GODLEY HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 16

GODLEY HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

Keeper Prefers

Isolation

Godley Head MMdhouae is far too close to ctrilisetton for a man to feet really free, accordtag to toe new head fkeeper, Mr P. 3. Coleman, who started work Mere yesterday. "I like an he said.

For toe test two yeata he has been in charge of toe lonely Cuvier Island liUbt 30 miles beyond Great Barrier Island at toe far limit of the Haunaki Grif.

Godley Head had its cotnpensaittons for his fonuly, however, Mr Coleman added. Susan (five and a half) would be going to school, and mixing with numbers of other children for toe first tone, while Mrs Coleman would be happy because she was a Ohristchurch girl, daughter of Mr and Mrs T. Franklin, of 9L Albans. Moreover, it would be much eerier to care for toe two babies, 19 monttoa and seven weeks old, when toe facilities of a city were at hand. Mr GoJeman’s only other job elose to eivttsarion since he joined toe Eghtbouse service 10 years ago was at Cape Saunders, on toe Otago Peninsula. That was before he went to Cuvier. His previous appointments were at The Brothers and Stephens Island in Cook Strait, and Puysegur Point on Foveaux Strait.

Cuvier Island was quite a comfortabEe pitece to live, said Mir Coleman. The island was fertile and fairly large, with a good climate. The three iightoouse-keepers all grew “splendid” gardens. Mr Coleman came originally from Britain. He joined toe Royal Navy and later transferred to toe Royal New Zealand Navy, entering the lighthouse service on his discharge.