SHIP SIRENS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 128, 23 February 1939, Page 11

SHIP SIRENS

Use In Wellington Harbour At Night "Recently the mayor, Mr. Hislop, made public reference to the use of ship sirens at night in Wellington harbour. and he specially mentioned the Awatea when sailing at night,” said the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr. C. M. Turrell, at a meeting of the board last night. “I think all the members of the board will agree that, unnecessary noises in the city should be eliminated as far as possible, particularly at night. ‘‘Many yeans ago the harbour board passed a by-law prohibiting the sounding of .steamer whistles or sirens within Hie limits of the harbour, except as navigation signals. According to the international regulations for preventing collisions, a ship must sound three short blasts of her whistle or siren during day or night 'before going astern, and the harbourmaster informs me that, except in the case of accident or testing, ships using the port do not sound their whistles or sirens except where the regulations compel them to do so. “The harbourmaster reports that the board's bv-liiw is being properly observed by the masters of ships using tlie port, ami that lie has no complaint Io make in this regard. I have thought it necessary to make this public explanation in fairness to the ship masters using the port of Wellington.’ Mr. G. London : There is no question about it: we all know when Captain Davey is going to sea. The chairman: You have only got to rend Hie pipers lo see that. (Laugbi er.)