PILOT CHART OF THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9598, 24 August 1894, Page 4

PILOT CHART OF THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.

We have received from the Bureau of Navigation a copy of the first pilot chart of the North Pacific Ocean, issued last month by the Hydroeraphie Office of the United States Navy, Washington. The chart contains a large amount of interesting matter to mariners, and foretells the weather conditions likely to be met with during the month for which it is issued, aud points out the best course to be taken. All known rocks, reefs, and islands are marked on the chart, as also the derelicts reported, and their positions at the time observed. The Hydrographie Office has been engaged for some time in collecting information concerning the meteorology of the Pacific, in order that reliable information concerning the prevailing winds, storms, currents, and similar characteristics may be collated and published for the benefit of all mariners, and the present chart is the result of this work. Blank forms are supplied by the office to all persons willing to fill them in, and all masters of vessels trading in the Pacific are earnestly requested to supply themselves with these forms, and forward the filled sheets to any branch of the Hydrographic Office, a list of which is issued with the chart. THE WARSHIPS. H.M.B. Orlando, with Admiral BowdenSmith on board, arrived at Brisbane from Fiji and Noumea on the 16th inst., and was expected at Sydney about the 25th. The Dart sailed from Sydney on the 16th inst. for a surveying cruise to the New Hebrides, and was to call at Noumea en route. The Karrakatta was at Brisbane on the 16th inst. to meet the Orlando. The Royalist and Ringarooma were cruising amongst the islands at last reports. The Goldfinch and Katoomba are at Melbourne. The Mildura, Tauranga, and Katoomba are at Sydney. The statement recently cabled from London that relief crews were being sent out by the Crescent for the CuraSoa, Rapid, and Lizard, is denied by Admiral Bowden-Smith. He states that relief crews for the Orlando, Rapid, and Lizard will probably leave England in October, and the old crews will be paid off and the ships re-commissioned at Sydney in November. H.M. s. Crescent arrived at Plymouth on July 9, with the time-expired officers and men from the Australian station. The average speed on the trip was 15 knots. On her round voyage the Crescent covered a distance of 25,267 nautical miles on a coal consumption of 6290 tons, and during a period of 824 days' steaming the best day's run was 36'J knots. The Admiralty consider the voyage a great success, exemplifying, as it docs, the ability with which the modern cruiser can keep at sea on a moderate consumption of fuel.