H.—l2a,

20

Note on No. 7. —Preference would be given to the 2nd order chiefly on account of its much greater cheapness, not only in first construction, but in maintenance hereafter, in which the difference would be very considerable. Note on No. 8.-—This cost is supposed to include the fixing of reflectors on the beacon which stands on the end of the reef. John Blackett.

No. 4. Mr. Blackett and Captain Johnson to the Secbetary of Customs. Sir,— Marine Office, 12th March, 1875. We have the honor to forward, for the information of the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs, bhe enclosed memorandum on The Snares, in reference to their suitability as a site for a lighthouse. We have, &c, E. Johnson, Inspector of Steamers. John Blackett, The Secretary of Customs, Wellington, New Zealand. Marine Engineer. Memorandum on The Snares. Compiled from Information obtained during a Visit made there in New Zealand Government p.s. "Luna," on 31st December, 1874, and from Captain Stokes' Survey in 1851. These are a group of islands situated between latitude 41° 4' S. and 48° 7' S., and longitude 166° 28' to 166° 35', being about sixty miles S.W. of the southern end of Stewart Island. The largest of the group is about a mile long by half a mile broad; the land is undulating, and rises in the highest part to 470 feet above sea level. It is covered with soil, and stunted timber grows in the valleys, and scrub and grass of diiFerent kinds on the hills. Water is found in abundance, strongly impregnated with peat and guano; and the whole island swarms with penguins and other sea fowl, which have so much undermined the light soil with innumerable burrows, that it is difficult to walk from one part of the island to the other. Good granitic stone fit for building, and peat and wood fuel, are found in abundance. The coast line generally is formed of precipitous cliffs, rising nearly perpendicular, except on the N.E. side, where the land slopes to the sea, presenting a much lower coast line, in the middle of which is a capital boat harbour, safe in all weathers for boats and small cutters. A plan of this, made from a rough survey, is attached to this memorandum. Eastward of the main island, with only a boat passage between, lies another smaller island of much the same character as the larger; and about three miles to the S.W. of the nearest part of the main island lie four separate rocks or islets, with only a narrow passage between them. The largest of these is about one-quarter of a mile long, and the smallest about half that size. These rocks bear from each other about north and south, and extend over a mile in length, the four forming a rugged ridge of almost inaccessible rocks, the highest peaks of which rise to 290 feet. No vegetation or water appears on any of them, and landing can only be effected in the finest weather. To the westward of these rocks there are no dangers whatever, and a vessel may approach them with perfect safety ; but between the islets and the main island there is a rock showing just above water, which is always breaking over it; this is shown on the chart. The group is surrounded with deep water, and there is no anchorage except close under and to leeward of the main island, where a steamer may anchor with a stream anchor in forty fathoms during moderate weather. The want of a light on this group has long been felt by masters of vessels passing, and at an Intercolonial Conference of delegates from various colonies held at Sydney, N.S.W., in February, 1873, a resolution was passed to the effect, " that the risk to life and property occasioned by the existence of the dangerous group of islands known as The Snares, and the Auckland Islands, south of New Zealand, rendered the erection of a lighthouse in that vicinity eminently desirable, and that it be a recommendation to the Imperial Government and to the several Colonial Governments to contribute to the expenses of such light in proportion to the tonnage of the shipping inwards or outwards in Great Britain of each colony deriving benefits from the same." The " New Zealand Pilot " also has this passage: " The group (Snares) form an excellent landmark from the westward, and are recommended to be made as a point of departure in passing south of Stewart Island." The vessels referred to in the above passage would be those arriving from the westward, and bound to the southern ports of New Zealand, and to vessels passing when bound from Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, to Europe or America. Taking into consideration that all vessels making the group arrive from the westward, it will be obvious that the rocky islets to the westward of the main island would be the proper place for a light, but, from their isolated situation, the difficulty of landing, bad weather, want of water and vegetation, &c, the cost of construction and maintenance would be great and attended with considerable trouble, while a light on the main island would be comparatively easy of construction and maintenance. The objections however to erecting a light on the main island are, that a lower altitude than 400 feet cannot be obtained, and if obtained the islets to the westward would obscure 18° of an arc of the horizon whence ships arrive ; whilst if erected on the highest point, say 470 feet, it would be very liable to be obscured in thick weather, and over the islets the light would not be seen at a nearer distance than nine miles, except over the lowest part of the islets and through the gaps between them; therefore, under such circumstances, a vessel not being certain of seeing the light on account of the islets could not run with confidence towards the group. This defect might be met, to a certain extent, by a contrivance, adopted we believe in America, that is, the use of a powerful steam whistle which