PLACING A' LIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1514, 9 August 1912, Page 2

PLACING A' LIGHT.

CASTLEPOINT OR FLAT POINT? A MINISTER'S DECISION. POSITION TO BE REVIEWED. Great dissatisfaction was expressed by shipmasters in the early part of this year, when it became known that tho Government had decided to erect a light on Castlepoint instead of- Flat Point, which was considered by a large majority of master mariners to be a much hotter site. A precis of tho contents of the Departmental lilo on the subject, obtained from the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher (Minister for Marine), shows that on June 16, 1910, the Auckland Shipmasters' Association recommended Flat Point as tho most; suitable site for a light on the East Coast. On June 21, 1912, the Merchant Service Guild, having collected the opinions of shipmasters, at tho request of the Department, stated that, at time of writing, 43 had declared in favour of Flat Point and four for Cnstlepoint. On July 18, 1910, the Secretary for Marine advised tho Minister that the Shipmasters' Association had recommended Flat Point, and that tho opinion of masters.in Auckland showed that six favoured Flat Point and ono Cnstlepoint. In tho case .of AVelliugton, 48 masters had declared for Plat Point, 1 for Kidnappers, and 5 fof Cnstlepoint. , On July 22, tho Hon. J. A. Millar stated, in a telegram to tho president of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce that "men having tho navigation of ships are, in my opinion, best qualified to judge as to where light woitlU bo of greatest advantage to navigation." On July 27, 1910, Mr. Millar,told an Auckland deputation that ho had consulted the Merchant Service Guild, of Wellington, and the Auckland Shipmasters' Association, and tho majority fav- | oured Flat Point.

On September 9, 1910, Captain Bollons, of the Hinemoa, reported that Castlepoint was preferable.to Flat, Point for a light, as' the former point was easily picked up, and was clear of outlying dangers. Vesselscould stand in without risk and look for a light on Castlepoint, and shelter and anchorage could bo found there from south-west gales. On Soptembor 23, the Secretary for Marine advised the secretary of the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia that it appeared to be unwise to erect a light on Flat Point. Captain Blackburne endorsed the opinion of Captain Bolloiis. In reply, the Merchant Service Guild said that, for the very reason that foul ground extended for several miles seaward both north and' south of Flat Point, it was desirable that the light should be placed in that vicinity to mark the danger. The guild also pointed out that a great many of the existing coastal lights in the Dominion and elsewhere are placed at , the back of dangerous ground, notably at Capes Maria van Diemeh, Palliser, Campbell, Moeraki, Nuggets, Waipnpapa Point, and Centro Island, and that it could not bo ; truthfully said .that the placing of these lights had contributed to the loss of a singlo ship. On September 2-J, the Secretary for Marine requested the Secretarj-, Public Works Department, to alter the item, Lighthouse Flat Point, -• JJ5000," to "Lighthouse en the East Coast, North Island, £m(>." On January U, 1911, tho Secretary for Marino informed the Minister thai; the Merchant Service Guild adhered to tho opinion that tho light should be on Flat Point, but that Captains Blackburno and Bollons favoured Castlepoint. t On January 19, 1911, tho Hon. J. A. Millar approved the Castlepoint site, but tho matter does not appear to have been referred, to Cabinet. On March 2 Captain Stevens of tho Union Company, wrote to tho Minister for Marino stating that a light on Flat Point was absolutely necessary. . . On March 10, the Secretary for Marino advised Captain Stevens that tho necessary steps 'were being taken to erect the new lighthouse in Castlepoint. Documents of later date show that a second order light was ordered at an estimated cost of .£2OOO, and th'aton JanuMy 3, 1912, tho tender of Messrs.- S. Luke and Co., Wellington, for the construction, of tho necessary iron tower for Castlepoint, at a price of was accepted. On January 8, 1912, the Secretary of the Merchant Service Guild-stated in an interview that the Castlepoint light would be of little use and that mariners were quite indifferent whether it was erected or not. The Hon. J. A. Millar explained the reasons for tho selection of the Castlepoint light in a newspaper article on January 12. The Dominion, ua January 15, published the .opinions of a number of shipmasters on the decision of tho Minister. Speaking in tho. House of Renresentatiyes on Wednesday, tho Hon: F. M. B. Fisher stated that he was not at present prepared to say that the decision of his predecessor in .the matter was cither right or wrong,.but that, taking into consideration tho somewhat extraordinar- nature of the evidence which appeared on the file, ho deemed it wise to make further inquiry before any additional expense was incurred which might lead to a waste of public money.