THE COASTWISE LIGHTS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 443, 19 December 1947, Page 12

THE COASTWISE LIGHTS

Christmas in Lonely Places OR the BBC’s Christmas Day Empire broadcast last year, readers may remember, a commentator (Edward Ward) and an enginéer (Charles Coombs) visited Bishop’s Rock Lighthouse, off the Scilly Islands, to tell. the world how a light-keeper puts in his Christmas Day. But like unpopular relations, they came for an hour or so and stayed for a month. Stormy weather rolling in from the Atlantic held them captive till they were rescued late in January by lifeboat and breeches-buoy. All this was for a three-minute broadcast. Listeners to New Zealand’s four ZB |

are to hear, this coming Christmas night, how four’ of the loneliest groups of people in this country-the keepers of the Cape Reinga, Portland Island, Farewell Spit and Puysegur Point lights -keep Christmas and enjoy its good cheer. (The Commercial Service, it will be perceived, does not do things by halves-or quarters). It will be a 30minute broadcast and will come as the result of a visit by one of the NZBS staff (Bryan O’Brien) to each of the four lighthouses to make the prelirminary arrangements for short talks by radio telephone. Maoris Help O’Brien first visited Portland Island (off the Mahia Peninsula on the East Coast of the North Island), and ran into a_ series of minor adventures. Through unforeseen circumstances, he told The Listener, he missed the launch connection, but got to the island with the help of an obliging Maori (Joseph Raureti). Joseph got his truck out and the pair drove from Whakaki round the

Mahia coastline. Then came a climb to the top of the Mahia Peninsula, and from there down a steep ridge of papa to a beach, which they reached at dusk. In ancient Maori style, Joseph lit a bonfire to attract the islanders’ atten. tion. After half-an-hour an answering signal winked. Then a boat’s light appeared and two more fires were lit in prepared positions to give the boat’s crew a bearing thtough the rocks. They got to Portland Island at midnight. The head keeper (Tom Smith) and two other married couples with five children told O’Brien something about their history the next day, and he returned to the mainland late in the afternoon. Linked With Makara Portland keeps a 24 hours’ watch, and its only connection with the mainland is by radio telephone, with the receiving point at Makara (Wellington). It was arranged that on Christmas night the small colony would be called in to transmit their good wishes ‘to others . (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) and give a short description of lighthouse life and of how they spent Christmas Day. Mr. Smith will explain how he spent part of his childhood on the island when his father was keeper; how his wife’s people took it over and how they met for the first time not on the island, but on the mainland. From Cape Reinga, at the northern tip of the North Island, listeners will hear the voice of the assistant-keeper, D. D. Bawden, describing among other things how passing ships at Christmas time wink their greetings by Morse Code. And from Farewell Spit at the north-west tip of the South Island, keeper H. B. Jamison will broadcast his messages. The session will be rounded off by J. B. Auld, keeper at Puysegur Point, at the south-west tip of the South Island. ' ree This programme is sponsored by the promoters of the Aid for Britain Campaign.