AN ISOLATED LIGHTHOUSE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 14 September 1926, Page 5

AN ISOLATED LIGHTHOUSE.

PRIVATIONS OF SICK WOMAN

On Portland Island, at the northern extremity of Hawke's Bay, and 47 miles from Napier by sea, there is a Government lighthouse with the keepers and their families, who must be the most isolated community in the Dominion. They are separated from the Mahia Peninsula By a channel of- the sea, says the Hawke’s Bay Herald, and they have no communication with the mainland either by telegraph, telephone, or wireless. They have in vain petitioned for consideration, but the Government turns a deaf ear to their cry. At ordinary times the isolation is bearable, but when sickness attacks the little com-

munity, then the position becomes .almost intolerable. Three times within the last twelve months cases of sickness have occurred, and in each case the patient has just escaped death by a hair’s breadth. Last week one inhabitant was taken

ill. Her - friends were unable to discover what was wrong with her. Had a telephone or a wireless installation been available they could have got into touch with some medical man and obtained advice from him. As it was, they had to wait a passing ship. Four ships went hv between Tuesday night- and Thursday night. Two did not see the signals from the lighthouse. One said- she could give no help. The last offered to report the case, so that the first convenient ship should be asked to call in. On Friday night the patient was taken off, and is now in hospital. It is obvious that any case- of sickness runs a very considerable risk of receiving no help until it is too late. We believe, says the Herald, that the Portland Island lighthouse is the only one in the Dominion not connected by telegraph or telephone to one or other of the centres.