THE THREE KINGS' DANGER,

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 134, 8 June 1910, Page 4

THE THREE KINGS' DANGER,

Tho late arrival of the Sydney boat this week and the anxiety caused by her

non-appeoxance suggest a question th-at in our opinion ought to bo considered by the authorities immediately. ' The Maheno met with thick weather all the way across, and as "sights" were impracticable, ehe was running on dead reckoning only. According to the official report, she got to within "0 miles oi the Three Kings, was then stopped,, and wandered very slowly about in a dense fog; and by the tune she could get her bearings again she was somewhere south of Gape Maria Van Diemen. What we have to say about this in no way reflects upoa the navigation of tbe Jlaheno; indeed Captain Livingstone deserves credit for the care and caution he displayed under very trying conditions. But there is no doubt that even with the most skilful seamanship to help them, vessels may run very serious risks on this part of our coast. The Three Kings are lees than 40 miles distant from the northern extremity of this island, the local currents are strong and erratic, and the tragic story of the Eliugamite is still fresh in our memories, to warn us of what may easily happen t<T"a ship that loses its way or gets out of control near these dangerous rocks. The Maheno hae indeed 'been fortunate; for, after running three days or more on dead reckoning, sic brought up within 20 miles of these hidden perils; and—here is the point we wish to make —there was no light on the Three Kings to warn her. In such a fog no 'beacon would have any wide radius of action; but even the thickest fog lifts a little now and then, and for a vessel in the Maheno's position, a light on the Three Kings would be exceedingly reassuring and helpful. The Cape Maria light chows out for 25 miles, but it is 40 miles from, the Three Kings,, aiwL in, <view~of the

nine years ago, and tie manifest dangers to navigation threatened by these treacherous rocks, we would urge upon Government the advisability of erecting a lighthouse there without further delay.