over the foam, through which the lights appear diminished with respect to brilliancy, consequently they appear further off; but a light on the opposite side corrects the judgment.

In conclusion I would remark that while we are constructing a breakwater for the security of vessels at anchor, we should not be unmindful of the security of vessels entering or leaving the bay. Gentlemen, yours, &c.,

To the Editors of the Advertiser and Mail.

THOS. MACLear.

It was then agreed that good and ample reason had been shown of the advantage which a light on Robben Island would be to ships by giving them the means of knowing their position so far to windward in N.W. gales as would enable them to use due precaution in shaping their course and reducing sail for their berth, and that the fact of the breakwater enabling ships to resort to the bay on such occasions would invest the said light with additional importance.

F. Fixed. FA. Fixed and Flashing. R. Revolving. I. Intermitting. Est. Established.

NO. 11.-VOL. XXXI.

4 I

(a.) 25.-The light is intended to guide vessels clear of the dangerous parts of the Pulicat Shoals, before the Madras light has been sighted, which can be seen from a distance of 18 to 25 miles. In the absence of directions in the notice for avoiding them, mariners are reminded that the Madras light should not be brought to the southward of S.S.W. W., and that when Pulicat light bears W. N., a vessel will be to the northward of the shoals.

(b.) 30. The light-vessel lies in 14 fathoms low water springs, with Tears Point just open of Slades Bluff bearing N.W. N.; Constantinople Cottages in line with the entrance of Port Taiback N.E.b.E. easterly; Mumbles light N. E., distant 7.3 miles; West Scarweather buoy N.E.b.E., distant 1.8 miles; Nash high lighthouse S.E. E., 14.4 miles; and Helwicks light-vessel N.W. W., 18.2 miles.

In order to render the Scarweather light-vessel more readily distinguishable in the day time from that of the Helwicks, a half globe will shortly be shown above the usual globe, at the mast-head.

(c.) 31.-The tower is 43 feet high, slightly conical, of a light colour, and surmounted by a green lantern. It stands on the extremity of the bluff point, S.E. from Cape Machichaco lighthouse, and N.N.W.§ W., distant nearly 11 miles from the mouth of Port Lequeitio.

(d.) 32. The passage inside the Hormigas should be approached nearer Cape Palos than the islets. A bank with 11 feet water over it lies S.W.b.W. W., distant half a mile from La Hormiga Chica; and another bank with 8 feet over it lies N.E.b.E. E., distant one mile from La Hormiga Grande.

(e.) 33.-The tower is 46 feet high, slightly conical, dark gray, surmounted by a white lantern, and rises from the centre of the keeper's dwelling. It stands on the beach called La Manga, on the East side of the narrow neck of land which separates the Mar Menor from the Mediterranean, N.b. W. W. distant 7 miles from the lighthouse on Hormiga Grande; and N.b.W.jw. 1 miles from the centre of Isle Grosa.

The object of the light is to indicate the position of the anchorage at Estacio, at 4 or 5 cables S.W. of it, in 2 or 2 fathoms water, weed.

LONGITUDE OF DAMASCUS,-By Electric Telegraph.

The following is an abstract of observations at Beirut and Damascus in August, 1862, by Messrs. Hull and Christian, Masters R.N., under the direction of Commander A. L. Mansell, of H.M.S. Firefly, to determine the meridian distance between Hassan Cove, Beirut, and the northern minaret, Mâdinet el-Arûs, of the Great Moske, Damascus, by means of the electric telegraph.

His Excellency Kabuli Effendi having kindly placed the telegraph at the disposal of Commander Mansell, at noon of Friday, August 29th, the following telegrams were sent and received :—

Mean Comparison, or the Damascus chronometer fast on the Beirut one

2h. 32m. 51·2s.

These observations give 0·4s. as the time of transmission, this being greater than was expected, the length of the wire being only about sixty-five (nautic) miles. Other sets were taken,-the results, however, were precisely the same.

Sights for time were obtained on the same day both at Beirut and Damascus, and the following result determined:

Chronometer, Arnold 2149, fast on Beirut mean time
29th August, 1862

Compared with French at Damascus

306

French fast on Beirut mean time
Do. Do. Damascus..

h. m. s.

9 28 43.74
2 32 51.20

12 1 34.94

11 58 17.58

3 17.36 2 21 56.26

Meridian Distance

Longitude of Hassan Cove, Beirut*.

Longitude of Mâdinet el-Arûs, Damascus

Longitude in space

2 25 13.62

36° 18′ 24′′ E.

Observations for latitude by stars North and South of the zenith were also made; the results of which, combined with those obtained in October, 1860, place the Mâdinet el-Arûs in latitude 33° 30′ 30′′ N.

From the three experiments made on this occasion to determine meridian distances by means of the electric telegraph, it appears that the time of transmission is not in fair proportion to the length of the wire. Thus, from Alexandria to Suez, length of wire about 180 miles, it was 0.5s. From Alexandria to Malta, length of wire being about 1,350 miles, it was only 1.15s.; at the same time some observations on the second day (April 15th) gave 1·85s.; and one set on the same day, indications being faint, gave as much as 2.6s. Lastly, the results obtained between Beirut and Damascus, length of wire being about sixty-five miles, give 0.4s.

A. L. MANSELL, Commander.

ANCHORING IN SIMONS BAY.

It has frequently happened that vessels running into Simons Bay in strong South-Easters, and passing inside the Roman Rocks, have

* Assuming Alexandria lighthouse to be in long. 29° 51′ 40′′ E.

dragged their anchors, or parted their cables when coming to in the anchorage.

These accidents happen from vessels being obliged to let go their anchors before they have time to round to, head to wind, and are nearly sure to occur to very long ships under the above circumstances. Vessels running into Simons Bay before strong South-Easters, should therefore pass outside the Roman Rocks, which will give them time to round to before anchoring, and also to enable them to judge more accurately of the position of the ships at anchor, which it is very difficult to do when passing inside the Roman Rocks.

They should come to generally with both anchors, outside the ships at anchor, and even very small vessels, unless well acquainted with the place, should not attempt to go inside the ships, moorings for menof-war being laid down all over the inner part of the bay.

Strangers should also bear in mind that these South-Easters are 'extremely local, so that vessels may round the Cape and run some distance into False Bay with moderate winds, while it is blowing most furiously in Simons Bay. No precaution therefore for making the ship as snug as possible before anchoring should be omitted.

The bottom is exceedingly good holding ground, and anchors never start after having once fixed themselves, although they sometimes fail to hold when first let go.

66

JOHN WILLIAM REED,
Master in command of “ Rifleman” and in charge of
China Sea Survey.

July 18th 1862

Mr. Reed has also made the following suggestions for a few more soundings off the Cape of Good Hope:

Since the light has been placed on the Cape of Good Hope vessels un boldly for it at night.

It would greatly facilitate rounding the Cape at night, if a few more soundings were taken outside the Anvil and Bellows Rocks, so that vessels could be assured by a bearing of the light, and the depth of the water, of their distances from these dangers. This is the more necessary, as vessels bound for Simons Bay are very likely (in dread of being back-strapped by a southerly or South-easterly wind,) to imagine they are further off than they really are, and hug too closely round those rocks, or, from fear of the rocks, to stand off unnecessarily far, and during the prevalence of the South-Easters, to find the wind blowing a gale by the morning.

We had to round the Cape at night under such circumstances. A scant South to South-easterly wind which threatened every moment to freshen up, and which did increase to a gale by the morning, made us feel very anxious to be able to keep away into False Bay; and we found the few soundings which appear on the chart very useful in enabling us, with a bearing of the light, to fix our position with tolerable certainty, and to round the rocks at a reasonable distance.

SYDNEY PILOT VESSELS,-Australia.

The Government of New South Wales has given notice that after the 13th of June, 1862, a two-masted pilot schooner will cruise off the heads of Port Jackson, both by day and night.

The vessel is marked "No. 1" on the bow and main sail, and will exhibit the usual white and red flag by day, and a bright light at the foremast head between sunset and sunrise, and a flash light in the

waist every quarter of an hour.

In a few months a second vessel, marked "No. 2," will be placed on the station under the same regulations.

NORTH ENTRANCE TO MORETON BAY, MIDDLE CHANNEL,
Queensland.

The Queensland Government has given the following notice :Two Kerosene lights are now exhibited on the North end of Moreton Island, for the purpose of assisting vessels to pass through the Middle Channel into Moreton Bay at night.

One light is placed a little to the eastward of the Small Yellow Patch, and shows a fixed white light from about N. E. to W.b.S. This light in a line with the lighthouse leads in through the Middle Channel, in not less than 16 feet water, at low water spring tides. The line of lights passing at two cables' length northward of the inner Middle Channel buoy.

Vessels coming from the northward will be to the westward of Hutchinson Shoal and Flinders Rocks while this light is kept open. Vessels from the southward will open the light shortly after rounding the North point of Moreton Island.

The light is visible at a distance of at least seven or eight miles.

The second light is placed on Comboyuro Point, showing red to seaward* i.e., from about N.b.E. E. eastward. Vessels will be clear of the East banks while the red light is kept open. It is obscured between N.b.E. E. and N.N.W., where it again shows out as a bright white fixed light, and remains visible from thence to the W.S.W. of Comboyuro Point.

The following directions are to be observed by vessels entering at night:

Steer with the light at Small Yellow Patch on with lighthouse, until the bright white light on Comboyuro Point opens out (the red light on Comboyuro Point having been shut out just before entering the Middle Channel). Then haul up and steer South, until the Yellow Patch light is shut out, when haul up S.b.E. E. for Yule Roads.

When the Yellow Patch light is shut out, a vessel is just abreast the spit of the bank between Freeman and the Middle Channel.

*The red light at present is rather indistinct and cannot be seen at any distance. A lighter red glass will shortly be substituted for that now in use.