UNLIMITED COASTAL DANGERS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 6

UNLIMITED COASTAL DANGERS

MINISTEE AND THE THREE KIKG& ■ (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, December 23. "The Kings are going to be lighted; you can rest assured about that," said the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister for Marine and Customs, to a deputation of shipping masters and Mr. J. H. Bradney, M.P., this morning. "The question is, he further said, "How can we best do ltP The Department haa a perfectly open mind on the matter, but it is not.going to spend a lot of money to put the light m the wrong place." _ The deputation, which Mr. J. H. Bradncy introduced to the Minister, comprised Captain Ross (representing the Auckland Coastal Masters' Association), Captain Hood (representing the Auckland Shipmasters' Association and _ the foreigngoing masters), and Captain Waller, of the Wimmera. Captain Boss explained that he and Captain Waller represented the signatories to the petition that had recently been presented to Parliament with regard to tho lighting of the Three Kings. This, he urged, was the most important matter that had ever been brought before Parliament. What they wanted to direct the attention of the Minister to was the imperative necessity for a first-class light and fog signal on'the Three- Kings, n light on Canoe Rock, off Kawau, and a light.on The Watchman in the channel off Cape Colville. In discussing the matter with tho shipmasters, tho Minister showed that he was thoroughly conversant with the position, at the Three- Kings, and that he realised fullv the practical requirements of tho situation. He knew, for instance, that the Big King was 000 ft. high, that there were two good landing places there, and he knew also that it was questionable whether a light on tho Big King would be even slightly effective at the Western King on a' dirty night.' Ho ■wanted, he said, to find out if it would be possible to have an electric fog signal at the Western King, while it would perhaps be possible to put a strong automatic light on the Middle King, and an automatic, light on the other in the noi-th-eastern corner. The cost of building would ho very much greater than the cost of two automatic lights, and even then a big light ■when' built on the Big King would not bi>'effective when it was most required. Mr. Fisher explained that ho was coming back to Auckland at the end of January, and he would be glad to have the opinion of the master mariners as to the position, no hoped they would consider liis suggestion in tho meantime, and let him know what they thought of it. The deputation thanked the Minister for his courteous reception, and undertook to confer together and let him know the result of their deliberations.