A—No. G,

PAPERS RELATIVE TO A PROPOSED CONFERENCE

1.

of erecting a Lighthouse on the Snares, at the entrance of Foveaux Straits, as a guide to the numerous vessels sailing from Australia to South America and to Europe via Cape Horn. The establishment of a lighthouse in that locality would, besides indicating the position of the Snares, thereby preventing damage to vessels passing near to them, constitute a fixed point of departure for vessels bound on these voyages, and diminish the risk of shipwrecks on the Auckland Islands, the occurrence of which has been of late so frequent. As this is a subject in which all the Australasian Colonies are jointly interested, it would most fitly be dealt with at a conference of delegates ; and I have accordingly, in my letter No. 169, of even date herewith, suggested it as one of the questions to be submitted to the conference proposed therein. I have, &c, The Hon. Chief Secretary, Victoria. E. W. Stafford. [Similar letter to other Australian Governments, except Western Australia.]

Enclosure in No. 2. Report by Mr. Balfoub. Sir, — Marine Department, AVellington, 2nd October, 1868. AVith reference to a proposal to erect a Lighthouse on the Snares, I have the honor to report as follows: — 1. I was examined by the Select Committee of the Honorable Legislative Council with reference to the propriety of erecting a light on the Auckland Islands or elsewhere, with a view to the prevention of the recurrence of such terrible disasters as the wreck of the " General Grant." 2. I then expressed the opinion that a lighthouse on the Snares would be of more general service than any single lighthouse on the Auckland Islands, and, should it be found moderately easy to effect a landing on any of the group (the Snares), that it would not probably be more costly. 3. I was influenced in forming this opinion by the consideration of the great length of the Auckland group (over thirty nautic miles) which would render it difficult to cover them effectually by one light, whereas the most outlying of the Snares is not more than three and a half nautic miles from the centre of the principal island; thus, a good light on the main island would very efficiently cover the whole danger. 4. Another argument in favour of the Snares is, that a light there would be of great service to the shipping bound for any of the southern portions of this Colony from ports eastward of Australia, as such vessels usually go to the southward of Stewart Island, and very generally make the Snares as their laud-fall. A light on the Auckland Islands, on the other hand, would be of very little service to the trade of this Colony. 5. A light on the Snares would bo of great service to the homeward-bound fleet from Sydney (right on their track), Brisbane, Melbourne (for a considerable part of the year at least, though it would be somewhat to the north of the most usual track), and probably to a less extent of South Australia and Tasmania. 6. A light or lights on the Auckland Islands would be more generally useful to homeward-bound vessels from A'ictoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, but it would be of little or no use to the shiriping trade of Queensland, New South AVales, or New Zealand. 7. But little is known of the Snares. The "New Zealand Pilot" (p. 228) says —" The Snares are a bold and moderately high group of islands, destitute of vegetation and covered by myriads of the pintado or Cape pigeon. They lie sixty-two miles S.S.VV. of the S.W. end of Stewart Island, and extend four and a half miles in a N.E. byE. and S.AV. by AY. direction. They are an excellent landmark from the westward, and are recommended to be made as a point of departure in passing south of Stewart Island, whereas the name they bear would deter vessels from approaching them." " The N.E. or largest island is little more than one mile in length by half a mile in breadth, rising on the south side perpendicularly to the height of 470 feet; the N.E. side is less precipitous, and probably accessible under very favourable circumstances. The western portion of the group consists of four islets, separated from the large island by a channel of two miles in width." 8. This account must be modified by more recent statements. In the official report of the crew of the brig "Amherst" (Southland Gazette, No. 9 of vol. 6, published Saturday, 11th April, 1868), the following passage occurs: —"At noon on the 28th, when as yet the brig was eight miles distant from the Snares, the wind headed us, so a boat was lowered, into which I stepped, and we pulled away for the N.E. side of the island, where is a small gulch or cove, the only boat harbour on it, I believe. Thousands of mutton-birds, nellies, penguins, &c, heralded our approach, and to some extent prepared us for what we saw on landing. Once on shore our party was divided, and we commenced our search. I and two others made for the west side, where we climbed a high bluff, some 500 feet high, commanding a good view of the whole island. Our progress was painfully slow, the entire surface being literally honeycombed with mutton-bird holes, into which the foot sank deeply at every step —the inmates thereof betokening their dissatisfaction at our presence by giving vent to a half-choked, querulous cry. The penguins (ludicrous birds) in hundreds, drawn up in rank and file, stood to oppose our march, and it required not a little vigorous kicking to force our way through them. AVo fired the grass on the open, and made a considerable smoke; but during our stay of four hours, we had no evidence whatever to show that any one was or had been living on the island. . . . Taking a last look round, we recognized the necessity for our immediate departure, the mutton-birds darkening the sky in their flight, banging down on the ground in thousands iv a most absurd and reckless manner, inflicting severe buffets on the heads of several of us." " The Snares are in latitude 48 3' S., longitude 166° 45' E., and, under this name, comprise two islands, a large reef to the N.W. of the main (three and a half miles distant), and several outlying rocks. The small island (half a mile long) is separated from the main on its east side by a very narrow passage. The larger island 1 take to be about four miles in circumference; greatest elevation,