5\0 LIGHTHOUSES 



in Banks Strait. The important ones for the eastern 

 and western entrances of the Strait have been necr- 



o 



lected, although the fullest information was obtained 

 on the subject. Opinions concur in representing 

 Kent Group as the best position for a light at the 

 eastern entrance, where certainly one is most re- 

 quired, the Strait being there so much impeded 

 with rocks and islands. I gave my opinion to this 

 effect before the Legislative Council, in September, 

 1842. At the same time, for the western entrance, 

 I recommended Cape Otway in preference to the 

 north end of King Island, for reasons already as- 

 signed.* The melancholy wrecks that have of late 



* The following is the Report of the Committee of the Legis- 

 lative Council of New South Wales, on lighthouses proposed to 

 be erected in Bass Straits : — " Your Committee have the honour 

 to report, that having been favoured with the attendance of 

 Captain Stokes, of her Majesty's ship 'Beagle,' lately returned 

 from a survey of Bass Strait, and ascertained his ideas as to the 

 best position for placing a lighthouse at the western entrance 

 thereof, they are induced to change their opinion as set forth in 

 their Report of the 1st September, 1841, and to coincide with 

 him in thinking that Cape Otway would be a better site for a 

 lighthouse than King Island, as being equally advantageous to 

 the trade at large, and much more so to that of Port Phillip. 



" It would appear, too, that no danger could accrue to vessels 

 endeavouring to make the former, while much mischief might 

 arise in trying to sight the latter, should there be any error in 

 their reckoning ; and that it is therefore desirable to keep them 

 as far as possible to the northward of King Island, instead of 

 inducing them to risk the danger of approaching it, to ascertain 

 their true position. 



" Captain Stokes perfectly coincides with the Committee, in 

 the opinion formerly expressed by them, that the eastern island 



