40 FRIDAY, 8TH AUGUST, 1856. Present :-Captain Kay,'R.N., Mr. Browne. Crawford Pasco, Esq.,' R.N., examined. c. Pasco, Esq., 1066. You are Water-Police Magistrate' of the CGlony oCV.iclioria?-Yes. 8jhA:~lS56 1067.' Were you'employed ·in -H.M.S. Beagle in surveyingthis·,coast?-Ycs, I was , . specially detached from the Beagle for the survey of Bass's Straits. 106S.A great portion of the survey of Bass's Straits was conducted under your super­ intendence, was it not ?-I assisted- ·Mr. (now Oommander) Forsy-th,·who was my superior, and conducted this portion of the survey. 1069. Do you know the east coast of New South Wales also, from Sydney aownwards?­ Partially; merely by having .made passages between this and Sydney. I was not engaged in the- survey of. that coast.. 1070. Perhaps ft:om YOlJr .passages up and down the coast you- will be able to give the Commission your opinion as to. whether you consider that there should be any additional light on. that coast bctween Sydney Heads and Cape Howe ?-It occurred to me in the last· trip I made: that a light would be desirable on Cape George. 1071. That is the southern entrance of Jervis's Bay ?-Yes; Point 'Perpendicular I think is too elevated for alight. r072. Are you aware that vessels experience a considerable 'indraught·or setting to the· southward 80 as frequ~ntly to bring them considerably to the westward of the course which they anticipate making, and that sometimes in consequence get into 'Wreck Bay and· are lost 1,.--1 am not aware of that fact. 1073. Supposing a light to be erected on Cape George, would you then consider' that the· coast between Port Jackson and Cape Howe was well lighted ?-I. should think it sufficiently lighted. As the resources of different .localities become' developed it may eventually become· necessary to have harbor lights. • 1074. But speaking of ,the great highway lights, you think that then ·the coast between those points will be well lighted ?-Yes, sufficiently. 1075. Have YOll had opportunities of observing the light on the Howe since it;has been erected ?-No; I have never seen that light. 1076. From its position do you think that it is beneficial to·navigation ?-"Decidedly. I had understood from one ship mast~r in the trade that it was not a good light; but from others I have understood that·it ill an excellent light, and they approach it with confidence. I have never seen it myself. IOn. Was the light on Gabo Island originally suggested by Captain Stokes?-I am not aware of that. 1078. It was not. suggested at the time your were with him in the Beagle J!...,..I am not aware; Captain Stokes was in the vicinity of Cape II owe in the Beagle at the time that I was detached from her. , . ro79. In proceeding to the westward what is the next point at which you think it would be desirable that a light should be established ?-Ithink a light ,is .necessary for vessels rounding Wilson's Promontory. 10SO. In the course of your surveys did you ever land on Wilson's Promontory ?-Not on the extremity of the promontory. I have landed at Corner Inlet. 1081. Have you ever had an opportunity of judging of the geological features of the cape itself?-I have been very close to it, and it appears to be all granite boulders. , 1082. As it. must bc very evident that the placing of a light on Wilson's Promontory wouhl require that it should be in such a position that vessels could see it in coming both from the east and from the west-is there any spot on ·the coast which you could suggest as desirable for a light 7-1 should not reeommend a.light on the promontory itself. The point I have always felt would be most useful for a light would be on the Ten-foot Rock, if it be practicable. 1083. Have you seen the Ten-foot Rock ?-Yes. 1084. Have you landed.on it ?-I have not. 1085. Do you think-it would be practicable to·erect a lighthouse there ?-I think there is. ample base for it. 1086. Does it-stand above the water to any considerable height ?-More,than ten feet, I think. 1087. Is there not a very heavy sea breaking over it in both eastedy and westerly galcs?-:­ I should think the sea must break over.it in heavy gales. 1088. You are not aware as to that from your own observation ?-No. 1089 .. Supposing it were not practicable to 'crect a lighthouse on the Ten-foot Rock, what is the next spot you would suggest ?-I think Cleft Island; that is an awkward point to pass from the westward,:it being. so ,much lower than the promontory. 'lOilO. A light on Cleft !Bland would only be serviceable to vessels coming from the westward.?-Vessels eoming down from the .eastward "might avoid, the Seal Islands, which lie on the eastern side of the· promontory, by .shaping a course to· open Cleft Island: clear of the promontory, checking their position' by Kenfs Group light and an occasional cast of the lead. 1091. Then' you think a' light on Cleft Island would 'afford adyantages to ivessels coming from the north-east as well as from the westward, because.they could shape their course in order to open the light [-Yes j I am not sure of the elevation of Cleft Island; I should think it must. be seventy feet high. 41 1092. Do you know whether that island is also of an impracticable character for the c. P!IllCO, Esq., erection of a lighthouse ?-It is also rocky but I should not say impracticable. "o!i~;;,a, 1093. Is it of such a description as that you would be able to land on it ?-Yes, I think 8th Auguot, 1856. the Beagle's boats have landed on it. 1094. And found sheltcr?-Yes, the Beagle anchored under the Glennie Islands for some time. 1095. Supposing it were considered desirable to erect two lighthouses for the lighting of the passage round the promontory, what are the positions you would select for those lighthouses­ one to the east and the other to the west ?-I think Cliffy Island, the south-easternmost of the Seal Islands, would be a desirable point for one, for vessels coming down from the north-east, and it would also be serviceable for vessels approaching Port Albert. 1096. If it could be carried out you would suggest the propriety of two lights, if the Ten­ foot Rock should be found to be impracticable for the erection of a lighthouse ?-Yes. 1097. If a light.house could be erected on the Ten-foot Rock would that answer the purpose of the two lights ?-I should say not, unless the light could be sufficiently elevated to be visible from the Seal Islands, which being a dietance of seven leagues should be at least 200 feet above the sea. 1098. Would not a vessel knowing there was a ligh t upon the Ten-foot Rock be enabled to keep clear of the Seal Islands ?--I thiuk they might by shaping a course to sight Kent's Group light and then making for the Ten-foot Roek. 1099. Are you of opinion that there is no one spot upon the promontory upon which a lighthouse could be erected whieh would be available for the purposes of navigation both ways?­ I do not remember to have notieed such available spot, but the importance of the question is worthy an examination of the loeality before deciding; keeping in view the danger which exists in Cleft Island being obscured under the high land of the promontory. 1100. If only one light were to be decided on to be earried out at present at the pro­ montory, which would you suggest as being the most useful site for it ?-I should say the Ten­ foot Rock, if praeticable, otherwise the Cleft Island. 1101. And you beHeve the Cleft Island to be accessible and of sufficient base for a light­ house ?-Yes, ample base. 1102. Do you know the Rodondo?-Ycs. 1103. Is it practicable to put a lig1!t upon it ?-No; it is inaccessible and its altitnde would be too great. The great objeetion to the ligbt at Kent's Group is that it is so elevated as to be frequently obseurcd. 1104. What is the passage 11sually taken by large sailing ships, proceeding either east or west through Bass's Straits in t.hat partieular part, do they hug the promontory or not ?-No ; I think they all make for the centre of the straits and keep to the southward of Curtis's Island in consequenee of the Kent's Group light. Before there was a light at Kent's Group that was the beatcn track between Curtis's Island and Kent's Group. 1105. Supposing a light was placed at the promontory would a prudent master of a large ship coming from the westward proceeding to Ncw South Wales be likely to make use of the promontory passage in preferenee to the other ?-I think so; there is ample room, and having a light for his guide he would make for the light. 1106. Because the channel although narrow is clear and free of danger ?-The light eould be approached very close, and there is a distance of nearly five miles between the rock and the promontory. 1107. All the large ocean steamers would use the passage round the promontory, would they not ?-I see no objection to their doing so when lighted.