16th Aug. SuanoHat has always been so particularly interested in the safety of the navigation of the Red Sea, and more especially since the opening of the Suez Canal, that we need make no apology for recurring to the matter of the Lights in this important waterway. At last, in the closing year of the century, 1900, the south end of the Red Sea is to be lighted, and two hundred miles of intricate and dangerous navigation safeguarded by the best aids that modern science can provide. After fifty years of delay Has been felt. beyond any question that the work must be done. The various Powers interested in the large and fast steamers that keep up the communication between Europe and the East have rightly concluded that any private privileges that individuals may have secured from the Turkish Government which nominally rules in the Red Sea must give way to the general safety of international As the greater part of the tonnage Belongs to England, it is most satis-assing up and down the Red Sea
factory to us to see this work undertaken at last, and to reflect that it is greatly owing to the British Plenipotentiary at Cairo that the long-continued exertions in this direction are to be crowned with success. From the time when Lord Cromer first took charge in Egypt, he has persistently urged the necess of Tights in the southern part of the Red Sea, and has put all his weight into the scale to secure this Doon to seamen and passengers; the opposition of France blocked the measure for some years but it has at Jast been withdrawn, and Lord Cromer can now see the work which he has so long urged actually undertaken.
Sir George Morice, R.N., the greatly respected Controller of Egyptian Ports and Lights, shares with Lord Cromer the honour due in this matter. He has assisted greatly in the good work by strongly advising the extreme need of the Lights, and the readiness of his department to erect them the moment the scheme was sanctioned. He has seen to it that the plans, the sites for the Lights so that they shall be of "the greatest value to navigation, and above all the money needed to carry out these improvements, are all ready in his hands; and now it is sincerely to be hoped that before his long service under the Egyptian. Government closes and he retires on his well-earned pension, he may see all the Four Lights he so strenuously recommended in working: order, and the safety of shipping; secured by them. Seamen of all nation: ies should know to whom it is that these benefits are due, and should recognise what Sir George Morice, in his constant and successful endeavours to keep in touch with his profession, has done and is doing.
While on the subject of Lights we cannot help commending agai admirable work that has been accomplished on the China Coast, in the change of all Lights from Fixed to Distinctive. While earnestly hoping that in the near future all nations will fall into line and do the same, we cannot as Englishmen but: feel a little sore that our country has not led the van in this change. Though so much has been done, there is still a great need for more Lights in the lower part of China Sea. It is practically unlighted from the moment a vessel passes out of the range of Horsburgh Light, forty miles from Singapore, till Waglan Island to the eastward of Hongkong is made, or Gap Rock Light to the westward of that port. A good first-class Light should suroly he placed on Pulo "Sapata, to show over and warn off the islands about Sapata and the very dangerous Julia Shoal, of 2} fathoms, on which at least one large vessel has been wrecked. This would be practically a half-way mark for shipping going up or down the China Sea. It would also be well to put a good Light on Pulo Aer, about seventy miles to the northward of Horsburgh. This would give vessels a good point of departure whether going up or down the China Sea; the currents thereabouts are very strong and uncertain in direetion, often g local nHltenced by storms of wind or ra mul weath from the Gulls of Siam or Tongking. The rain in the "Suma "as the squalls in the neighbor Straits are called, is often lasts for m time, and there is often a str over to the Anamba Islan would be met by a good Light on Pulo Aer.
What is still required ab the s entrance to the Yangize is a Hoating buoy Light where the bell buoy now lis. We know that the Customs are going to try and overcome the numerous difficulties in the way of anaintaining this, arising from the criminal carelessness of the junk-masters, the muddiness of the water, and other causes: it is qui certain that the energy and ability which have throughout characterised the work of the Lighthouse Department of the Customs will be equal to overcoming these difficulties. Of all the work done under Sir Robert Hart's direction, thoroughly good as it all is, there is none better, there is nothing that will be a better or more lasting monument to him than the lighting of the coast of China.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.