THE LIGHT THAT FAILED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 668, 19 November 1909, Page 8

THE LIGHT THAT FAILED.

■ TAKAPUNA GRAZES-ROCKS. /■;■ ' 'NO DAMAGE, DONE. ; " ; ; v :- ■■'.I '■ . Nelson, November ■ 18. Owing to the light at ■, Jaokson's Head, at the entrance.to Queen Charlotte Sound, being out of condition, a'matter'frequently .'-complained of by' ehipmastore, the' Takapuna, at 2.3o.this morning, grazediWalker's Eeef on the port 6ide. ,' ■ : ■ , - - . ~.'_..'■ . The weather was very thick, and the.vessel was going, dead slow, :stopping .sevei-al'times. In-turning,, she just .grazed;the. rock,, but no damage was done, and' she proceeded '.on. her journey and reached Nelson'according'to timotable.. The. vessel -resumed her- voyage after• discharging local cargo and passengers.'. ■:'•• The engineers have given a Customs certificate that absolutely no, damage has. been done .to- her.- /, ; ' ; '■' ■ ■.. :': ■ • ■ . ,: ;, . • ■ It,.is ■ jirobable..that, special representations .will ■•agaiiv.'be,;'made. to the Jfarihe Department, complaining of the frequenoy of the Jackson's j'Head light being extinguished, audpointing,,but the. urgent need : for Detter.light-, ing arrangements. ' .'.- . • ,■■■-■ A False. Alarm. : . Unnecessary misgivings were caused to many, members of the House; of Eepreseh'tatives last evening by the porte'ntoμs manner, in which. Mr. .Graham, member for Nelsonj-proceeded:.to. draw attention to ■a' serious but not ■ tragic per currence. The: House,- .which-had just- .'asBembled, had.been- for. a few;, minutes-under an-unusual and -perplexing hushy when .- Mr.; Graham-rose and :began to' speak-, with.greatsolemnity.' After stating, in alarming tones,, that he wished,, before the-ordinary., business was: commenced, to, bring under... the notice..,of' the.i.Goveniment. a matter of ,very.. great, importance, of which he .was sure that members would. .recogiise the 'urgency, Mr." Graham : pioceeded'in^,the following sfrain:—'■,'■■'.;.'■ :■ [ " Yesterdayi at one-o'clock, on the wharf at Wellingion, I bade au revoir to! a-number of my. personal friends who were-.about i to.'pro; ceed by the ferry; steamer which: travels- be; tween -Wellingtpn,'. Pictpn, and;:ljTelson. • /.We know it is- a-dangerous Vtrip, that many.times the^dangers have been;brouKht under the nb: tice of the .Government. . I,nad;no idea/with, the weather we'had yesterday, that..we,sKoulii. read in-to-night's paper -as: follows :f-After. pre-! paring his hearers in-this way ■ for" account. of fan awful ..catastrophe, ■ Mr. ..Gfrahain-read. the statement'that'the; Takapuna had grazed: a,rock at /Jackspn-s--Head,:iib:,damake\being-caused. Atthis' antinjlimax the-Honso breathed again, and the:solemnity. ,with : .;which. n'e'cbn-' tiriue'd his. remarks'was .relieved- bV a .buzz of conversation •; whichiV His - portentous • opening. had-;eff ectually -delayed. '.."lfr'.V:Grah'am'.'.stated'. that-nf • something wero. 1 not done' there ~'w6uldbo: a serious'.catastrophe :■ on that side of the strait, thesame' as:had happened at the: b* ginning of.'.theyearjon'c.this.side.' ,Du , ring l th'e last\tw6-.or three weeks he'had. had*his.notice drawn to -the- serious :risk ''thit-steainers 'were running■ at'this point-'He'-:understood'that, some''two', or'three :.years'.'ago'the'Government had-obtained tho equipment system of. the 'Tintsch gas" sy.6tem, ! -: but'it :had, he^beiieyed.^been.keptrin 1 store 'instead'- of being "used.' , - If: the ■-Govern-', ment did not do -something-it would be-' crim-' inal. negligence : ori : their: part as, there was' always the -danger;' 'whilst "Jackson's/Head', reiaained .unlighted, -:of;.- the' 'occurrence ; of. •. a ; catastrophe.. as/ terrible •as '.that of.: the : Penguin 'disaster.:'.: . '":,;•■•■ :." .- :.: -.. : ' .•■:". ;- The. Minister- for vEducation ■ said",'that v .the. Minister for. Marine,-was not very,; well, and was;therefore',not present. -.He however,:, convey -Mr. Graham's -representations to' his,colleague, and;he.had,no:doubt'that the question, would-be answered at' the*.earliest : possible; opportunity.. .;.....',.. . ... v" .:.- ;;.'.' '.Examlnatiphiof the .Vessel., ,' ■ ,'\ .-Mr.': ; G..Allpo i rt,, 6eoretary:of- the-Marine De'. partment,-.received.'avteUgram-frpm'.-the Col--lector!,pf,,.Customs advising''the' mishap-to 'the' Takapuna. , . : Th'e:. messajge, .stated "that" an '■ examinatipa: of; the- vessel had, been - made by ■themaster,.'.the chief efagirieer,'■ and. , -the harbourmaster,...who agreed that no damage.had. been 'ddne. : ■,The steamer accordingly continued: her running ■ to!; Pictdh: and■i.AVelling'tbn,.. and, : 'ar-" rived^here^ at Ill.iO lasti night.r. This morning the Taicapuna- will be'.further examined, l by. a diver and a surveyor,. and if it,is found neces-' sary to place her. on the Patent Slip her'running :will .probably.',be;i taken' by 'another-- of• the■ company s steamers. ;'.-:, ' ': ■ '

'■'.;; ;,v--A ;<; - ;;Wfllker;,Rock.,,;. '.-ul ' ' ■ ■ \".. '. : i ;■. Walter-; Bock;' whero ?: the"Takap'ini ■ touched;' is in Queen Charlotte' .Sound, : where,.'steamers travelling; from, Picton ;to Nelson y alter' their courses.' "All" but-small 'vessels;are to 'pass outside. the "rock"; 'and' Jackson's "Bead' light (when itis;aligßt)is'an aid to mariners' in negotiatmg.the bend;:''' ; .;/' ■ ;.'■•■.•;' : Seen by a DoirrffibN representative ■ when the Takapuna arrived last night, Captain E.'Stewart,'inastor of -the■ vessel,•;said that there' was nothing 'to 'add to'what was .telegraphed bj the 'Press-. Association.-' " : >; . '/.^;-■■/'/■; :;-.,;;