THE THREE KINGS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1650, 17 January 1913, Page 3

THE THREE KINGS.

0 — < ,' LIGHTING PROBLEM. ' ! " I REPORTS BY MARINE EXPERTS. Under instructions from, the Minister for Marine (tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher), Captain Bollons, of:, tho. Government steamer Hincnioa, recently paid a visit to tho Three Kings Group, to obtain material for a report upon tho question of establishing a lightship or. a lighthouso at the islands. Captain' Bollons was accompanied by Captain W. J. Reed, a representative of tno Auckland shipmasters. Reports from both captains havo now reached'the Minister, together with a covering communication by tho Secretary for Marine (Mr. G. Allport). Mr. Allport remarks that the two captaius found a depth of water, where they sounded oft' tho Western King, of from 35 to G8 fathoms over a distance of from two cable lengths to ono and half miles -from tho island, with a hard coral and rock bottom sloping down from the land. "They nro of opiuion,".Mr. Allport continues, "that it would bo impossible to moor a, lightship safely, owing to the. depth and tho naturo of tho bottom. I may point out that, their opinion as to this does not corncidd with tho actual experience in mooring lightships in Scotland, Ireland,: and' France,' as described by Messrs. D. and C;' Stevenson in their report on tltb lighthouses of Scotland. As .regards tho question of; erecting a lighthouse on tho Big King, dealt with by Captains Reed aiid Bollons, there is no doubt, in my opinion, that a 'log-sig-nal is even moro important than o, light, as a light, in thick fog, at the height to which the lighthouso would havo to would bo seen over very little distance; and when tho weather is clear the land itself is high, and bold enough to be seen without a light. I doubt,, 'however, whetiior a fog-signal at tho Big King could be heard at tho Western King." Captain Reed reports as follows:— Great King Island.-Thc best site is on South Point, about 350 feet high. . . The best landing, and ; most frequently, available in prevailing winds, is in b.L,. Bav. The nearest landing to South Point is "in Tasman's Bay. N.W. Bay is nearly always available for anchorago when tho others : are impracticable. The objection to this site is that tho.fog-signal could not be-.always heard to tho westward of the western islands, five miles distant. Also' at this height tho light would bo liable to bo obscured by fog or clouds. i ..,,.. .„ Jliddle King.-Would bo. suitable .for lieht and fog-signal on height east side, 200 to 300 feet high. Shut in by higher land to W. and N.W., and by Great King from N.E, by N. to -B. to X- 4 «j Tho only landing is' very .difficult, and from appearances the sea, in: 5.1.. gales breaksaWethelanding 100 feet and more Western King.-Is inaccessible. It a lauding could bo quarried at only, bo done at the south point. After giying some technical '.'particulars about soundings, Captain Reed . concludes :-In my opinion' it would, be. to oor a lightship safely in this locality, because of the great depth of water, tho ve,y unsuitable naturo of the and the dangerous sea caused .by westcily gales,, especially when blowing .over a flood tide. ' •■ . , . ■ Captain Bollons reports - that for n couple of days it was impossible to tako soundings on account ot heavy weather When it became possible to sound the depths mentioned above by Mr. Allpoit ■were obtained. These - depths and the nature-of tho bottom rendered the secure mooring of a lightship impossible, even wore it possible ■■ to- secure a largo lightship in this locality. A lightship, riding with thoV heavy moorings necessary, Uplain Bollons states; would founder. "As a position for a lighthouse, he continues, "tho West '.King;. Tjcing, the most outstanding of tho "group, is. the best but owing to its inaccessibility, m .unavhilablc' A lnnding could bo quarried out of:-tho'solid rock-on. the soutiicast side, and tho top of the island shot' off- and levelled, but- tho -cost of these works would bo very great, so also would :bo the cost of niainteuanco as a rock station. • ... ~„.' , t t "The Middle King" is very difficult to land on except in fine weather and smooth water—raro combination's in this locality. In henvy southerly .and (south-easterly gales tho seas break 100 to. 150 feet up the slopo where .tho best landing-place exists. A light established higher would be obscured by the high land of the island to tho west and north-west, by tho .'Jig King .to the east and north-east. It would havo to be maintained ns a rock station with very doubtful advantages as n light', especially over one installed on the south end of tho Big, King. ■ "The Big King appears tho most suit-, able situation for a light,'its only disadvantage being that it is five miles distant from the West King. A fog signal; would not carry' that distance except in calm weather. A light situated hero would show all round tho southern horizon, and onlv be shut in .by the high land, on the ■'north-east..side. . The West King' .would cut off. the., light for about two, and a half degrees and tho'-Middle .ICinu for" about four and n half. degrees. This position on the south point ; as a lighthouse site was reported upon Inst April. As a lighthouse station it has the advantage of plenty of room for threq keepers and' their families," abundance of fresh water, and forests [ of. manuka for firewood. 'Two : alternative landings practicable in moderate weather could be made on the south side at South-East and Tnsman -Bays. Tho latter landing is a short distanco from tho point and suitable in all 1 moderate north,: north-west, west, and south-west. weather, and the former, known as tho Depot landing, in moderato north-east and cast weather, and is distant from the South point about two miles. A fog signal ia'of'thb''greatest, importance in this locality, even, more so than a light, and tho fog signal should be cither on tho steam or compressed-air system. '.