SOMES ISLAND LIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1786, 26 June 1913, Page 5

SOMES ISLAND LIGHT.

HARBOUR BOARD DECISION. The notice of motion givjn by Captain ■ I). J. Watson concerning the advisableness of discontinuing the light now exhibited on Somes Island as a leading light for tho port and - erecting instead a pile beacon near the Steeple Rock, off Seatoun, HVas discussed at last evening's meeting of the Harbour Board. ' : .j , Tn speaking to the motion; Captain [Watson thought -a light should' be erect(ed somewhere in the vicinity of the black buoy off Seatoun. : At;,the present tiiao the,. Somes ' Island- light Whs so far. back that .when it was most, needed—in thick weather—it could not'*< be/ seen. There had been a risk of tlio ied light Dn tho dredge being-mistaken for the Ted gectaro o£ the Somes 'light, and instances were' known"-where that ilight had been mistaken for the Somes Island light, and 'but for an - who knew the harbour and the .lights;:the steamer. Jnight have found the bcach near Port ■ Gordon. All tho lights in . the harbour should, he considered, be occultine lights. Had he not been away from Wel- ■ lington ho would have obtained the signatures of every> shipmaster , coming into tho port. • . ',Mr. Jones thought the, matter was one for experts, and 'he favoured'setting up ii body of nautical e'xperts. to Teport on the -' The chairman Tead a .report - made by the 'harbourmaster last year on the lightin" of the entrance channel. -/ After ;a long: discussion,, or' rather dialogue, between Captains 1 Watson' t and Johnston (harbourmaster)).'of a highly technical character, the chairman suggested that perhaps if the two gentlemen found time .to have a conference by themselves 1 they would bo able to come lo an • amicable settlement of ..'their differences. ' Captain' Watson made it-clear that his idea in asking, iot the new low . light \vould mean doing away with. the Somes Island light. V : ... ■ Captain Johhston wislie'd to-know ihow' Bailing vessels - were; to.:.beat'.'.into port .without a leading light on- Somes Island. Onco more the chairman intervened, Sand suggested- that'.the - two -captains should consult and report, to the'-board, a Jnonth hence. >•'.