NEWS FROM A LIGHTHOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 172, 22 July 1936, Page 18

NEWS FROM A LIGHTHOUSE.

East Cape, via Te Araroa. Dear Wendy,— On Saturday afternoon at three o'clock the G.s.s. 'Matai came steaming in to East Cape from Tolaga Bay. After half an hour of sounding, the Matai dropped anchor. Shortly before she anchored the launch was lowered from the top deck into the sea. Then as she slowly turned round we could see the surf boat being lowered. Some of the crew and the officers came ashore to inspect the new landing place, which they found suitable. The old landing place is two miles away and to get to it we have to cross slippery papa rocks. It is here that the boatshed was washed away during a storm in February. The landing place is very awkward for carting stores and it is possible to cart only two loads a day because of the tide. As the sea was calm, the sailors decided to unload one boatload of stores before five o'clock. The tide was rising by that time and after they had unloaded one boatload of stores they found it impossible to unload any more. The sun had set and it soon grew dark. Sunday morning at eight o'clock the crew began to finish their work. We spent an enjoyable sunny morning on the beach watching the sailors at their work. As one of the surf boats was being rowed out to the launch, which was waiting beyond the rocks, the current took it and swept it into the rough surf as it rolled up on the beach. Wave after wave came breaking over the boat, which quickly was brought back into calm seas. After they had finished unloading the necessary stores for the lighthouse they took the assistant keeper's stores out to the boat. One keeper left here in the Matai, and we may have to wait for four months now before another keeper takes his place. This is all of my description I can think of for Matai day. Your sincere Budgetite, Lena White.