STEPHENS ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9650, 1 February 1893, Page 4

STEPHENS ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE.

There have just been completed ami fitted up at the Milton Works of Messrs .James Milne and Son (Limited),. Edinburgh, the optical apparatus aud machinery for the litest additioa to the scheme of lighthouses which soma years ago the Messrs Stevenson, ci?il engineers, matured for lighting the coast lines of New Zealand. Already, iv accordance with the Messrs Stevenson's scheme, uo fewer than 27 lighthouses have been erected on salient points of tha coast line (which extends to about 3000 miles), aiitl all of them are equipped with optical apparatus in which the latest improvements are embodied. Parrafin has also been adopted as the source of lignt in'kinps, resulting not only in diminished expense, but iv increased power of the lights; The apparatus, which has just been computed, is for a lighthouse at Stephens Island, which lies oil the north end of the Middle Island, in Cook Strait, and rises to a height of 950 Ft. The lowest site thai could ba found for the light is about 570 ft above the level of the sea, and if the height of the tower be added, the centre of the light will be about 600 feet above sea level —an elevation which is exceeded by only ouo lighthouse iv Great Britain, Barra Head—which will give a range of I2.ii nautical miles for the light. Tbo apparatus" is novel in design, and forms a foursided cage of glass, fitted in gun-metal framing, about 8j- feet in height and 6 feet in diameter. Each of the four faces of the instrument is built of two central lenses or discs surrounded by light prismatic rings, with four reflecting prisms below and a crown of thirteen holophotal prisms above. In the focus of the apparatus is a lump haviDg a burner with five concentric wick?, the flame beiug 4.} inches in diameter, aud possessing a power equal to 515 standard candles. The whole apparatus is made to revolve on a carriage working on steel rollers, which circulate between two rings of steel, the mof.ion beiug given by clockwork actuated by a foiling weight. The machine has a maintaining power which keeps the apparatus going; at tie required speed even while the weight is bc-iug wound up, and provision is also made for work ing ths machine by hand if any accident happens to the winding gear. The apparatus is so arranged that as each face comes into view the observer sees two flashes of intensely white light following each other in rapid succession every half-minute. The lantern in which the apparatus is to ha placed is now on Hi way to New Zealand. It is 12ft in diameter and 9Ct in height; the astragals are'of gun-metal, and arranged iv a series of triangles, thus securing a stcucturo of great rigidity and strength; the dome. is doub'e, of copper plates riveted together, the triangular panes being of the best mirror plate glass,-u quarter of an inch in thickuess ; aud what are called " fctorm-panes " are provided, and kept in readiness to ba applied in the event of a pane being broken either by birds driving up against the lantern or by stones thrown up from the cliff on which the lighthouse is placed. The lantern was made by Messrs Dove, Greensido lane, Bdiuburgh; the optical apparabus by Messrs Barbier, Paris; and the revolving oimage, machine, and lamps by Messrs Jjia- r Milne and Son ;— the whole being const, v :■•-<! t > the designs and under the direction of ■■■>- .U.sors Stevenson,— Scotsman, November 15 iiidl.

— An idea of the ex-, n*; ta which eleotrloity is used ou modern &;• an?hips may be gained from the fact that on tbo Royal Sovereign there are 800 electric lights and 30 miles of wire,

A YEAR'S LUXURY FOR ONE SHILLING

Shavers should bear in mind that for twelve pence a Pears' Shaving Stick can ba bought, which will last twelve months, and give a softer and better lather than finy other soap,