BairLLiE.— Early Heclamations and Harbour-works of Wellington. 703 
In 1842 the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury approved 
of Wellington, Auckland, and Russell being constituted free ports in con- 
formity with the provision of Act 3 and 4 William IV. Perhaps this may 
account for the following Proclamation, dated 1st October, 1844 (7): 
“ On 
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f any harbour. There are no duties of Customs or 
public charges of any kind payable by vessels in New Zealand. —AxDpREW 
SINCLAIR, Colonial Secretary." 
Bracons. 
Heaphy in his book (8) says that “ much inconvenience has been 
experienced from the want of lights and beacons.” j wrecks in the 
4 t 
18th December plans and estimates were called for, but nothing was 
done by the Government until nearly three years later. E. J. Wakefield 
Pencarrow Head, was blown down by a gale of wind soon after. This 
had been put up by public subscription. Another, on the highest peak of 
the western side of the entrance, Beacon Hill, was more securely fixed, 
of it being blown on to the light-keeper's cottage during a southerlv gale. 
became a beacon by day as well as by night. The Wellington Almanac 
Of 1845 does not mention the beacon, although it mentions the signal- 
Station on Mount Albert. In Grimstone's Southern Settlements (1847) the 
