Northern Territory Times and Gazette (Darwin, NT : 1873 - 1927), Thursday 6 August 1914, page 14


Point Charles Lighthouse.

A couple of boating parties started from Darwin to Point Charles Light-house on Sunday last the 2nd instant. The first party left the wharf in Mr. Joseph Bradshaw's launch, "Bol-warra" (Captain Lloyd Upjohn) at about 9.45 a.m., the second party, following later in Mr. R. Dean's launch "Spray." To get on board the "Bolwarra," the party had to clamber over the side of the wharf and get down one of the perpendicular iron ladders and step on to the deck. The trip over was a most enjoyable one, and the commissariat department had

been thoroughly organised for the occasion. On arrival at Point Charles, the advance guard of the "Bolwarra" party were met and welcomed by Mr. H. W. Christie, head-keeper at the lighthouse, and accorded a most hospitable welcome right throughout their stay. The same full measure of appreciation must also be extended to Mr. Spriggs, and Mr. H. O'Neil, assistant light-keepers, and Mrs. Mrs. O'Neil, who had been away on a visit to Darwin, returned to the lighthouse on the "Spray," and

assisted towards the general entertainment of the Darwinites. The remarks

contained in the visitors' book kept by Mr. Christie are certified evidence that the hospitality shown at Point Charles is really worth writing home about. A good deal of time was enjoyably spent in examining the hand some polished turtle shells, curios, and photographs shown to the visitors by Mr. Christie. It seems a pity that a better and quicker market

cannot be found for these turtle shells. A few hung in smoke rooms of tourist steamers would quickly attract buyers

and the chief steward could effect commission sales on behalf of owner. A loan exhibition of these shells at the Java exhibition in charge of Mr. Allen would also result in a good many sales being effected. The work of polishing these shells helps to be-guile the long silent vigils of the watchers on the tower. A good number of the party took advantage of the opportunity, to climb the 90 odd steps in the circular staircase leading to the lantern of the lighthouse. Many also had a walk round the plantation some little, distance away, where bananas and cocoa-nut trees are thriving pretty well considering the poor prevalent moisture. The same remark also ap-plies to the areas under pineapples, which are quite a revelation and the plants are evidently well cared for and the cultivation kept clean. With a system of irrigation remarkable re-sults could assuredly be achieved, where such promising and commend-able practical testimony, is also af forded of what actually has been done with anything but promising looking soil and facilities. It makes one almost weep to contrast how comparatively little has been affected by the Government at its own costly demonstration (?) farms, which have so far demonstrated absolutely nothing—with a big round hole inside the nought. After the "Bolwarra" party had been some couple of hours ashore, the "Spray" hove in sight and its party landed. Owing to some-thing wrong with the engine of the "Spray" arrangements had to be made to convey its passengers back to Dar-win in the "Bolwarra." This caused some delay in the departure of the latter launch, but was certainly fortu-nate for those passengers who had come out by the "Spray," which re-

mained at Point Charles. Amuse-

ment was caused by Mr. Christie carrying some of the passengers at low tide from the little landing jetty & dumping them into the dinghy, the

Writer being a 15-stone, weight. Fin-ally the passengers of both launches were safely on board the "Bolwarra", with the exception of Mr. R. Dean who, with Mr. F. Nott, remained be-hind in order to try and put the engine of the "Spray" into better working order. The homeward jour-ney was uneventful except for oc-casional stoppages of the engine as

the result of the use of too much lubricating oil. Two lady passengers had to be taken ashore in a dinghy to the old jetty, the male passengers having to clamber up another iron ladder to the wharf. Altogether a most pleasant day was spent, and the

visitors were most enthusiastic about the welcome accorded them at Point

Charles lighthouse.

On Monday evening apprehension began to be felt in Darwin at the non-arrival of the "Spray," and, shortly after 11o'clock, Messrs. 'Walter Bell and Co's. oil launch "Don," which had been requisitioned, started out to look for her, Constable Sidney Little being on board. The "Spray" was picked up near the Point Emery Light. "It appears that the "Spray," with Messrs. Dean, Nott, Roberts, Perry, and an aboriginal on board, left Point Charles before dark, and had proceeded some distance upon their journey to Darwin when the en-gine broke down. At the time they were picked ,up they had torn the seats out of the launch, and were using them as paddles. The "Spray" was taken in tow by the "Don" and brought into Darwin.

From the Chief Electoral Officer at

Perth who, like a good many Govern-ment officials, scribbles a signature that is almost a 'puzzle to decipher even for a compositor, we have re-ceived, a copy of his repbrt to' the

Government of that State on -"Prin-

cipal Electoral Systems." The auth-or claims that this publication might

be found of special interest at the present juncture, in view of "the double dissolution." Australia now stands expectant, particularly as re- -gards the prospective results of the Senate Election, the statutory provis-ions for wh/ch are of the crudest type, capable of producing the most as-tounding. arid1 iniquitous results. This little pamphlet show<s a way out of the awkward predicament. ¡But being dis-enfranchised the pamphlet does /not concern the taxpayers of the North-ern Territory at present. However, if the Chief Electoral Officer wants to give his system a trial he could drop along t,o Darwin in1 the nex^t West Aus- ' tralian steamer, and a mock election could be held for the positions of Administrator and Resident Railway Engineer and the writer will nominate Sir William MacGregor and Mr. H. V. Francis respectively just to give things a flutter. According to South Australian local government ordinan-ces it also appears, that the ratepay-

ers should have been given a say in * the management of the Central Board of Health and the appointment of its

Chiet Medical officer. ine writer does not care to nominate anyone who is known to him pnly by repute, but, for the purpose of a /mock election, he feels confident in nominating. Dr. Strangman.