THE THREE KINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11029, 18 March 1914, Page 7

THE THREE KINGS.

WIRELESS T. LIGHTHOUSE. fP*K Prtess Association. 1 AUCKLAND. March 17. The Hon F. M. B. Fisher informed a reporter at Ngaruawahia yesterday thnt the Marino Department was considering the advisability of establishing a wireless station in&teacl or a lighthouse at the Three Kings Islands. It had been found practically impossible to place an effective light on the Three Kings. Mr Fisher said that modern advancement in wireless telegraphy had proved that with a fixed wireless station a vessel with a wireless equipment could get into touch with the station no matter how much foggy or tempestuous weather there might be, and bv taking cross-bearings at intervals she could fix her position to an absolute certainty. To do this, or course, vessels would require to be fitted with a wireless compass, which has been designed for this special purpose. It is a comparatively inexpensive instrument. " Inquiries I am making now are in the direction of obtaining an assurance of the practical utility of this new method," concluded Mr Fisher, " and nothing will 'bo done till this information comes to hand."

SHIPMASTERS DISAPPROVE OF MINISTER'S SUGGESTION. [Pi:b Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 17. The proposal to establish a wireless station at the Three Kings in lieu of. a light is, severely criticised by shipmasters. Mr Fisher said to-night that he'was not committed to the wireless compass scheme, but that he intended to exhaust all possible means of inquiry and sources of information regarding the matter before arriving at a decision. He doubted very much whether any shipmaster in Auckland knew what, the wireless compass really consisted of or what its capabilities were. He „was himself awaiting information as to these compasses, none of which were yet in use in New Zealand I before arriving at a decision. Mr Fisher added that lie had asked the shipmasters the pertinent question. "If you are going to light the Kings, Where are yon going to put the light?" but not one of them had been able to answer the question. A light to be visible from all points of the compass could only be placed on the Big King, ■which was about five miles east of the danger point. The only place at which a liglit could "be of service was on the West-, King, and that was an impossible site.