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Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 2, Issue 6, April 1973

Stephens Island

page 39

Stephens Island

At Stephens island there were three keepers end each had about forty sheep to keep their families in fresh meat.

The duties of the keepers included four hours daily polishing the lenses. This time would be either 8 a.m. to 12 noon, 8.30 to 12 30, or from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and was in addition to the light shift. One men was always on duty during the day to keep a lookout for shipping. The night shifts were from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., 8 p.m. to midnight, midnight to 4 a.m., and from 4 a.m. to lights out'. These shifts changed rotation daily. The man on midnight to 4 a.m. shift had to spend all day watching out for ships which were contacted by flag signal during the daytime and with lights at night. Such particulars as the name of the ship, destination, and other information had to be recorded in a log. Some ships passed close to the island while others further out could only be identified by using a telescope. On occasions a telegram would be received from the Marine Department enquiring about a particular ship. In wartime ships had to answer their signals and the keepers had to advise the Department in Wellington in case of failure to do so

The lighthouse station had telephone communication with the mainland by means of a line through Kapowai which connected with either Blenheim or Nelson. Sometimes a ship passing would ask for a message to be sent to Westport, Lyttelton, or elsewhere so as to give an approximate time of arrival at the particular port. Names of ships could be confusing when such a message as being asked to advise 'Breeze' from the north'. Equally confusing were such names as "Calm" and "Storm." More simple communications would simply be "Tainui" passed going east—or "north" or "south," as the case may be. The light station was on top of the hill and a horse gear and capstan were used to haul the loaded trucks up the tramway when supplies were landed. The old horse used to get cunning and go and hide when it heard the whistle blow, and also, when passing the rails, it would stop to take a look and see if the truck was near. Poor old horse, he must have found it a pretty tiring job walking round in circles!

Polishing the lenses was a job that was always with them Blinds were used round the outside during the daytime as the heat generated by the sun shining through the lenses would set things alight. Even when cleaning the lenses the concentrated light could burn the skin.

The light was incandescent and the mantle burned oil gas at a pressure of 62 1/2 lbs. per sq. inch. When lighting up it was necessary to spend at least ten minutes to do it correctly as all the oil in the tubes had to be burned out otherwise oil would keep coming through the pipe and at about 2 a.m. the light would go out. Spirits were used under the burners to heat the pipes and it was not untii the light was burning gas only that it would operate correctly. When, for some reason, the light did go out, it would probably result in a page 40'Please Explain' from the Marine Department months later. From Stephens Island they could see the Farewell Spit light and on occasions he had seen at dawn all three lights across the Bay go out at the same time.

One of the duties at Stephen's Island was that of Lizard Protection. Mr. White stated that he caught 2,000 hawks in a period between the third week of February and the third week of May in each of two years. The bounty was Is for each set of 1 head and 2 legs. There had been a closed season for the two previous years. In the third year he caught over 1,700. When Captain Bollons called on his regular trips he had the rather unpleasant job of inspecting, counting and destroying the heads and legs. Actually the Government ship was supposed to call every three months but at times visits were delayed by weather.