THREE KINGS LIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1523, 20 August 1912, Page 6

THREE KINGS LIGHT.

4 ; CAN A SHIP BE MOORED? Speaking of tho Govornment proposal for lighting tho Three. Kings to a Doaimoi reporter yesterday, tho Hon.. P. M. B Fisher, Minister for Marino, said:—"Th' attitude of the Department seems to havi been completely misunderstood by somi .persons, especially in Auckland, win have jumped to the conclusion that it i tho intention of the Department to plac a light-ship at tho Western, King. Tin: is a complete misapprehension of tin position. What the Department doc propose to (lo'is to ttiko soundings off th Western King on tho next occasion the the Hinejnoa is in tho north, with a y'k\ to ascertaining if it would bo possible b moor a ship there with any degree o safety and permanency. In the mean time, the Department is making inquirio from England as to tho probablo cos of a light-ship and the necessary equip incut. To say that the position is so ex posed that tho bare' idea of putting : light-ship off the Western King is ludic rous, is only tho opinion of one wli speaks without knowledgb of the subject "About 1G miles north-west of Hi Land's End in England, in one of 'th busiest spots of the ocean highway, lie a very dangerous reef of rocks known a the Seven Stones. Here, in the very jaw of tho Atlantic, experiencing the fnl forco of tho Western Ooean is anchor* a small vessel on which six men and ; captain spend most of their days keop ing aloft a mast-head mark by day, ani a 12,000 caudle-<powcr lamp by night. JV matter what the weather is the lautwi must he lighted and maintained. Th light-ship is nnchored in 40 fathoms o water, and has a powerful fog-horn niv danger-gun. The anchor ,of this vossc weighs throe tons, and she rides on abou 260 to 280, fathoms of cable. In eas anything should happen, a second anclio and cable is kept ready. She has neve dragged her anchor, and the only troubl experienced is fouling of the oable. "This is only one of many illustration of light-ships 'which aro moored in mo; exposed positions. Tho Department i not advocating at present tho erection o a light-ship, but before any attempt i made to dol with the problem at th : Three Kings-and. it is the biggest light ing problem New Zealand has ever hai to face-tho most exhaustive inquiries ar going to be made as to tho best mefho< to bo adopted." , , The views of tho Shipowners Fwlern tion of New Zealand vegardinfj the lißlit iu« of tho TKree Kind's wore given to tli< Mmistcr for Marino yesterday by a dopu tation, introduced by Mr. J. H. Brndiicy member for Auckland West. The Minis tor was assured that opinion m niaritimi circles'was (hat a light and fog-sigim should be placed Qn tho islands. Tin opinion was expressed that such a sate guard would havo prevented the Llinga mito disaster. Mention was also made o! Uio contrnversy regarding tho relativ< merits of I'lat Point and Castle Point, a: a site for a light, the deputation declar in" that, thn majority of mariners fav ourod the Flat Point file. It condemnei as absurd the sug«o»t.ion that a lightshij -jlwuld be placed at the Three Kiuge,