A DASTARDLY ACT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12638, 16 April 1903, Page 4

A DASTARDLY ACT.

Tho safety of the large intercolonial steamers arriving: in tlio lower harbour and proceeding up to Dunedin is likely to be endangered by tho action of a gam; of larrikins .at.Port Chalmers, who havo within the- last tour months cut tho halliards at tho signal station no less than four times. In order to repair this, it is neoessary on each occasion to strike the topmast and reeve the 'halliards afresh. This not only entails considerable labour on tho Harbour Board's employees on board their tug steamer; but is likely to endanger the safely of intercolonial boats passing up to or down from Dunedin, ,as it is tcronorarily impossible to exhibit the "Danger" or "Clear" signals. The- ohief harbourmaster and his staff do all in their power to make the navigation of the upper,channel as safe as possible, but their efforts are rendered almost rw\vorles.i hy the action of the miscreants who in a wanton spirit of mischief interfere with flm signal station. Sergeant Geerin, of the police, has tho matter in hand, and lias, it is understood, information which will enable him to •trace and bring the offenders to punishment. .

Several marine experts are of opinion that the • signalling of vessels passing up and down the Victoria Channel would be greatly simplified by the adoption of a semaphore at Port Chalmers, the arms of which would donoto whether the channol was blocked or clear, and this would prevent halliardoutting.