MODERN LIGHTHOUSES

Evening Star, Issue 23129, 1 December 1938, Page 7

MODERN LIGHTHOUSES

NEW ZEALAND MAKES PRODRESS ELECTRIC LIGHT AND RADIO BEARINGS [Special to the * Stab.’) WELLINGTON. December 1. A great advance has been made within the last few years in the aids to navigation provided around the New Zealand coast, and the progressive programme which was originally outlined by the Hon. P. Fraser (Minister of Marine) is approaching completion. A number of the most important lighthouses are being provided with equipment for sending out radio signals which will give bearings to ships, and the old-fashioned oil lamps give place at the same time to the more brilliant electric light. At Cape Campbell, in' the South Island, where the light has changed to electricity, a noticeable improvement in visibility has been reported by ship masters. Another advantage of electrification is that, so far as the light is concerned, there is no need to maintain a continuous all-night watch, as was the case where oil lamps had to be tended, and the mechanism for the occulating system regularly wound up. Radio bearings from the leading points around the coast are simplifying the problem of making a safe landfall under conditions of bad visibility. This has an important bearing on the maintenance of passenger schedules by fast ships now serving New Zealand from overseas. They approach the coast, aided by radio direction signals, and lose no time in safely ascertaining their position in relation to the land. At the most northern point in the Dominion Cape Maria lighthouse provides guidance for ships approaching from Australia. From this lighthouse radio signals are sent out on request, the signal being a repetition of the letter “J” in Morse. Cape Maria light is in an isolated position, very difficult of access, and the Minister of Marine has under consideration a proposal to move it to Capo Reinga, which is on the mainland. A Public Works party is carrying out surveys to locate a road, and when its report is complete a final decision can be made. Cape Reinga is on a more northerly point than the old lighthouse, and if a change is made an automatic light will be placed on Cape Maria for the use of shipping which comes up the West Coast, off Ninety Mile Beach. Cuvier Island and Moko Hinau Island lights are important directional points for shipping approaching New Zealand from Panama and other Pacific ports, and it is intended to provide both with radio directional signals, which will be operated ‘ regularly throughout the 24 hours ,of the day. The Government lighthouse tender Matai landed the material for the buildings on both islands during September, and a working party has almost completed the construction at Cuvier, and will shortly transfer to Moko Hinau. When the Matai .makes its next trip to these points in February it will land the radio ‘ directional signal equipment.

The safe navigation of Cook Strait is being greatly facilitated by the improvement: which have already been made, while there are more in prospect. Baring :Head light is electric, and its radio directional service is at work at least twice in every hour, while under bad Conditions and during the hours of darkness the signals are made every six minutes. Cape Campbell has a similar service to Baring Head, and the whole equipment is electric. Stephens Island lighthouse is undergoing the transformation. The buildings are completed, _ the engines for generating electricity are being installed, and it is expected that the light will be electrified and the radio directional signals will operate next January. At: the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound the Brothers lighthouse is an important guide to navigators. The staff of keepers have recently been provided with a radio telephone equipment communicating with_ Wellington, a great advance on their former method of sending messages to the mainland by _ means of signals to passing ships, which, were asked to forward the information. ’ The Minister of Marine states that when the present programme is completed, the next important situation for a radio beacon which will probably receive attention is Puysegur Point, on the south-west extremity of the Dominion. It is a ' much-used landfall for vessels on the Melbourne-Bluff route, and the intention is to provide electric lighting as well as radio directional signals.