THE THREE KINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15055, 26 July 1912, Page 6

THE THREE KINGS.

The Minister for Marine has very wisely decided to delay the erection of a North Cape lighthouse until he is satisfied that the Three Kings would not make a preferable site. In this decision, Mr. Fisher is opposing the prejudices of his Departmental advisers, but he is in accord with the practically unanimous opinion of independent maritime authorities. Among experienced captains and officers and all who are directly interested in shipping there is singular unanimity. The Three Kings is regarded as the only sit© for a light and signal station which will effectively protect all shipping, being superior in every respect to the North Cape, even for intercolonial and coasting vessels, and being also useful to passing vessels of all nations. A North Cape light would certainly be of great service, but could not compare with one at the Three Kings. The Department apparently regards a mainland lighthouse as more easily built and maintained, and therefore automatically exaggerates its value and the difficulty of building and maintaining a lighthouse at the Three Kings. Were the relative advantages to shipping of the two sites in any way equal it must be admitted that the Departmental inclination would be sound and reasonable; but when the advantage lies so greatly with the Three Kings a more modem and progressive policy should prevail. In all parts of the world isolated lighthouses are maintained. Many of them have been erected under difficulties vastly greater than any to

be encountered at the Three Kings. Even were the Three Kings much more inaccessible than they are they should receive Departmental approval. It would appear, however, that the Department is somewhat poorly informed of the landings and other facilities • available at these little known but dangerous islands. We trust that Mr. Fisher will avail himself of all reliable sources of information, and will stand firmly to the determination that if the undertaking is shown to be practicable the much-needed light shall appear at the Three Kings and not on the North Cape.