Beacons.

Heaphy in his book (8) says that “much inconvenience has been experienced from the want of lights and beacons.” Owing to wrecks in the vicinity of the Heads, the settlers became anxious that beacons should be erected. It may be of interest to show that even then the settlers did not get things on the first asking. The local newspaper of the 16th January, 1841, stated that beacons were to be erected on both sides of the Heads. On the 24th July complaints were made that the work had not been started. On the 4th September another complaint was made. On the 18th December plans and estimates were called for, but nothing was done by the Government until nearly three years later. E. J. Wakefield mentions that in 1842 “two landmarks had been put up at the Heads.” One, a three-sided wooden pyramid with open sides about 70 ft. high, on Pencarrow Head, was blown down by a gale of wind soon after. This had been put up by public subscription. Another, on the highest peak of the western side of the entrance, Beacon Hill, was more securely fixed, by Colonel Wakefield's orders. It consisted of four tun butts, then three, then one, piled above each other, filled with stones and painted white, with a flagstaff on the top. Tenders were called by the Government in January, 1843, but again there was delay, for it was not until the 20th June, 1844, that it was notified that a beacon had been “erected on Pencarrow Head, at the eastern side of the entrance to the harbour, bearing, from observations taken on board H.M. colonial brig “Victoria,” S.E. by E.½ E. from the outer rock of Barrett's Reef, 37 ft. high, painted white and surmounted by a red flag.” On the 17th February, 1854, the Provincial Council's Harbour Light Committee reported that it had visited Pencarrow and had found that the beacon was quite unsafe, the bottoms of all the upright planking having become quite rotten. There was danger of it being blown on to the light-keeper's cottage during a southerly gale. “It ought to be whitewashed to render it more conspicuous, and generally, whatever improvements are contemplated, ought to be effected directly while the weather is fine, and finished before the winter.” Also, in 1854 the House of Representatives set up a Committee to consider the matter of erecting beacons and lighthouses. It suggested that a beacon be erected on the outer rock of Barrett's Reef, with a reflector so placed, if possible, as to catch the light from the lighthouse on Pencarrow. While the permanent lighthouse was being erected in 1858 it was found necessary to remove the beacon. A temporary flagstaff was raised, carrying a white flag with a red ball above it. The lighthouse was painted white, and thus became a beacon by day as well as by night. The Wellington Almanac of 1845 does not mention the beacon, although it mentions the signal-station on Mount Albert. In Grimstone's Southern Settlements (1847) the