FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22475, 20 July 1936, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

HARBOUR DEFENCE NEEDS FIRST SEARCHLIGHTS ARRIVE The defence of the two main ports,. Auckland and Wellington, was receiving the careful attention of the Government 50 years ago, and considerable interest was aroused by the arrival of the first searchlights. The following telegraphic message from Wellington, which appeared in the New Zealand Herald on July 20, 1886, explains the type of apparatus imported and also gives some indication of the remarkable advance made in the use of electricity daring the last half century: — "The Defence Minister has now received from Home the electric light apparatus to be used in connection with defence works at Auckland and Wellington. It consists of movable arc lights, of 5000 candle-power, which are fitted with very powerful reflectors, so that the rays can be thrown in any required direction. They aro guaranteed to show clearly a small white buoy at a distance of 2000 yards. The dynamos will be worked by steam. "It is intended to erect the apparatus for Wellington at Fort Bs£a.nce, where it will command the entrance to the Heads, -and the whole of the har-bour-way up to and beyond Ward Island, thus enabling the batteries to have a full view of any vessel entering the Heads, or trying to make her way into the harbour. A similar apparatus has been obtained for Auckland and will be put into operation at an early date."