MAIN PORT LIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1923, Page 2

MAIN PORT LIGHT.

AN IMPROVEMENT MADE. TRANSFERRED TO MIKOTAHI. By a change effected last night, the approach to the port of New Plymouth for vessels arriving between sunset and sunrise has been considerably facilitated. The change consists in the transfer of the main port light, formerly situated in the lupins near the workshops to a commanding position upon , the summit of Mikotahi Island, situated ' 100 feet above high water and about 1200 feet seaward of its former posii tion. The light, which is of 000 candle • power and the strongest ever installed lat the port, was switched on for the ' first time at dusk yesterday. The light, which is red, is visible for 16 miles so that, soon after passing the Cape Egmont light, mariners will come in sight of the light on Mikotahi. In its old position the main port light was not visible till ships were much closer to port, the beam being shut out by the Paritutu sugarloaf. Vessels approaching port take their line, after losing the main port light, from the two beacon lights near the Ngamotu pavilion till coming in sight of the wharfapproach sector of the main port light, a narrow ribbon of red light covering an arc of five degrees and indicating the deepest channel approach to the wharf. The light is reached by a series of steps cut into the side of the hill and a handrail is to be added shortly. The flagstaff, used in signalling, will also be transferred to the summit of Mikotahi.