VISIT TO A LIGHTHOUSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8545, 27 March 1908, Page 6

VISIT TO A LIGHTHOUSE.

THE LONELY BROTHERS.

How many people have any real idea of what life on the lonely Brothers actually is? The Blenheim correspondent of tho Pelorus Guardian took the opportunity, recently, of visiting tho barren rock on which'tho Brothers lighthouse is situated, and was greatly interested in the conditions under which the light is tended. ;

First of all it should be mentioned that the islets forming the Brothers group, which but for the warning light would prove such a menace to mariners, are situated only a mile or two from the mainland, just outside the southern entrance to the Queen Charlotte Sound. The largest island —if such it can bo called, being only about a hundred yards and perhaps a hundred foot high—is a solid mass of bare rock with a little nativo lichen clinging to the crevices. Its only indigenous inhabitants are the tuatara lizards, with which it swarms, and thousands of sea petrels. On the summit of this rock stands the lighthouse. Below it is a storeroom, while lower down, nestling on an excavated flat space, stands tho keepers' quarters. There are Jtvvo landing-places, one at each side of the island, so that a comparatively comfortable landing may be effected whichever way the wind blows. Derricks are provided for the handling of stores, and a tramway runs up the steep side of the rock for hoisting the provisions and oil into .the storehouse.

Though near the mainland, the keepers might as well be hundreds of miles away for all the communication they have with the shore, as they are not allowed boats for obvious reasons. Suppose they wcro cruising, about in an open boat on a fine summer's day and a south-easter suddenly came up well, there mightn't be any light that night! There arc four men attached to tho lighthouse, three always being on duty at the light and One on shore at the Marine stores. Thus variety is obtained, the men being ashore one month in four. The " barrack.?," whore each keeper has his room, and also includes common room, library, kitchen, etc., was as clean as a new pin, and as well appointed as a.man-o'-war's deck. By the 'way, no pots are allowed on the island, as cats and dogs would soon make short work of the lizards; and as this is the only place iu the Dominion where these lizards find a refuge the' Government have taken steps to preserve them. A couple of live sheep, however, are landed by the steamer on her visit, together with some bales of hay for their sustenance, and this provides the men with a welcome change in the shape of fresh meat occasionally. The lighthouse itself was deeply interesting. On the ground floor is situated the powerful red light which pours its rays in a steady stream on to tho dangerous Cook Rock. On the day I was there the sea was so smooth that no ripple could be seen over the rock, but the fierce- nor'-wester tells a. different tale. Ascending to the main light, one sees the eight large beautifully polished lenses surrounding fl.o large oil-lamp, mounted on their revolving carriage, which make the intermittent flash every ten seconds. The carriage, which revolves once round the light every eighty seconds, is worked by clockwork, a heavy weight, iunning right down to the base of the ligiithouse, providing the motive power. The lamps aro double-wick circular burners, of no remarkable power apparently, it being the lenses which, by concentrating the beams, give the brilliant flash. No speck of dust could be seen anywhere, the lamps and lenses shining dazzlinglv.

The lighthouse is connected with each room in the keepers' quarters by a speaking tube, so that the solitary keeper on his lonely midnight vigil in the winter galo may call. his mates if in need of help. The work of tending the lamp is done in four-hour watches throughout the night, and the speaking tune serves the purpose of bringing the next man from the sweet sleep of the keeper's house to the stern duty of tending the lamps. The men have various hobbijs, a workshop being provided for the exorcise of their mechanical proclivities, arid a library for their less energetic moments ; but their work —cooking, washing, mending, and keeping the lamps and building in order —takes up a surprisingly largo part of their time. Still, the work must }3all at times, nd weariness of their lonely existence must occasionally seize these brave guardiaos of our night travelling on the restless deep.