THREE KINGS ENIGMA.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2010, 18 March 1914, Page 8

THREE KINGS ENIGMA.

UGHT-OR WIRELESS? MR. FISHER'S NEW SUCCESTION. (By Telegraph.-Fress Association.) Auckland, March 17. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher informed a reporter at Ngaruawahia yesterday that his Department was considering the advisability of establishing a wireless station at the Three Kings, instead of a lighthouse. It had been found practically impossible to place an eifeetivo light on the Threo Kings Mr. Fisher said that, modern advancement in wireless telegraphy has proved that, with a fixed wireless station, a vessel with a wireless equipment can get into touch with the station no matter how foggy or tempestuous tho weather is, and by taking cross-bearings at intervals, can fix her position to an absoluto certainty. To do this, of course, the vessel would require to bo fitted with a wireless compass which has been designed for this special purpose. It is a comparatively inexpensive instrument. 1 'The inquiries which I am leaking now are in tho direction of obtaining an assurance of tho practical utility of this new method," concluded Mr.. Fisher, "and nothing will bo douo till this information comes to hand." . i The Untried Wireless Compass. A later.message from Auckland states that the proposal to establish a wireless station at the Three Kings, in lieu of a light, is being severely criticised by shipmasters. Mr. Fisher eaid to-night that he was not committed to the wireless compass, scheme, _bnt that lie intended to exhaust all possible means of inquiry and all sources of information regarding' the matter before arriving at a decision. He doubted very much whether any shipmaster in Auckland knew what a wireless'compass really consisted of, or what its capabilities were. He was himself awaiting information as to the uses of ;'.heso compasses (none of which wero yet in use in. Now Zealand),.before arriving at a decision. Lighthouse Impossible. Mr. Fisher added that he had asked the shipmasters tiie pertinent question: "If you are going to light the. Three Kings, where arc you going to put the light?" but not ono of them had been able to answer the question.' Tho light, to be visible from all points of the compass, could only bo placed on the Big King, which was about five miles east of tho danger point. The only place at which a light could be of service was on the West King, acd that was impossible as a site '