TUAHINE LIGHTHOUSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3588, 30 July 1912, Page 5

TUAHINE LIGHTHOUSE.

FAILS FOUR TIMES IN A WEEK

CAUSE ATTRIBUTED TO SAND ELIES.

The Tuahine lighthouse has been giving a great deal of trouble lateiv and according to the report presented to the Gisborne Harbor Board yesterday by the Engineer the latest cause of the light being extinguished was due to sand-flies extinguishing the mlot light, 1

The report stated: “Early in this month the Tuahine light was extinguished several times. In one week it failed four times and twice in one clay. Du the 3rd inst. Mr Allan, the plumber, accompanied him to Tuahine ai d they made* a c areful invesLg.. _m which proved conclusively the failure was caused by sma’l sand flies extinguishing the pilot light. The l'i gineer then directed Mr Alien i<, make a lly-proof copper and glass chimney, which was experiment-eel with at Mr Allan's factory and finally fixed in the lighthouse on the 11th inst. Since then there had been no failure of the light. In regard to access to this lighthouse, on Sunday, May 19 he made an examination with the view of erecting a bridge approach. The site or the old suspension bridge did not appear stable and it was alongside this that the Public Works Denartment had proposed a new- bridge and had kindly supplied a design. He took measurements for a site a- little to the northward, but as the cliff was still sliding decided to let the matter stand over for the present. Between .May 19 and his next visit on July 3, there had been a large slip of xock which would have destroyed any bridge erected on the site proposed bv the Public Works Department and the Point generally was so unstable that any thought of erecting a bridge .approach clear of the sliding rocks and strong enough t<> resist the heavy seas must be •abandoned as the cost would be excessive. There was another alternative, viz., to construct a stone and concrete causeway to make the approach easier at low tide, but this would involve considerable expense and might at any time be buried by rock slides from the Point. Mr Wachsmann wanted to know if in the event of the light going out was it not possible to expose another light of some description from the mainland. It was a most dangerous thing to have a light that was always failing and in the interests of navigation something should lie done. Mr White agreed with Mr Wachsmann’s remarks. They should make arrangements for a temporary light it' the Tuahine light failed.

Mr Wachsmann : It is a very serious matter.

The Engineer : There is a standing instruction to the Marine Department that the light was unreliable. Mr White: We are sure to have the same trouble again. In reply to a question the Engineer said that £IOO would not look at a bridge to the lighthouse as the hill was slipping away and there was nothing to anchor the bridge to. The lighthouse-keeper could not get to the light at night. The Chairman thought that they should see if the present alterations answered the purpose. 'Pile light had cost the Board and the Government a great dealMr White: Could the lighthousekeeper live at the lighthouse. The Chairman explained that there was no room for a house alongside the lighthouse. Mr Wachsmann: Couldn't he sleep there ?

The Chairman: He would have to Jiang himself up. Mr White: Something should be done in the event of the light failing. Mr Witters asked if the Engineer could not report on the matter at next meeting.

Mr Parker: We had better leave it to the Engineer. It was decided that the Engineer should renort at next meeting