COST LIGHTHS BETWEEN PORT CHALMERS AND FOREAUX STRMT.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 109, 2 November 1863, Page 2

COST LIGHTHS BETWEEN PORT CHALMERS AND FOREAUX STRMT.

(From the Daily Times, Out. 30.) After much delay, the important matter of establishing along the coast efficient lights, is now ■in a' fair way of being carried out, and -several official visits have been paid to G ipe Sasnders, | Dog Island, and other localities as situations for: ■ the erection of lighthouses ; but in consequence of ; .the pressing engagements of the Provincial Eigiiieer, and of other causes, nothing farther has j been done towards the execution of Che pr jpcts. | The machinery connecte 1 with two lights — those; at Cape Saunders and TairoaHead — is understood ' to be on board of hulks at "Port Chalmers, and part j of the ajpplianees for the light at Dog Island hasalso been received,, but nothing has been done to improve the approved sites, or to erect the neces- ; eavj buildings- New, however, we have a Marine Engineer,- .-and . tliis gcntlßman-^Mr Balfour) i3 shortly, to atari on a tour of inspection, aecomjvanied: by Captain Bobertson, of the Marine Board. His first visit will probably be niade to 'Dog Island. At any rate, the erection of a lightHouse, there is the project of the greatest urgeriey. Tae "erection r of the subordinate light on Tairoty. Head, and of channel lights up to Port Chalmers is of no small importance, more particularly as an advantage to the rapidly ■ increasing fleet of stiam vessels now retorting to -the Port, and requiring to mate the harbor both by night "andclav'. As the leading landfall on the coast of the "province, Gnpe Sannders is an equally eligible site for a light of the first magnitude. ■ But the latter is a necessity inferior to that of a light on Dog Island, and it is not alone a matter of provincial interest, but would be of general value to the Colony,^ It is. however, of .: such importance to tho Province of Otago to iu- • duce the provincial .authorities to take a leading' part in promoting iis>ercction. The great majority of vessels resorting to Port Otago come and go by Fore'aux .Straits, and it isTa piece of navigation whicb,recerit experience has shown to be fraught with delays and dangers to shipping, by its intricacies, the frequency of boisterous westerly winds, ■■', and- the prevalence of thick weather-. -, All these different circumstances .would be materially lessened in their effects upon the navigation of the Straits by the erection of a light on Dog Inland, .and, though ife is properly a General Government 1 ■project, th6 interests of this Province are sufficiently considerable to warrant steps being taking towards its execution £ven without the«ssistaoce >6f 3 lUtWand, promised some time ago, but, very. tardily given. Mr Bal four's visit, it is therefore Lopadj-wjir not/be long Jn leading to^this. ,So far " asinspection Has already gone,' the island is found: to contairiiß(,-itß limited area a most ample supply of materiiil^on tho very spot supposed to •'\'b«:inoßt i ;; : cUgibW.fi>r''the erection of a lighthouse, and it has a: inodcrately good harbor, with deep-

; watcr.-ilt ohly^ necessary;^appliances ■.for: the; iight,%nd%t_h?Bei : it is iuttderstood, will; be ri^ : ived:hy=ftn^earl^^hipjfr6tn Scutlandj'whichl^ 'Mghted pbrtionv of '■"theft.; TJhited ivhe'fe Mr sßrtlfbuf: has KajS^extensire; experience under the Cornrnissionors^