LIGHTHOUSES AND WIRELESS STATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9489, 12 May 1913, Page 3

LIGHTHOUSES AND WIRELESS STATIONS.

QUESTION OF COST DISCUSSED

(PlB rHKSS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, May 9

"During my visit to Australia 1 elid no! unit to have several interviews with Com mander Brewis, who controls the jighthouse;on the Australian coast. With reference .o the problem of efficiently lighting th< Three Kings, "the information which he rave me will be most valuable to the New Zealand Marine Department," suid the Hon. Mr Fisher lo an interviewer thit aorniiig. "1 raised the point with Ml Tudor of Australia's contributing to the cost of the lighting of the Three Kings, which will bo in a sense an international light. Large numbers of Australian ships bound for South America or round Caj* Horn pass between Three Kings and ('apt Maria Van Dicmon. Hardly ever lees than two, and sometimes as many as fourteen, in one week pass between the islands and mainland and never touch New Zealand ai all. In fact, the light would lie of more real value to Australian shipping than to us; for these reasons, and considering the fact that it will probably cost more to erect than any light in Australasia, 1 ventured to suggest that the Commonwealth Government should help us„with iialf the initial cost. I subsequently interviewed the P,iin< Minister (Mr Andrew Fisher), and went fully into the matter. Of. course. Federal Ministers were unable to make any definite commitment in the matter. Federal Minisrers were busy fighting their elections, and the matter would have to go before the Cabinet, but I feel sure that later on the Federal Government will see the rcasoi ableness of the proposal, and assist us ir protecting the shipping that frequents tin vicinity of Three Kings. "Before my departure for Australia strong lepresentations were made to me. to inter view the Federal Government with refer ence to the retention of the wireless station erected by the Federal Government on Mae quarie Islands for the purpose of keeping in touch with the Mawson expedition. I saw Mr Fisher in reference to this, and, although unable to make any,definite statement upon' the subject, just now, I think 1 may safely say that our respective Govern ments are ready to agree to a course that will make the Maequarie wireless station a permnnency. It has proved its value as n meteorological station, and is easily worth the cost of its maintenance. It is interest ing to note that--Mr Josiah Thomas (Minis tor of External Affairs) told me the other day he was anxious to get some information which no ono but Mr Mawson knew, lie sent an all-wireless message to Dr. Mawson in the Antarctic, and soon after he received an all-wireless reply."