Harbourmaster's Opinion.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1782, 21 June 1913, Page 5

Harbourmaster's Opinion.

Captain Johnston, harbourmaster, has a working knowlcdgo of tho port extending over somo 40 years, and he does not support the idea. He considers that, with the three segments of Somes Island light and the sectors of Pencarrow light, if a third light were introduced it would mean that _ mariners would get "mixed" in the navigation of tho channel. Tho main channel leading into Port Nicholson gives a straight lino on a course north, Bdeg. west, up to Somes Island, and to a safei anchorage. A light at Steeplo Rock would tend to draw till the vessels to tho shallow side of tho channel, and into danger. Any vessel .entering! or leaving the harbour in thick weather and endeavouring to pick up a light on Steeplo Rock would, in Captain Jolmston's opinion, lie courting danger, and sho would stand a chance of finding the rocks before the light. Captain Johnston coneiders that,' if the Harbour Board decided to add another light, it should bo erected on the'red buoy on the south extreme of Hope Shoal (east side). Ho also suggests that it should bo n. bright occulting light. This would incrcaso tho width of tho channel at that point to 1000 ft., and would assist to guido vessels into tho deepest water in the channel. If a vessol could pick up Pencarrow light, she coukl enter the harbour and proceed up tho channel in perfect- safety to an anchorago. The most important point was to find the entrance.

Two Foxton fishermen, William Young niiil Charles Small, had an anxious time at sea on Thursday night. Thoy left for Foxton Ileads at about ton o'clock oil Thursday morning in a small, flatbottomed boat, with which they crossed the bar, and went seawards. T.liey should have returned at dusk, but early yesterday morning nothing further had been heard of them. The anxiety felt at Foxton was relieved later in tho day, however, when, according to the "Xlanawntu Standard," a messago was received stating that tho men had lauded safe and sound at Pnrapnrauinu, about thirty miles down the coast. They must havo had a long and perilous drift down the coast during tho night.