THREE KINGS LIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1519, 15 August 1912, Page 4

THREE KINGS LIGHT.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. ; c An impression seems to have got fibrctu! that tho Marine Department is making a proposal to. put A lightship in the vicinitjr of the West King. This is quite erroncr ous. Careful inquiry has shown that it is practically impossible to put a light on. the Western King. It would bo absurd, says the Minister for Marine, to adopt the suggestion that has been made- by ono or- ,, two mariners U> tho effect that the light should be placed on the top of tho West King, winch is 900 feet above sea level.* A light in such a position would never be . seen in foggy weather, when it is most needed. Consideration also has to be to the fact that it is only at the rarest intervals that a landing cAu be effected on tho Three Kings, aud whilo it is true that this is a strong argument in favour of lighting the island?, it also involves the Ifiggest lighthouso problem that the Marino Department lias yet to face. Any light, put there could not in the ordinary oourso bo supplied at regular intervals on the usual trip of the Hinemoa. The Departmental authorities say that the question of landing there is so difficult Hint the probability is that n special vessel would have to I>g kept Mmewhcro in tho north to watch for a suitable opportunity to effect a landing. So far as the lightship proposal is concerned, all the Department, is doing is to make inquiries as to the feasibility of placing a lightship and wibmarius bell dosn to the West King. It has yet to be ascertained whether the project is practicable 6r not. and it is quite cei'taiil that ilo action will bo takert until the Department has consulted the exports and acquired' till possible information. *