FOG-SIGNALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5455, 6 January 1896, Page 1

FOG-SIGNALS.

At the time of the wreck of the Wairarapa there was (says the Post) considerable comment upon the necessity.for fogsignals at the lighthouses, and it was held that had there been a fog-signal at Mokihinui the disaster would not have hap-; pened. A vote of .£350 was taken last session, and with this it has been decided to send to England for one of Slaughter's cotton-powder fog-signals. A magazine is erected clear of the lighthouse buildings, and through this a tube rises to a height of 20ft to 30ft from the ground. In the tube, which is bent over at the top, is an endless chain bearing hooks, worked by clock-work. These hooks automatically carry up charges of cotton-powder from the magazine, at such intervals as the clock-work machinery is set for, and drop them from the top of the tube, and they are exploded electrically in mid-air. The tube once charged and set will run for four hours -without attention, and it is claimed that the appliances afford immunity from danger, as no attendant is required, and the explosives are sufficiently removed from the lighthouse buildings to be safe. The signals, also, can be regulated to explode at any intervals desired, and it is claimed that they can be heard ten miles off. The cost of the building and appliances will be .£3OO, but it is estimated that by the time they are landed here and set up it will be .£350. The appliances are to be erected at Pencarrow Head, and thoroughly tested there, and should the tests prove satisfactory, others will be procured for leading lighthouses. The signal charges are about one shilling each, and one thousand are ordered at present.