THE LIGHT AT TERAWHITI.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 9 March 1909, Page 1

THE LIGHT AT TERAWHITI.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—ln your issue of the 4th in6t. Felix Tanner states that I was very much at sea when I said that Cape Farewell, Brothers, and iPencarfpw lights were tho lights mentioned in the issue of the 18th of February. Now, if ho will take tho trouble to look at the issue of that date he will lind tliat reference is made to the above-mentioned lights, and if he looks again at my letter of tho 2nd iust. he "ill see that I did not mention Stephen Island or Cape Campbell lights, nor did 1 say that these lights coukl be seen in Cook Strait at one time; only the lights mentioned in the papers. As t'j the coast in the vicinity of Terawhiti not requiring a light, I would remind your correspondent of the fact that he was driven ashore in a ship called an ark on that same dangerous locality; I believe it was in the daylight that this wreck occurred. Now, how would he have fared if it bad been a rough, dark night, with thick nteather and jio lights to be jseen'' Your correspondent also considers that a dangerous coast should not be lighted, on the ground that in thick weather captains of ships woald go inshore to look for a light. Now, a lighthouso is the "seaman's guido, and when he sees the beacon steers his ship clear of the rocks and shoals. I should think your correpsondent knows that no master would ever alter his course ill thick weather and go inshore, and head for a light because he could not see it. Your correspondent is quite right about Cape Campbell light being seen. That lijjht is nearly 30 miles from Pencarrow; but if a light could not bo seen 10 miles away in thick weather Capo Campbell light is no good to a ship bound into Wellington. But if a light was erected at Tongue Point it might be seen five miles off in a fog, while Pencarrow would be somo 12 miles away, so that a master of a ship could ascertain his position, and if it was too thick to see even a

light at Tongue Point he could use his own judgmeut; but it would not be to go inshore. I am. etc., SEAFARER, 1 • ! , r > ; ,