HOKITIKA LIGHTHOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1924, Page 2

HOKITIKA LIGHTHOUSE

MARINI’. DI'.I’ABT.M F.NT'S INTENTIONS. TO CLOSE IT DOWN. The Secretary of the Marine Department under date of Oct. 7lh. has advised the Hokitika Harbor Board as follows:

Referring to previous correspondence iii the matter of maintenance of the llohilika Light. I have to advise,* by direction of the Minister of Murine, i lint- tin* whole position hits been reinvestigated. with the result that there appears to he no justification from the Marine DenniTinent’s point of view for the expenditure which it at present incurs in the maintenance of this light. 1 lin ve therefore to notify you that the Department, will discontinue payment for maintenance of the light as from III" .’list. Oetolier. If your Board decides not to carry on the maintenance of the light, the Department will duly notify shipping of its discontinuance.

1 shall he glad if von will advise me at an oarlv date if the Hoard derides to maintain the light or not. so tint: tin* matter of issue ol notice may lie dealt with.

HARBOUR- BOARD’S PROTEST. At a meeting of the Hokitika liarhour Board held last evening the above letter was eoiisid-*red at a full inciting of members, the Chairman (Mr 0. \. Weiult iircsiding. when the following resolution was unanimously agreed to:—

This Board, which maintains the Harbour Lights at Hokitika .-“iu.it undertake cither the responsibility or the cost of niainteoaucc ol the Coastal light on Sea View hill, which is over distant from the harbour, anti was established to l‘". and is of service to Intercolonial and coastwise vessels. At the same time seeing that the Hokitika light is the only one between I’uysegttt* Point and Eoulwind. a distance of :r>o miles, anti flint its cost, of moiiiteuanee is considerably under £10.) a year, tile intention of tile Marino Department to .-lose it would appear to be cheap and false economy.