Page:Charleston • Irwin Faris • (1941).pdf/72

 entertain him and his fellow traveller, Mr. Brunner, but escorted them a day’s journey, carrying supplies for them”—a difference due to missionary influence.

In 1876, a small beacon-like lighthouse was erected on the Cape, and was first lighted on the 1st September of that year; but on 21st July, 1926, it was replaced by a modern up-to-date structure. The first building was a “Storm and Telegraph Station” with a revolving white light flashing every half minute. It was 238½ feet above mean sea level and visible for about 19½ miles. The tower was of timber, 53 feet high, and was painted white.

A side-road slightly over a mile in length, from the Beach-route road, was constructed to the site in June, 1875, at a cost of £575; carts procured from Charleston transported the keepers and stores to the light station in July, 1876, and the light was lit about two months later. It is recorded that in the first year, 1876-1877, it consumed 392 gallons of paraffin, and the cost of operating it was £442, including salaries £272.

The staff were:—George Smyth Hand, Principal Keeper, July, 1876. He died 11th November same year. George Edward Hand, of Nelson Light, acted as Principal Keeper from November, 1876, to February, 1877. He died at Nelson, 29th June, 1877. These two men were the first to die in the N.Z. lighthouse service.