[Re-printed from the New Zealand Gazette.]

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, 16th February, 1854.

THE following Notice, received from the Government of Mauritius, as to the establishment of a new Lighthouse, is published for general information.—“Provincial Gazettes.”

WILLIAM FOX.

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GOVERNMENT NOTICE.

No. 122 of 1863.

His Honour the Officer Administering the Government directs it to be notified for general information that, on and after the 1st. March next, a fixed Dioptric Light, of the First Order will be exhibited on Isle-aux-Fouquets, a small Islet on the edge of the reef ½ a mile to the North of the Southern entrance of the Port of Mahebourg in the Island of Mauritius.

A detailed description of, and sailing directions for making this Light, are published below for general information.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
4th November, 1863.

EDW. E. RUSHWORTH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.

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MAURITIUS.

SAILING DIRECTIONS IN REFERENCE TO THE LIGHTHOUSE ON ISLE AUX FOUQUETS, GRAND PORT.

1. The Lighthouse is built upon a small Island called Isle-aux-Fouquets, in latitude 20° 24′ 20″ South, and longitude 57° 45′ 9″ East. It marks the Southern entrance to Grand Port, and is 830 yards to the E.N.E of Ile de Passe; there is a small islet between them.

2. Ile de Passe, which bounds Grand Port entrance to the Northward, is easily known by the Battery and other Buildings thereon; there are times when rollers entirely block the Pass, although the depth is from 14 to 22 fathoms; but, generally speaking, the reefs on either hand are perfectly visible from the foreyard.

3. The island on which the Lighthouse is built is 3 miles to the Eastward of the nearest point of mainland, and on the very edge of the Coral Reef which skirts this part of the coast of Mauritius; the Lighthouse (as well as the adjacent buildings) is white; its ground line is 39 feet above the mean sea level and it forms a most conspicuous object, which cannot possibly be mistaken.

4. The Lighthouse serves as a guide to vessels passing Grand Port by day or by night.

5. The apparatus is a Dioptric of the First Order, showing a fixed white light from sunset to sunrise, visible in every direction from seaward, but dark on the land side. The light (focal plane) is 108½ feet above the mean sea level (the rise of the tide being 3 feet), and in clear weather can be seen at a distance of 16 nautical miles from the deck of a vessel 12 feet above the water.

6. There is a Government pilot in Mahebourg, who will in a few months be stationed at the Lighthouse, and who will board ships bound to Mahebourg, on making the usual signal.

7. Vessels bound to Mahebourg may approach the Light on any bearing from N. by E. to W. by S.; when about 2 miles from it they should heave to, with the head off shore, until the pilot comes alongside.

8. Should it be desired to get into shelter as soon as possible, approach the Light under easy sail till within about ¾ of a mile, in order to avoid a shoal patch of 6 fathoms off Pointe Fauvèle, which is the extreme point of the Coral Reef bounding the South side of the entrance of Grand Port; steer so as to round Ile-de-Passe at a distance of ½ a mile, as a Spit runs out from its South side for about a cable’s length; then haul to the Northward, and anchor in 18 to 20 fathoms; it is, however, not recommended to attempt the foregoing without a pilot, except in cases of extreme necessity.

9. A vessel coming from the Southward, and bound to Port Louis, round the North end of the island of Mauritius, the usual track, should, after sighting Grand Port Light, steer so as to pass it at a distance of about 4 miles; when, at that distance, the Light bears W. by S., a N. N. E. ½ E. course for 9 miles will, if the weather be clear, bring a vessel in sight of Flat Island Revolving Light, bearing about N. by W. ¼ W.; the course can then be shaped as required.

10. A vessel coming from the Northward, leaving Flat Island Light on a bearing of N. N. W., must be careful, after sighting Grand Port Light, not to bring it on a more Southerly bearing than S. W. by W. ¼ W., or she will be too near the Coast Reef to the Northward of that Light.

11. The Coast Reef to the Eastward of and bounding Grand Port has a Bank of irregular soundings extending some distance to seaward; the lead, if carefully attended to, will prove a tolerable guide in very thick weather.

12. The bearings in the foregoing instructions are all Magnetic, and carry a ship at least 3 miles from the Coast Reef.

13. No vessel bound into Grand Port ought to approach it at night; she should heave to well to the Southward of the Light, as the drift being to the Northward, she might find herself to Leeward in the morning, and lose much time in working up.

W. L. MOANSON,
Captain Royal Engineers,
Surveyor-General.

Surveyor-General’s Office,
3rd November, 1863.