LIGHTING THE COAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13497, 25 May 1907, Page 4

LIGHTING THE COAST.

The very pertinent and explicit statement regarding: the lighting of the East Coast of the 'North Island; 1 which • has - been sent to the Minister for Marine by Mr. W. ;C. Somers, k presents the claim of our navigators in convincing form. It is shown' that from the West King to Cape Palliser, a distance of 680 nautical miles, there are only eight lights, including Tiri, \ although a great number of islands and headlands have to be : rounded by coasting vessels. This gives an, average of 115 miles per light—a most unsatisfactory state- of affairs In the South Island, it is shown, from Cape Campbell to the Bluff, a distance of 523 miles, there > are no less than thirteen lights, an average of only 40 miles per light. We would say at once that we have no objection whatever to; the efficient lighting of the South Island coast. ; We do .not consider it r unduly lighted, and are more than glad, for the sake of our seafarers,Vthat the lights are ■■ there. But if the less-broken coast of the South needs such lighting— and we agree' that it does—what excuse can : be , made by ; the Government for the state of the much more dangerous coast of the North, which •is proportionately ; ; lighted hardly a third as well? - Mr. Millar was eloquent,- while in Auckland, in denouncing any setting' of North ! against South,;; and .asserted that he I was determined to do equal justice to both. Did he mean what he said, or was it merely the platform oratory to which we have so long been accustomed?. We suggest to him that he has here one easy opportunity of immediately proving his words. For in this matter of safety of human life, and of making more secure the colonial navigation, which is as much the interest of Dunedin as of Auckland, there should be no difference made between one part of the colony and another, not even by a South Islander. Yet for some reason or other, into which we need not for the moment inquire, a very grave and serious difference has hitherto been made. If the difference is removed, not by extinguishing necessary Southern lights, but by establishing sufficient Northern lights, it will assist us; to v believe that Mr. Millar was in earnest when he proclaimed his intention of being fair and impartial.