ROCKS AND FOGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1937, Page 10

ROCKS AND FOGS

HARBOUR PRECAUTIONS

As a result of representations received, from the Merchant Service Guild that a lighted beacon should be erected either on or in the vicinity of the Outer Rock, Barrett's Reef, the Wellington Harbour Board has au*horised surveys and preliminary investigations to be made to ascertain whether and at what costs this reef could be suitably marked, says the board's annual report.

The resurvey of the depths of the harbour entrance has proceeded steadily during the year whenever the weather has permitted, but as the Heads are approached the interruptions have become more and more frequent. Particularly is this the case in the vicinity of Barrett's Reef, where it is impossible to work except in the calmest weather. This is delaying the report on the question of erecting a beacon to mark the outer rock of the reef.

Arising out of a recommendation made by the Court of Inquiry in regard to the casualty which happened to the S.S. Wahine, when she ran into the Pipitea Wharf, and representations made by the Merchant Service Guild, a. committee was set up by the board consisting of the chairman and Messrs. Turrell, Price, and Fletcher, to investigate and report to the board at a later date on the question of fog signals for Wellington harbour. At the same time investigations were authorised to be made into recent developments in wireless beacons.