CAPE TERAWHITI.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 113, 11 May 1909, Page 4

CAPE TERAWHITI.

Opinions vary as to the need of a lighthouse at Terawhiti. The loss of the Penguin has called pointed attention to the absence of such a guide, and many shipmasters are emphatio as to the necessity for lighting this headland; But the Marine Depart- j meat opposes the suggestion, chiefly on the ground of cost, which is the one consideration that should be allowed to weigh least where danger to human life is involved. But even this plea has very little to support it, for, as a correspondent in the N.Z. Times has just pointed out, the light dues for ■*. the past financial year amounted to over £32,000, while the total expenditure upon them was £25,000. There is thus am annual profit of £7000, and for on© yeair's income on that basis the new light could be supplied, so that it is clear the funds are there for the purpose if the Department can only be brought to admit the necessity for the work. And upoai -this point the evidence is very strong, if not convincing. A light upon Tongue Point would be a reliable guide to a vessel in such a position as the ill-fated Penguin, which had presumably got so close inshore that the Pencarrow light was obscured by Sinclair Head. Had there bean one there lor in. its vicinity it may safely be said that the wreck would not have happened, always, of course, presuming that the ship really did not strike a submerged wreck. Undoubtedly a- light there would be a great acquisition, and enable this dangerous passage to be negotiated iwith a greater degree of safety than at present. On this point all the experts who have been consulted are agreed. As to the confusion some people consider would arise from the presence of an additional light, that could be obviated by making the flashes quite distinct in character from those of other lights in the Strait. There is undoubtedly a strong consensus of opinion in favoa- of the proposal, notwithstanding the Ministerial objections.