AIDING STEAMERS BY NIGHT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1909, Page 8

AIDING STEAMERS BY NIGHT.

SIGNALLING THE BERTHS. Presently, when steamers turn into Wellington Harbour by night, they will be easily able to discover the berths allotted to them. The signalling will be done with coloured lights on a simple plan, which was explained to-day by Mr. T. M. Wilford, chairman ot the Harbour Board. These lights, displayed vertically, will be shown by the signal staff on the tower on the centre of the outer tee of the Queen's Wharf. A. red light uppermost consigns a vessel to the south ot No. 1 (Queen's Wharf), and a green light uppermost sends her to tho north.' When the vessel draws near • the wharf, the whole signal may be easily read. If the new arrival is to berth "head north" a light appears atthe outer end of the place that the steamer is to take. This light can show three colours — red, white, and green. If the berth is to bring the steamer's port side to the wharf the red is shown, and it is green for the starboard position. If the berth is ahead (at tho cross wharf), a white light is given. My. Wilford submits that this plan will leave practically no loopholes for mistakes, especially as copies of the codo will be supplied to steamers. For the beginning a man, stationed on the wharf, will work the lights indicating the particular berths, but by-and-bye the whole procesb may bo controlled by electrical switches in the tower. It is s suggested by the har-bour-master that perhaps, in years to come, it may b8 necessary to erect a permanent structure on Point Jerningham, connecting with the board's telephone exchange. That point commands the entrance to the bay, and would be most convenient as a unit in the signalling system. Discussing the proposed Morse system ■of lamp signalling, recently advocated by a marine expert in The Post's columns, Mr. Wilford remarked that he believed this method would eventually become "general throughout New Zealand, but he did not believe that at present it was the duty of the Wellington Harbour Board — he was speaking only for himself—to inaugurate such a system, which would be of no advantage to steamers unless they carried men skilled in the use of it. Ho considered that the first move should bo made by tho shipping companies. It was for them to have Morse manipulations on their steamers before the board should be called upon to secure apparatus and engage an operator. The learning of tho system should be made mandatory, declared Mr. Wilford, and in fact should be one of the i-oncfitious attached to the issuo of certificates to navigating- officers. Owing to the Licensing Committee elections throughout the Dominion being held about the date formerly fixed upon for the annual convention of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, it was finally decided, at a special meeting neld yesterday afternoon, to arrange £or the opening ceremony (reception to delegates) to take place on Wednesday, 17th March. A large gathering is anticipated. The Broken weather is proving very anpleasant for the artillery corps who are doing their annual training camps. Colonel Davies, ihe Inspector-General, will inspect the Wellington Navals tonight, and will also present long-service medals to Lieut. -Col. Campbell, commanding the Wellington Division G. A. V., and Chief Petty Officer Martin, of the Wellington Navals. The big gun shooting will commence next Monday morning. Mr. Ilonry llopp, Cuba-street, advertises in ifcU iiMin particular.- of his first sale for eighteen month*. Dr. Hardwicke Smith, the new Medical Superintendent of the Wellington Hosoital, -entered on .Uic rtub'pj: in.day.