NEW LIGHT FOR OLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 12

NEW LIGHT FOR OLD

BARING HEAD BEACON OPERATING THIS WEEK The powerful new light at Baring Head will now guido mariners navigating Cook Strait and tho approaches to Wellington. The old fixed light on Pencarrow Head, at the entrance to Port Nicholson, which has done duty for over 76 years, was seen last Saturday night for tho last time. It has been stated by many mariners that Pencarrow light, useful as it has been all these years, is too far in to the danger spots of the approaches to Wellington, whereas Baring Head, a prominent headland further to the southward, is a natural situation for a lighthouse. It has also been said that in certain weather conditions Pencarrow light, which stands at an elevation of •32211. above sea-level, is apt to be obscured from seaward; but Baring Head, it is claimed, is never obscured, except in fog, which, under tho conditions that produce it, is common to any position.

In any ease, tlio actual entrance to Wellington Harbour will still be marked by the group flashing light, with white and red sectors, visible in ordinary weather for 15 miles, which is exhibited at a height of 00ft. from a white concrete tower at the foot of Pencarrow Head.

The power of this light is being increased by the Wellington Harbour Board. The diaphone fog signal, operated by compressed air and giving a blast of three seconds every minute, will still operatq when necessary from the house 128 yards south-west of tho light tower on Pencarrow.

It has been suggested by a number of shipmasters that the now light on Baring Head should bo known as the Riddiford Light, as a tributo to Mr. Eric Riddiford, of Orongorongo, who generously donated tho site of 27 acres on the seaward end of the tableland on which the station has been established.