SIRENS IN THE HARBOUR.

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 14

SIRENS IN THE HARBOUR.

It was recently, pointed out by a contributor that, whereas tho express steamer Rangatira' invariably gives three blasts of W>r siren on going astern, the Maori does not do this regularly. It is not gene rally known that tho sounding of a vessel's siren on her departure is not compulsory, but that the responsibility foir giving the signal rests with the ship's master. The three blasts, meaning;,"l am going astern," are sounded as ;i warning to other ships moving or about to move in the vicinity. Otheri'signals are as follows: —Leaving wha:rf bow first, one blast; passing another' ship to starboard, two blasts; passing to port, one blast. When a vessel is stationary at her berth in Wellington Harbour, it is against Harbourr Board regulations for her to sound bell or siren. It used to be the practice to sound either of these twice before sailing, once a quarter of an hour before departure time, and once rive minute? before putting out. The reason for this was, of course, to summon members; of the crew from the nearby tavernt, or from other places of amusement.

Since, howewer, the sounding of a siren many yjears ago caused a horse and trap to dive off the end of Queen's

;ingale.")

Wharf, this practice has been forcibly discontinued, and the most piercing noise now heard from berthed ships is the hiss of escaping steam.