OFF GODLEY HEAD

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11093, 2 June 1914, Page 8

OFF GODLEY HEAD

A WffISTUKG BUOY. ! '■". FOR THE NAVIGATOR. flome months ago the Lyttelton Harbour Board decided to purchase a submarine signalling apparatus, which it **as intended should be placed at a * suitable spot about a. mile ■ off Godley {lead. The'apparatus, has'now come to .hand by the Taintii, and should be iuftalled in the course of a few weeks. ,v The mechanism, which consists of a ; large gas accumulator, with tripod attached, weighs about eleven and Us built to carry out threefold duties if jiecessary, but for some time, at any fffite. its work of the Lyttelton Heads • *wjll be confined to whistling and ligbti '*|ng. ;; The buoy has been secured chiefly ,4Jbr use in,foggy weather, when steam£s experience much difficulty in mak- <* port owing' to the Godley Head ijlght being obscured. By tlie action of 'ftho waves air will be forced through j fcubes, and' the only' outlet for it will f \ii through a powerful whistle, which 'iflll blow continuously, and thus prove g warning to the- navigator in the virginity of the port. v The tower of the bupy will stand 'fjbout sixteen feet above' the water, and %t night a powerful occulting light will jjrarn navigators. In fine weather the , fight will bo visible for a distance of r §bout seven miles. The gas, which is ■jupplied - by liquid acetylene, will be jStored in the large accumulator. This .gecumulator is capable of holding about r -|Dur months' supply. '« At a later date, when the majority .if the vessels trading on this coast are :|tted with the Submarine signalling rethe Lyttelton Harbour Board fixpects to instal a submarine bell in ' *tfw Buoy,