Dog’S Hill Beacon,

N.E. Papua

AN article dealing with the legend of Dog’s Hill, North Eastern Papua, and the Cape Vogel lighthouse was published in the September issue of the “Pacific Islands Monthly”; and we have now re ceived the accompanying photograph from Mr. F. C. Rennels, of Samarai, showing the light (which replaced the original lighthouse) now situated on the summit of Dog’s Hill, Cape Vogel.

The interior of the beacon consists of an ordinary household lamp with an

extra large kerosene container, the light from which is reflected by an concave disc of polished copper through a glass taken from a steamer’s mast-head. The present visibility of the light is poor— only six miles in good weather —and it is of little use now, though it was a wel come sight at the beginning of this cen tury, when luggers loaded with supplies and miners were beating to windward around the coast as they plied between Port Moresby and the North Coast. In those days the visibility of the beam from the old lighthouse was 14 miles.

Originally the lamp was lit each night personally by Rev. (now Canon) Tom linson, of the Anglican Mission, who lived nearby. To-day the light, under Govern ment control, is lit by Papuan boys from the Makaua mission station.

The beacon at Cape Vogel.