French Pass (1884)
Photo courtesy of MSA.
French Pass (Te Aumiti) is a narrow and treacherous channel of water between D'Urville Island and the north end of the South Island in the Malborough Sounds. It is marked with two lights, one on the mainland and the other in the middle of the channel. At the south end is Tasman Bay and at the other end the Pelorus Sound leading out to Cook Strait.
European navigator Admiral Jules Dumont D'Urville navigated the pass during his second voyage to New Zealand in 1827. Sailing the French Navy corvette Astrolabe, the vessel swung sideways and did not respond to steerage, striking rocks twice, and then being washed over the reef and into Admiralty Bay.
The pass is 500m across, but the main channel at it's narrowest point is only 100m. A reef extends out from D'Urville Island and this where during the 1860's a stone beacon was placed. But as regular steamer traffic increased at night, a light was surely needed.
In 1882 a light was placed on the stone beacon and in 1884 an iron tower was built on the mainland at the waters edge. This light was first lit on October 1st, 1884.
In 1888, a dolphin appeared in the area and became known as Pelorus Jack. Pelorus Jack would meet boats as they came out of French Pass, and ride their bow waves for 8 kilometres up to Pelorus Sound. Then he would join boats returning to Nelson at the entrance to Pelorus Sound and escort them back to French Pass. Pelorus Jack was last seen in April 1912. The lighthouse keeper at French Pass claimed he found the body of Pelorus Jack washed up on the shore.
The lights were maintained by a single keeper with help from a local family who were to ferry the keeper out to the beacon should the light go out. This happened quite frequently in bad weather for the first few years. The beacon was also the victim of a number of collisions.
The light on the reef was a small concrete tower, which housed a small automatic light. This was powered by a acetylene gas cylinder housed in a locker below the lantern. Usually the cylinders lasted two to three months and were changed over by the crew from the lighthouse tender, with help from the lighthouse keeper.
During 1952/53 the main light on the mainland was changed from a kerosene lamp to an acetylene lamp. This light was reached from the keeper house via 100 wooden steps down the cliffside. During the 1950's it displayed a fixed white light eastwards and a white and red sector westward. Outside the lantern panes was a screen dividing the white and red lights. AS ships approached from the west they kept the white light constantly in sight, if they moved of course they would see the red sector and needed to correct their course.
In 1961 the acetylene-powered light was automated. But a keeper stayed on as caretaker for six more years. When the light was replaced in 1967 the keeper was withdrawn.
The light was converted to mains electricity in 1971.
If anyone has any information on this light please contact me. thekiwimark@msn.com
Last Updated:
DIRECTIONS:
| Island | South |
| Province | Malborough |
| Location | Malborough Sounds |
| Number | K4238 |
| Date Commissioned | 1 October, 1884 |
| Date Decommissioned | |
| Automated | 1967 |
| Latitude | 40° 55' South |
| Longitude | 173° 50' East |
| Elevation Above Sea Level (Main) | 3m |
| Elevation Above Sea Level (Reef) | 5m |
| Height (Main) | |
| Height (Reef) | 5m |
| Character (Main) | Flashes red and white |
| Character (Reef) | Flashed white light every 5 seconds. |
| Range (Main) | White 10 N. miles, red 7 N. miles |
| Range (Reef) | 4 N. miles |
| Made (Main) | |
| Made (Reef) | |
| Construction (Main) | Iron (first to be built), White house |
| Construction (Reef) | Concrete |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | |
| Converted To Mains Electricity | 1971 |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Original |
| Date Visited |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| Eric Bowley | April, 1952 | |
| Thomas Smith | 18th April, 1952 | November, 1954 |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
Additional Sources:
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