Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1894. OUR LIGHTHOUSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XV, Issue 3438, 16 November 1894, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1894. OUR LIGHTHOUSES.

It is usually after some great disaster that we hear of steps being taken, or urged to be taken, for the prevertion of similar disasters in the future. Human nature somehow has a knack of being wise behind-hand and locking the stable door after the steed has been stolen. On Wednesday last a deputation from th« Shipmasters' Association waited on the Hon J. G. Ward, Minister of Marine, asking that a first-class lighthouse be erected on Gape Palliser, that a light be placed on Kidnappers, that Cape Campbell be connected with the telegraph system, and that a system of fog signals for various lighthouses be brought into operation. One hundred and one out of 131 shipmasters voted for a light at Cape Palliser. The deputation also dwelt on insufficiency of the light at Soame« Island in Wellington Harbor. The reply of Mr Ward was to the effect that careful consideration would be given, to the valuable opinion of the shipmasters in regard to a light at Oape Palliser, but before a final decision was arrived at a special report would be obtained from a qualified official, who would obtain the latest information as to the different kinds of signals used and best motive power for working them. Having obtained that information the matter would be submitted to the Cabinet. In regard to Soames Island light a special report had been obtained, but the question had still to be settled as to whether it was desirable to replace the existing light by a more powerful one or have it removed to a point near the heads, several shipmasters having expressed the opinion that a light closer to the heads would be of more service. The Minister, speaking generally, was fully alive to the importance of making the navigation of the New Zealand coast as safe as possible, and so far as means would permit he should be glad to do all in his power to further the wishes of the association, There can be, of course, no question as to the desirableness of having as many beacon guides as necessary, to light the sailor on his way safely along our coast. Neither can it be questioned that all the lighthouses should be placed in telegraphic or telephonic; communication. On the latter subject, the Minister said the cost would be £28,855, a sum that was not at present available. He was inclined, however, to make exception in the case of the more dangerous points, and to proceed with them as far as means would permit: It is right, no doubt, to take advantage of the state of public feeling over the Wairarapa disaster, to agitate for these improvements. But the Wairarapa was not lost from any defect of the lighthouses on the coast, but from gross disregard of regulations laid down for the observance of ail seagoing vessels. She was steaming at full speed in a fog so dense that the light her officers were so anxious to see was not visible at a few miles away, yet in fine weather can be seen sixteen miles off. In the case of the Wairarapa. the weakness was on board, not on the :, with those in command of her, not wi,t£ ths arrangements on shore for her proper guidance. No power on earth can cop.trol ,fahe atmosphere, and when a fog comes down so d^nse as that in which the Wairarapa ran upon the great Barrier and sent 120 Jgou^s Jfeo their last account, all the ia jibhe world are useless .uiijle^s those in comn^&fid the care and caution v which are tlie £rst characteristics of true seamanship. In ihe olden days a skipper Ending himI^el^ fn .fi^h ,§ fo,g would have"stqo^ i# wrf#V #AW $fi % Kfted; he fogy® §Qss}b sea ,r ( oojja s $? here it wasceru^. "" «*.» 4 P{*f and possessed m& ww ;! nntil the fog lifted and ii«». w him where he was and allowed him tv see danger ahead. But the Wairarapa j disregarded all precaution*, Fog

signals kept going would have re-1 echoed from the towering cliffs of the I Barrier, and shown land near,! but they were not blown, and »Breakers ahead" came from the look-out almost simultaneously with the rush of the steamer on the rocks. The connecting of the outlying points by telegraph would have enabled her to be reported on passing the North Cape, and it would have been known that she was on the coast Some idea of where to look for her would then have been had, and possibly the fact that she had bean wrecked would have been known, and assistance tendered parlier than four days after the disaster. But no arrangements made on the coast will in any way benefit a vessel that defips all laws laid down for her own conduct in avoiding the perils of the sea—perils that will await the seaman so long as men continue to go 1 down to the sea in ships and do business in the great waters.