THREE KINGS LIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 57, 7 March 1913, Page 7

THREE KINGS LIGHT.

MR. ALLPORTS INVESTIGATIONS. LIGHT AND FOG SIGNAL ON BIG KING. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) PAPAROA, Thursday. The Secretary of Marine (Mr. G. Allport) arrived at the Kaipara to-lay, after having further inspected the Three Kings Islands in connection w>th the lighthouse question. After having cruised all round the islands in a launch with Captain Boilons, of the Hinemoa, he has come to the definite conclusion that it is impracticable to consider the erection of a lighthouse on the Western King. There are, he says, only about a dozen days in the year on which a landing could be made on this almost inaccessible island, and even then the cutting of a path up the precipitous cliffs would entail great expense. Even the erection of an automatic light would mean the detailing of a steamer solely to attend to it. Mr. Allport considers that a firstclass light should bep laced on a site at a 'height of about 350 ft. at the southwestern end of the Big King. If it were placed on the highest point of the island, a height ot nearly a thousand feet, as had been suggested, the light would be almost valueless in fog. As to a fogsignal he considered that the most suitable would 'be a powerful steam siren, operated by motive power. Such a signal, placed at the lighthouse, would be heard to the west of the Western King, even when the light was invisible. The Marine Secretary is doubtful about the practicability of mooring a submarine signal off the Western King owing to the great depth of water, 40 to 45 fathoms. But if it were found possible it would have to be additional to the fog signal, as many vessels would not he fitted with the receiving apparatus. Mr. Allport found on inquiry from the lightkeeper at Cape Maria that from six to twelve sailing vessels bound from Australia to America pass weekly between the Three Kings and the mainland, and this argument will be used by Mr. Fisher when urging the Federal Government to contribute towards the cost of the light.