SOUTH HEAD LIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25503, 5 April 1944, Page 7

SOUTH HEAD LIGHT

REPORTS FROM MARINERS STATEMENT BY BOARD SECRETARY The strength of the South Head light, which was discussed at the March meeting of the board, and which has been the subject of reports by masters of vessels working the port, was discussed at tire Oamaru Harbour Board’s meeting yesterday while the harbour master, Captain H. S. Cox, was in attendance. The marine superintendent of the Union Steam Ship Company forwarded a report from Captain J. Macneil, master of the Wainui. Captain Macneil stated that when proceeding from Dunedin to Oamaru he was able to see the South Head light as soon as he got into its arc of visibility at a distance of 10£ miles off. and when on the way from Oamaru to Timaru it was visible for a distance of 16 miles. He noticed that when bearing 330 degrees the light showed much dimmer, and lie did not think that anyone approaching it on that bearing would see the light at the distance mentioned. Visibility Lowered Captain A. Copland, master of the Holmdale, wrote that the Marine Department had issued a notice to mariners claiming that, in the change-over of the South Head light from electricity to gas. the visibility had not been altered, but he had pioved this was not the case. On February 12 he had been requested by the harbour master to observe if there was any apparent change in the visibility, and he and his officers watched the light carefully, because it was of vital importance to the Holmdale, which worked the port of Oamaru on every trip. He testified that at seven miles off the light did not seem'to be any brighter than the individual town lights, and at nine miles they needed the “ prism ” glasses to see it; whereas he always got a “ fix ” by the previous liglit on a direct course from Akaroa to Dunedin, passing 17 miles on it. He considered the change-over from electricity to gas to have been a retrograde step, and be agreed with Captain Cox’s statement that the light was now of very little value as a coastal light. The secretary (Mr T. J. Guthrie) said there were three more reports to come. The harbour master said be could not report on the light as he could not see it except from the shore end. He could not say if it could be seen 7 or 10 miles out, and he was not going 10 miles out for that purpose, as he was not supposed to go out more than two miles. To Mr W. S. Brewster, the chairman (Mr G. T. Gillies) said the board had an electric light before the gas. The Marine Department recommended the electric light, but the harbour master recommended the gas. Captain Cox denied this, saying that he was responsible for getting electricity, in t]:e first place, and he would not recommend changing from electricity to gas. The secretary then read his report to the chairman under date March 8, as follows:—“ South Head Light.—The following is a copy of an extract of the report of the board meeting of September 7, 1943, from the North Otago notes in the Otago Daily Times of September 8, 1943: ’ The Public Works Department forwarded a copy of instructions for building new quarters for the South Head light.—The secretary (Mr T. J. Guthrie) reported that the naval (nautical) adviser had ruled in favour of electric light.—The harbour master (Captain Cox) stated that there was a danger of a cut-oil of power with an electric light, and the automatic gas light was the better light.—The board decided to ask the department if it was not possible to install an automatic gas light, instead of electric. Captain Cox recommended the installation of an automatic gas light, but said He did not think the board could secure one at the present time.’ ” The secretary added that thq harbour master was supplied with a copy of ail correspondence received by the board in respect to the provision of a new South Head light. Harbour Master’s Denial

Captain Cox: That’s a lot of rot. The whole thing is that you (the board) made a big bloomer, and you want to make a scapegoat out of me. You asked what was a substitute for electricity, and I said gas, but I never recommended gas. Mr C. J. Marshall said that Captain Cox had said there was a danger of cut-off with electricity, and that gas would be a substitute, but he did not think they could get an automatic gas light. The board found that it could get the gas light, and adopted it without objection from Captain Cox. Tfhat was the position as he remembered it. Mr R. K. Ireland said it was no use Quarrelling over the past, but the board should ask the department if the light could be made stronger, as there had been complaints. Mr Marshall said the board should ask the department to revert to electricity.

Mr G. W. Todd said the fishermen were complaining about the poor light. He seconded Mr Ireland’s motion asking for a stronger light, which was carried.