NEW LIGHTHOUSES ON THE NEW ZEALAND COAST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4362, 13 March 1875, Page 4

NEW LIGHTHOUSES ON THE NEW ZEALAND COAST.

It will be remembered that in December and January last the Luna made a trip round the South Island with the officers of the Marine department, to complete the survey and examination -of sites that had been begun in February of last year. The result of this expedition, and the other expedition round the North Island in March and April last, has been that the Commissioner of Customs, the Hon. Mr, Reynolds, has been enabled to order, by the last San Francisco mail,, the apparatus, lanterns, &c., for six new lighthouses, to be erected at the following places, viz.: — (1.) The Brothers in Cook Strait. (2.) Puysegur Point, near Preservation Inlet, at the S.W. (end of the South Island. (3.) Centre Island, in Fovoaux Strait. (4.) Cape. Maria Van Diemen, at the north of the North Island (5.) Mokohmau Island, at the northern entrance to the Hawaki Gulf. (6.) Portland Island, off the Mahia Peninsula. It is anticipated that the lighting apparatus and lanterns for these lighthouses will not arrive in New Zealand before about eighteen months. There are only two firms in Great Britain who are makers of lighthouse apparatus. Of these, the principal, Messrß_ Chance Bros, and Co., of Birmingham, have hitherto manufactured the optical apparatus for the New Zealand lighthouses. The apparatus take a considerable time in their manufacture, so that the lighthouses canuot be completed quite ae rapidly as might be desired. Preliminary works are in the meantime being proceeded with. By the Wellington, a foreman and two men went to Dunedin, from whence they, together with some four or five men to be engaged at Dunedin, will proceed in the Maori to Preservation Inlet, where they will be employed hi cutting a road about a mile and a half long to Puysegur Point. They will also clear and level the site for the tower and the houses for the light-keepers. When these men return from Preservation Inlet, they will proceed to The Brothers, where they will prepare the landing places and cut a track through the rock to the site of the lighthouse. A small house was built a short time ago in Wellington for the accommodation of these men, and also to be used as a barrack for the workmen during the erection of the lighthouse. This house will he placed on The Brothers at the first opportunity that offers. By the Soukar, the Government received the lanterns for Cape Foulwiud and Tory Channel lighthouses. For the former, the site is now being cleared of bush, and a road of about a mile in length has been made to connect the site with the Westport and Charleston-road. By the next trip of the Easby, the timber for the principal part of the tower is expected to arrive from Sydney. When it is delivered at Westport, tenders will he called for the erection of the tower and necessary buildings, which it is believed will be completed in six or eight months’ time. As it has been determined to erect a lighthouse on The Brothers, the lantern and apparatus for Tory Channel will no longer be required for that place, but will be available for some other similar locality. Hitherto tho delay in carrying out this branch of the public service has been in great measure caused by tho fact that the Luna has not been available for this particular duty when required ; but as now tho Government, on the recommendation of the Hon, Mr. Reynolds, have ordered a steamer from England in every way suitable for the purposes of the Marine department, no more difficulty on that account should arise.