ELECTRIC FLASH

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 94, 15 January 1935, Page 8

ELECTRIC FLASH

New Lighthouse at Baring Head RADIO BEACON ALSO First of Its Kind in New Zealand Some time in the darker months of this year the first coastal lighthouse in New Zealand to be lit electrically will flash its warning from Baring Head between Penearrow and Cape I’alllser at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. In addition, when the loom of the land is invisible to ships at sea because of fog or black storm, a radid ■beacon will give bearings to all vessels fitted with direction-finding apparatus. The date of the completion of the new lighthouse at Baring Head cannot yet be marked, but the work of construction is going forward steadily under the guidance of the Marine Department and carried out by the Bublie Works Department. The lighthouse tower, forty feet high, built of reinforced concrete, has been completed. It stands on a headland, 286 feet above sea level, giving a geographic range for light of 23 miles. The lantern and lens are in position, only awaiting the light. The plant to provide electric lighting has arrived from England, and soon will be placed in position. Power for lighting will be provided by two 4} k.w. d.c. generators operated by a single-cylinder Diesel engine. Work is proceeding on the construction of the power-house, which is being built in reinforced concrete. The lamp is to be one k.w., and should one fail an automatic changer at once will bring a spare lamp into focus and light it. An automatic switch gear will be common to both power units, and for the battery an automatic regulator will be provided to ensure that the voltage in the lamps will be kept practically constant, irrespective of the state of charge or discharge of the battery. Automatic Plant. The plant is to be fully automatic and in duplicate so that in the event of the failure of one unit the spare one immediately will come into operation. The light will be operated automatically under control of a light valve which will start up the plant at dusk and close it down at daylight. A flashing mechanism is to be provided, consisting of a small electric motor driving a camshaft, which mechanically will operate the contactor, giving the required character to the light. The light is to have a cycle of 15 seconds, consisting of five seconds light followed by five alternative two-second periods of darkness and light. The illuminant will be of electricity and the light will be the first of this nature installed in New Zealand for an important coastal lighthouse. Extinguishing Pencarrow Light. The Baring Head lighthouse will replace the existing “fixed” light at Pencarrow, which does not conform to the best modern practice, which demands a light of flashing variety, this being more readily picked up. Moreover, a flashing light can be given a characteristic which enables it to be easily recognised. The Minister of Marine, the Hon. J. G. Cobb, explained yesterday that, in-’ stead of converting Pencarrow from a fixed to a flashing light, it was decided to install a new lighthouse at Baring Head, this locality giving much superior command over-the eastern entrance to Cook Strait. The Post and Telegraph Department has arrangements in hand for installing at Baring Head a radio beacon of 250 watt output for the use of vessels fitted with direction-finding apparatus. Signals will be sent out at any time on request, but will be continuous during fogs or periods of low visibility. The radio beacon will be worked from the electrical power plant at the lighthouse. In all probability three men will be employed permanently at Baring Head lighthouse.