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No. 51.
The Hongkong Government Gazette.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
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[APRIL 4, 1857.
The following Notices, descriptive of the Light-house at Cape Moreton, New South Wales, are published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 30th March, 1857.
W. T. BRIDGES, Acting Colonial Secretary,
The following Notices are published for general information :—
THE TREASURY, NEW SOUTH WALES, 27th January, 1857.
STUART A, DONALDSON.
Description of the light house at cape moretÓN.
The Light-house at Cape Moreton is situated in-
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•
27° 0 3" 153° 20′ 30′′
By Flinder.
And
27° 2′ 54′′
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153° 28′ 46′′
By Yule.
Latitude, Longitude,
Latitude, Longitude,
It is a white stone Tower, 67 feet in height, including the lantern, and shows a white revolving light of the first-class, on all points o the horizon seaward, baving intervals of 70 seconds between the brightest points.
The light consists of 21 Catoptric lamps, on three faces of 7 lamps each, placed in three rows, the upper one coutaining 2 lamps, the middle 3, and the lower 2.
The Light-house stands on the summit of the castern projection of the north-east part of Moreton Island, and a little more than a mile distant from the north extreme of the Island, bearing N.W. by compass.
The centre of the light is 391 feet above the sea at high-water, and its estimated range is 26† nautical miles. The following magnetic bearings are taken from the Light-house :—
Flinder's Rock,—N. † E. 34 miles,
Buoy A-W. by N.
Light Vessel, W. † N.
Variation of compass,—91° E..
J. C. WICKHAM, Government Resident.
Sailing directions for the North Channel into Moreton Bay.
Cape Moreton is the north-eastern point of Moreton Island, and is visible from a ship's deck at the distance of eight leagues. When first seen from the southward, it appears to be detached, as the land which connects it with the higher parts of the island is very low.
The Light-house is a conspicuous object on the summit of the Cape.
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With the exception of Fliuder's Rock, which bears N. 3 E. from the Light-house, and N.N.E. 9 miles distant from the north projec- tion of the Cape, there does not appear to be any ont-lying danger.
Vessels entering Moreton Bay by the north channel should, in coming from the southward, pass about a mile from the north projec- tion of the Cape, and steer W. N. until the N. W. extreme of the bushes at point Camboyaro is on with "Ship Patch,” and bears S. by E.
The Light Vessel will then bear a little to the southward of S.W. by W., and the Light-house E. by S. 7 8. ; the depth will then, be 7 fathoms at low water, and the black buoy at A (vide chart) will bear about S. W. W. a mile and a third distant.
The Glass House Hills will be seen (in clear weather) as on the sketch, with the highest (Burwa) bearing W. 4* S., but too far distant to be used as a leading mark.
From this point, a course about a degree to the southward of W.S.W. will carry a ship about of a mile to the northward of the Light Vessel; stand on this course until the Light Vessel is on with Monnt Tempest, (the highest part of Moreton Island,) bearing S. 38° E., you will then be to the westward of the east banks, and may steer a course S. E. S. for Moreton Island, or with Mount Tempest The Light Vessel may be a quarter of a point open on the port bow, keeping a look-out for the effect of the tide on the ship's course. passed on either side; she is moored S. by W. 3 cables distant from the N. W. shoulder of the eastern banks. The breadth of the chaunel between the east and west banks is about 4 of a mile, and the banks are plainly discernible from a slightly elevated position.
There is good anchorage for nearly a mile from the Light Vessel, in a north-westerly direction, in from 4 to 5 fathoms, where an anchor may be safely dropped in the event of wind or tide failing, or in the event of a vessel reaching thus far before dark, as it would not be safe to proceed further in the absence of daylight.
Camboyuro Point is bold of approach, and may be passed at a cable's-length distant; stand past it until the extreme of the bushes bears north, and then steer south until the " Ship Patch,” (sand slope) at Tangulooma Point bears E. N.E. a mile and 3 quarters distant, when a S.W. S. course may be steered to an anchorage off the Bar of the River Brisbane, in 4 and 41 fathoms, muddy bottom;—the highest trees on " Mud Island" bearing east.
A direct course S.W. by S. to an anchorage off the Bar may be steered from Cowan Cowan, by passing to the westward of the Middle Bank off Tangalooma, but as the distance off shore can be more correctly estimated by passing to the eastward of it, the track shewn in the plan had better be adopted until a Buoy is placed on the Middle Bank.
The Middle Bank bears W. by S.; S., and is two and a-half miles distant from "Ship Patch."
The shore between Cowan Cowan and Tangalooma is fronted by a narrow bank, upon parts of which there is not more than four or five feet water; the south part of this bank is about a mile off shore, inside which there is anchorage which may be gained by passing between it and the "Ship Patch."
There is good anchorage in Yule's Road, off the watering place, about a quarter of a mile from the shore, in 10 or 12 fathoms water, where wood and water can be easily obtained.
Whalers would find this a most convenient place for taking on board either of these articles; the water is supplied by a never failing An anchorage may be taken in 5 and 6 fathoms water stream into the bay, and wood can be cut within fifty yards of high-water mark. on the bank, opposite the Pilots' Station, and more out of the strength of the tide; but the distance from the watering place would be considerably increased.
The soundings on the chart are reduced to the lowest water at spring tides; the rise is from three to seven feet; strong south-easterly winds cause the greatest rise, and during the prevalence of strong westerly winds in the winter; the range of tide is at times scarcely perceptible. The general set of the tide is the flood to the south, and the ebb to the north, but in some places the direction of the stream is varied by the shoals.
In the channel, between the east and west banks, the first of the ebb sets strong to the N.E. over the banks, after half-tide it takes a northerly direction, and latterly about N.N.W. It runs E.N.E. through Freeman's Channel.
Coasters and steamers drawing twelve feet water may use Freeman's Channel with safety, by keeping about a quarter of a mile off the sandy beach on the north shore of the Islaud; they should not stand to the southward until Cowan Cowan is well open of the extreme of the sandy point at Camboyuro.
In going out by Freeman's Channel a course should be kept to the northward past Camboyuro, until the north extreme of Cape Moreton is open to the northward of the sandy beaches, but the eye is the best guide for this channel.
As Moreton Island is entirely of sandy formation, the banks nearest to the shore are constantly undergoing changes in size and position, therefore it would not be prudent for a stranger to attempt this channel without having a pilot on board,
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