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Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1602, 23 September 1873, Page 2

At the time of Captain Thompson, Chief Harbor-master of Otago, recommending the construction of a light-house on the Solander or the South-west Cape, reference was made to the matter in these columns, and the question was raised whether there were not other situations; on the "West Coast — c. </., Cape Foulwind — in which a light was, in scarcely less inferior degree, a desideratum. Since that time the Superintendent of Nelson, in his place in the Assembly, brought the question pointedly before the Government, asking if they recognised the necessity for such a light-house, and would proceed with its erection. In his remarks he referred properly to the general requirements of the coasting trade, and placed some stress upon the future prospects of Westport as a harbor and as the terminus of the Ngakawhau coal railway. Not contemplating the project sometimes spoken of— that of making The Steeples the site of a light-house— he estimated that, erected on Cape Foulwind,. the light would not, either in its original cost or maintenance, prove expensive. The following, we : notice, was Mr Reynolds's reply— sententious, but favorable as to the undertaking of the work: — The Government recognised the necessity for erecting this light-house ; and it was one of those works! referred to in the report of Captain Johnston. The' Government intended to ask for a yoje of L35,0Q0 for the erection of light- houses, and if voted by the House, this light would be provided, ft would not be a very inexpensive light, as stated j>y the honorable member. The, cost of its erection would be about L§soo, and the .cost of maintenance would be .about L.500 a year, fhe Government, however, felt that they should not consider so much the cost of erecting and maintaining light-houses, as the safety of vessels running along the coasts of New Zealand.