NEW BUOY TO BE ANCHORED

Southland Times, Issue 23727, 27 January 1939, Page 6

NEW BUOY TO BE ANCHORED

WARNING LIGHT AT FAIRCHILD ROCK MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR SOUTH COAST The date for the anchoring of the Fairchild buoy at Bluff has not yef been fixed, but it is expected that it will be in position before the next meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board. At yesterday’s meeting of the board the members decided to be present when the buoy was towed out to the Fairchild rock by the tug Awarua. The buoy, which has been provided by. the Marine Department, will be a responsibility of the Harbour Board, and,the supply of gas, which will provide the lighting, will be replenished once a year. The buoy will be held in position by a sinker in the form of a five-ton concrete block and 50 fathoms of heavy chain mooring. It is 10 tons in weight, and will bum dissolved acetone gas. It is equipped with a sun valve which, with a certain degree of daylight, switches the main light out and leaves a pilot light burning. When darkness sets in the sun valve again operates and the main light is automatically put into operation once again. The whistle or horn operates by compressed ail actuated by the rise and fall of the buoy on the swell of the sea. The buoy is, in fact, similar to the one at Lyttelton heads which has been there for the last 20 years.

The buoy will be placed in the water on Monday next and will be given about a fortnight’s test with the light. Captain Whitehead, Government nautical adviser, will be present as official adviser when the buoy is placed in position.