GABLE END FORELAND LIGHT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15275, 24 July 1920, Page 6

GABLE END FORELAND LIGHT.

MATTER TO BE AGAIN MENTIONED. The necessity for a.light at Gable End Foreland to aid shipping along the coast was recently brought before the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, and it was decided to again bring the matter under the notice of the Governmont. ' At one time the position of the light was discussed by some of the nautical men from Wellington, and it is understood that it was found that the island of the Foreland was crumbling and was unsuitable for a light. Later, the Hon. T. Wilford (Minister of Marine) was met by a deputation m Gisborne, and tho matter brought under his notice, and it was urged that the light- be placed on either side of the Gable End Foreland on some suitable prominence. The Minister promised that a report would be obtained from the District Engineer as to the nature and suitability ot the locality. Up to the present, although Mr Wilford promised to give the matter considora- , tion, no further news lms been heard regarding tho proposed, "light. The harbormaster (Captain Carson) said he considered that a light ut this point • wns an absolute necessity to the mercantile marine on the coast, as on a . dirty night the point was difficult to pick out on account of the high land behind. There wore two danger localities off tho coast m that locality, viz., Moiiowai rock and the Ariel reef. At the Foreland nautical mon always altored the ship's course to come between tho Monowai rock and the Arielswhen coming to Gisborne, but when going to Napier and Wellington tho ships proceed further out to seaward nnd paBS beyond tho Aricls. He thought there should bo either a "watched" or "unwafched" light on# Gablo Islet or the Foreland with a red sector on the Monowai rock, which lies four miles' (south magnetic) nnd the Ariel reef on the other side of this pas'.siige, about six miles away. On a dirty njght the high land ..obscured tlie. headland and ships went out to 6en ; this : protracting the voyage. There* wns no light between Portland Island and*the East Cape along the coast, line of 703 miles, except the Tuahino" light. At the Foreland a ship' on the usual course, and .failing to alter it, would go right on to the Ariels if proceeding due south. The Ariels comprised tvyo shallow patches with rocks, six and a-hnlf miles m length, Ivinsr N.N.E. and S.S.W., about one milo m breadth, with a depth of 10 to gO fathoms. It lies parallel with the coast abreast of Whangarn Island to Tataponri Head, a. distance of eight miles. The Ariel reef has the shallowest part of the bank at its south end, and comprises n nnvVow ridge about, throo-quarlfi's pf a mile Hong, running north ami south j with about, five fsiiho'vs of vijov almw it, with points with three feet of watpr above. 11. lies N. 16 W. i dhtauco of 12 miles. The Monowai rock, he <snij ( H es south h east. foi>r and two-lhlrd miles from GnWo TCn>l Forclund, vilh two oln- * uncle rocks with two and Ihroe-miivlors nnil three ami a-third fathoms nf water over thoic. The l»nnk ln« »' l^asf 20 fn thorns ilen'h. I' ' pxloiuls R.M. ■ from , the coast.. k.E. .off Wlif^arsi. Tsluxl. Tho ro^ks^ seldom bitvl.-. Tho I'fflit. m his onininn, vi»s p. v r fv lifrossai 1 " thinf? j|i the in^oros's of the fiafply of thp niev- . caniilo marine.