H.—23

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required. This site was marked by a peg, the altitude is 240 feet, and there is a good rocky foundation. As good building stone (granite) is obtainable on the spot, and as the soil is good and tho island large, the cost of construction and maintenance in this case would n3t be heavy. For this position I recommend a second order dioptric light showing over an arc from N.N.E. round by E. and S. to N.W. by W. We next proceeded to Rugged Island, passing Cave Point without landing, as it was obviously unsuitable. Rugged Island is well named; it is remarkably rugged and difficult of ascent, but is not over 600 feet high at any part. There is an excellent landing on the east side, safe in all weathers, excepting perhaps during a gale from the south-west, or possibly from the north-west. The gradient of ascent is about 45°, and not easy to climb ; but I am of opinion that a good track could be made at small expense. On reaching the summit I found the height 530 fee;, far too great for a light; it would certainly be obscured by fog during great part of the year. The are of illumination would be all round the compass, excepting between N. 58° E. and S. 10° E. On f urther inspection I found that the island formed what I may call two "shoulders," one to the east and the other to the west. If the former were selected as a lighthouse site —if this could be done—the position would be admirable. As the island consists of hard syenite rock, the cutting would bo very difficult, although the stone thus excavated would be excellent for the building purposes. For a better idea of the sites on these islands, see sketch. To compare the respective advantages of Centre and Rugged Islands, it must be remembered that the former lies on the lee side of the straits where heavy south-west swell sets in; it is also further in the strait than the latter, and its arc of illumination would include a large area already lighted by Dog Island ; its height too would not show so far to the westward, the direction most needed, as the vessels requiring a light come from that quarter. Its one advantage is economy, as, from the fertility of the island, it would not require such frequent visits with stores. Rugged Island, on the other hand, lying further to the wesfj, a vessel bound in ;hat direction could keep in smooth water under the lee of Stewart's Island ; however, it has the additional advantage of lighting the clear passage instead of the dangers —a great point where thick weather is so common, in which vessels would have to run almost among the dangers before the light would oe visible. The position of Rugged Island, also, is a more commanding one, and I should recommend the western shoulder of that, island as the best site for a light. The next best would be on a point in Centre Island—shown by sketch No. 4. The proposed site on Rugged Island is shown in sketches Nos. 6 and 7. The South-west Points. —l next proceeded towards Green Island and Windsor Point. The weather was so bad I could only examine the coast from the ship, which I did very carefully and minutely from Green Island to Preservation Islet, where the " Luna" was detained three days by bad weather. During our detention I landed and went round the beach to Puysegur Point, which seemed to me a good position for a light at the western entrance of the Strait, as it would show admirably to vessels approaching from the westward ; I found the available site to be 135 feet high, with an illuminating arc of 180°. The summit is flat, and covered with dense bush. A good road could easily be made, passing first along the beach and then on the plateau, as shown on the sketch No. 10 by a red line : the distance would be about one mile and a quarter, passing at the back of Coal-seam Hill into Otago Retreat, which is a safe anchorage. If a tower 60 feet high were ejected, the total elevation would be 195 feet above sea level, and the light would be visible twenty miles. After examining Puysegur Point, I endeavoured to get overland to Windsor Point, but found it impracticable on account of the sea making right up to the cliffs in many places, while inland there was impenetrable bush, intersected by deep ravines. The distance is about five or six miles. By keeping along the shore I was able to examine the position with sufficient accuracy to enable me to form an opinion as to its suitability. Windsor Point is a prominent, low cape, rising gradually inland. At a suitable height a good site could be obtained, the arc of illumination would be from N. 52° W. to S. 87° E., being the same to the north as that of Puysegur Point, and 39° more to the east. After closely examining the coast for a landing, an inlet was found about half a mile to the eastward, but ths water shoaled so suddenly a short distance within the entrance that we deemed it unsafe to go far in, especially as many rocks appeared above the surface. It was quite open to the prevailing south-west winds, and Captain Fairchild agreed with me that it would not afford the necessary safety to a lighthouse tender, a very important matter on so boisterous a coast. I find, however, on inquiry, that a small vessel named the " General Gates " once rode out a gale safely in this inlet, which is generally known by her name in consequence. The inlet is not noticed in the New Zealand Pilot or the Admiralty Chart. It is shown in the accompanying sketch No. 8. No other landing-place could be discovered. I next proceeded to Green Island, and examined the coast from the ship. My opinion is adverse to this site, as it is too far to the eastward to be of full use in lighting the entrance to the Straits, where it is essential that a light should show as far as possible to the westward, to be of use in aiding vesssls in making the land from that direction. Again, there is absolutely no practicable landing at all, which alone would suffice to condemn this suggested site. Of the two other sites, Windsor Point and Puysegur Point, I recommend the latter —the only advantage possessed by Windsor Point is a greater arc of illumination to the east; but when the light on Rugged or Centre Island is erected, this will be of no material value, as the distance is but small, and a vessel after leaving the Strait has a clear coast and open sea before her. Puysegur Point has the following greater advantages : —l. It lies nearer to the quarter whence vessels make the land, and therefore would be sighted sooner 2. Having a less arc to cover, the rays could be reflected from the back to strengthen the sea arc, and reflected so as to show more in the direction of vessels making the land than would a light on Windsor Point; 3. The land adjoining Puysegur Point is lower than at Windsor Point, therefore fog is not likely to roll so low down; 4. Windsor Point is far from a safe harbour where a tender could lie; and there are almost insuperable difficulties in the way of making a road thither from the nearest landing-place, while Puysegur Point is only one mile and a quarter from Otago Retreat, and a road could very easily be formed. This is a matter of great importance with regard to the expense of construction, which would be enormous in the case of Windsor Point, if indeed it be practicable at all to erect a lighthouse there, while the cost at Puysegur Point, comparatively, would be trifling; 5. A light on the latter point would be of great service to any vessels bound for Preservation Inlet, while one at Windsor Point would be utterly useless