MEMORIAL LIGHT ON REEF

Chronicle (Levin), 8 March 1947, Page 5

MEMORIAL LIGHT ON REEF

— —Press Associaiion

By Telegrapn-

WELLINGTON, ALtr. 7. "The proposal appeals to nie immenselv as an o])[)ort umty for erecting a war meniorial, and a great puldie utilitv, but the praeticabililv of it is ahother matter, " replied the Heeretary of .Marine (Air. W. C. Sinith), in a letter to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. foJlowing a sug'gestion, sponsored by the (diamber. that a lightliouse should be ereeted at Barrett s Reef as ti \\ ar metuorial to members of the Navv tuai Alerchant Alarine. Alr. Sinith 's letter, which was received at a nieeting of the (diamber this week, said that the usefulness of smdi a memoi'ial was already (lemonstrated by the fact that the reef was lightcd and marked by a whistlingbuov liglit. It might well be found that the outer rock of the reef would not stand a memorial lighthouse. a rough estimate of the cust of which wouid be under £10,000. « Barrett 's Keef liglit was witliin the harbour limits and was necessarily the concern of the liarbour board, which was responsilde for the erection of the present navigating aid. The chamber also mentioned the proposal to the liarbour board, which exprossed its appreeiation of the idea, but pointed out tliat the question of est ablishi ng a liglit on the reef was given serions considerat ion some time ago, and it was deeided to niark the reef by ineans of a liglit buov, as the board 's experts advised against a liglit ou the reef itself. It was deeided to diseuss the question further with the liarbour Board.