THE PILOT SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6484, 29 August 1882, Page 3

THE PILOT SERVICE.

c __ . T P THE editor. i 0 ?^ u » c y a ? d « P^ ofc service seems to ne to be in a dilapidated state, and likely to become worse. U you kindly permit me, as a master mariner occasionally Visiting the port, to state mr rea«on for this assertion. Any master mariner (I presume a stranger), after making the Hen and Chickens, could certainly work his vessel in without the aid of a ?f T l iere 18 °° *wger but yrh%t is plainly visible. It seems to me the danger is ia making the land, and an eilicient pilot service must necessarily obviate that. In conversation with tho constructor of your tSiJ?* ' 0 c , Ol »tructor of »ho dock in Lyttelton as regard* the merits of .the two ports, I distinctly stated to him that a competent master could go into Lyttelton blindfolded, whereas be knew that the steamboats carrying the mail have bad to heave-to outside the Barrier through thick fogs, and no soundings to guide their captains. A competent pilot service could be supported by this port only under the following conditions, vis.: Qualify certain men by causing them to pass our examinations, allow these men to act as pilots on board of any vessel they see making for the port, these men to be in command ?u ». CO ln £ Tho examination will prove that they are competent. This will relieve you of a most onerous duty, and I believe it will give satisfaction to all master mariners, as any mariner will still keep his eye on hia vessel. I have been ou board ono of xi.ii.Al. ships, bound Home after a four yeara* cruise, and expecting to mako the Needles; in a thick fog when getting dark. We picked up a fishing boat w!th a man and a boy in her. The master of the boat had put the remainder of his crew on board of vessels to pilot them in, and he could not leave the boat unless a man was put on board in hia place. Our captain was glad to accede to his requost. Again 1 was in the ocean race as between the Challenger and and ihe Challenge, and our captain would not take anyone as a pilot for his vessel but a Chinaman who was thoroughly acquainted with the coast. I could state many more reasons, but I think these sufficient—lam, &c., Arous.