French Pass (1884)
Photo courtesy of MSA.
French Pass is a channel of water between the mainland and D'Urville Island in the Malborough Sounds. It is marked with two lights, one on the mainland and the other in the middle of the channel.
During the 1860's a stone beacon was placed on the reef in the middle of the channel 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 a tower was built on the mainland provided a safe passage though the channel.
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.
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 When the light was replaced in 1967 the keeper was withdrawn.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. kiwimark@comcast.net
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) | |
| Converted Kerosene To Diesel | |
| Converted Diesel To Mains Electricity | 1971 |
| Wattage | |
| Present Tower | Original |
| Date Visited |
| Head Keeper | From | To |
| Assistant Keeper (1st) | From | To |
