS GRAY, Assistant-Secretary.

Board of Trade, 1st September, 1883.

BRITISH WRECKS IN SEPTEMBER, 1883.-The number and tonnage of British vessels respecting whose loss reports were received at the Board of Trade during the month of September, 1883, and the number of lives lost are as follows:

The above table is a record of "reports received" in the month, and not of wrecks which occurred during the month. Many of the reports received in September, relate to casualties which occurred in previous months. Casualties not resulting in total loss of vessels, and the lives lost by such casualties are not included.-THOMAS GRAY, Assistant-Secretary, Marine Department.-Board of Trade, 3rd October, 1883.

OFFICIAL INQUIRIES AT HOME, 1883.

1923. Barnsley, s.s.; built at Sunderland, 1881; owned by Mr. H. Briggs and others; tonnage, 1,319; Bassein to Port Said; rice; lost on Suadiva Atoll, Maldive Islands, June 1, 1883. Inquiry held at Hull, September 14, 1883, before Twiss, Judge; Comyn and Kennedy, N.A. Casualty due to currents carrying vessel to southward. Master erred in judgment in attempting the one and a-half degree channel at night.

1929. Milto, three-masted brigantine; built at Cardiff, 1876; owned by Mr. W. Green; tonnage, 185; Rio Grande do Sul to Bristol; hides; stranded on the Gore Sands, Bristol Channel, September 2, 1883. Inquiry held at Cardiff, September, 20, 1883,

before Ravenhill, Judge; Harland and Hyde, N.A. Stranding caused by reckless and unskilful navigation on the part of pilot (unlicensed) in charge. Master acquitted of blame.

1930. Lottie, s.s.; built at Stockton-on-Tees, 1872; owned by Lawes, Surtees and Company; tonnage, 739; Newcastle to Savona; coals; lost near Peniche, Coast of Portugal, August 22, 1883. Inquiry held at Westminster, September 20, 1883, before Rothery, Wreck Commissioner; Castle and Ronaldson, N.A. Loss due to negligence on part of master in not taking a cast of the lead when approaching a dangerous channel, the weather at the time being thick and the lights invisible. Certificate not dealt with.

1931. Iris, s.s.; built at Pointhouse, Lanark, 1876; owned by Mr. A. A. Laird and others; tonnage, 330; Glasgow to Sligo; general cargo and passengers; lost on Innistrahull Island, September 2, 1883. Inquiry held at Glasgow, September 21, 1883, before Galbraith and Hamilton, Justices; Ward, Curling, and Kiddle, N.A. Master and mate both in default for neglecting to alter the course on approaching the island on which the vessel was lost. Certificates suspended for three months respectively.

1934. City of Durham, s.s.; built at Sunderland, 1865; owned by Mr. M. Angel and others; tonnage, 466; Bilbao to Cardiff; iron ore. Lost near Ile de Seine lighthouse, August 25, 1883. Inquiry held at Cardiff, September 22, 1883, before Ravenhill, Judge; Harland and Hyde, N.A. Master in default for neglecting use of lead. Reprimanded.

1936. Amaranth, barque; built at Quebec, 1865; owned by Mr. John Warden and Mr. W. Sinclair; tonnage, 1,197; Greenock to Quebec; coals; stranded near Point Caribon, Gulf of St. Lawrence, May 13, 1883. Inquiry held at Greenock, September 27, 1883, before Neill and Blackmore, Justices; Ward and Vaux, N.A. Casualty caused by an error as to vessel's position, and to neglect of the lead. Master to blame.

1937. Thalia, brig; built at Sunderland, 1864; owned by Mr. S. Pearson; tonnage, 296; Christiania to London; ice; abandoned at sea, September 5th, 1883 (subsequently stranded on Coast of Jutland). Inquiry held at West Hartlepool, September 26, 1883, before Gray and Irvine, Justices; Beasley and Pattison, N.A.