The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, NOV. 15, 1894. COAST PROTECTION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 119, 15 November 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, NOV. 15, 1894. COAST PROTECTION.

♦ 1 Our of the disaster to the Wairarapa 1 good is likely to aiise. Attention has been directed to the lighthouses on I our coasts, and although these are all good of their kind, yet a movement is j on foot in Marine circlea to add to ( their number and to effect improve- ] ments. A deputation of shipmasters waited on the Minister of Marine a i few days ago, and suggested that a first class lighthouse Bhould be erec- ' ted on Cape Palliser, and another on Cape Kidnappor, both on the East Coast of the North Island ; also, that Capo Campbell be connected with the telegraph system. It was also pointed out that a system of fog-signals might be brought into operation with great advantage. The Minister, the Hon. Mr Ward, in replying to the deputation eaid it would coat nearly 30,000 pounds to place all lighthouses in communication, but it was a question whether exception should not be made id the case of more dangerous places He had already collected a large amount of information relative to fog- signals, and was then in cable communication with London concerning them. We hope in the interests of shipowners and of the travelling public that the Government will be able (o carry out these suggestions Admitting the cost of connecting the several lighthouses with the main telegraph system of the colony to be great, yet after all it is only equal to the value of the splendid steamer, the loss of which has caused so much sorrow to the colony. By providing these extra safe-guards to navigation on our coasts the general welfare of the colony, which depends so largely on the chipping trade for such prosperity as she now enjoys, will be as Bisted in a proportionate degree by a reduction in the cost of freight and insurance— very serious items when the magnitude of our exports and imports is takeu into consideration.