ALL ABOUT A BEACON.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1925, Page 8

ALL ABOUT A BEACON.

TROUBLE ON THE THAMES. MERCIL'NT GI'ILD INTERFERES. (By Telcyrarla.— Tress Association.) THAMES, this day. Some time ago the Thames Harbour Board decided to erect a lieacon at the entrance lo the Thames Liver, instead of the present fairway buoy, which is often carried away owing to Hoods. The engineer, Mr. E. I<. Adams, win) had .studied the river for years and probably knew more about it than anyone else, selected a -ite f. m beacon and submitted it to the approval of the Marine Department, which agreed that the position selected was the best. The board thereupon called tenders to creel the beacon, ami ihe work was proceeded xvith to the extent of obtaining gear and a piledrix er, and pulling iv temporary staging. Then Mr. Adams received a telephone message from Captain McLeod, Wakatere, who protested on behalf of the Merchant Service Guild, against the position chosen. Mr. Adams iialfcd Captain McLeod lo come and see him and inform him why the protest, also where he wished the 'licacmi. but Captain McLeod was unable to show on the chart where he considered it ought to be. and left Mr. Adams without any conclusion boine arrived at. Mr. Adams immediately communicated wiih the chairman of the board, and it was decided that the board should write to the guild and lind out the reason of the objection. The engineer, ill the meantime, had si..p t >od work and brought the gear ashore anil dismantled the staging. The matter was discussed at Hie board in.•cling last night, when the sum ~! L'J-s was shown to have iK-en wasted, owing to the action of Captain McLeod. The secretary reported writing to tho guild on the twenty-sixth, hut receiving no reply. Members expressed themselves strongly on the. matter, one asking who is the controlling authority and should the guild be in a position to dictate to the board. Another member said it was a mo=t extraordinary position. The board's engineeer knew the river. Should his opinion stand down at the protest of lone who had not been on the river for I years? I The chairman said it was advisable for I Ihe board to act with safety: therefore Ihe had given orders to sf>p the xvork. jlle hail a certain amount of respect for 'the guild, but it could not dictate to the board. Another member said the board was working on sound lines, lint xvas not the tail wagging the dog. lie wanted to know wiiai rig'it the guild had to interfere, 'ihe hoard should not Ik- so belittled. The engineer said he considered Captain McLeod to luixe misled Ihe guild. A nautical adviser had approved of the site. The chairman said the guild xvould have to make out a good case for stopping work. He xvould give them reasonable time iii which to reply to the board's letter. Ho would stand no nonsense. The action of the chairman and the engineer was approved.