1859 NZ's first lighthouse, Pencarrow, lit for the first time

The lighthouse on Pencarrow Head, near Wellington, was lit for the first time amid great celebration. The New Zealand Spectator and Cook’s Strait Guardian reported that New Year’s Day 1859 would ‘be a day not soon forgotten by the settlers of Wellington’. After years of inadequate solutions, Wellington finally had a permanent lighthouse – a New Zealand first.

During the day many settlers took a trip out to their new lighthouse on the SS Wonga Wonga. A morning excursion, which left just before 10 a.m., had about 65 people on board. An afternoon excursion, which left at 4 p.m., was a much more crowded affair. So many people arrived to board the vessel that some had to be turned away. But while the early birds had more room to dance to the Hanoverian Band, those on the afternoon excursion undoubtedly had the more special trip.

At approximately 7 p.m. the Wonga Wonga anchored off Pencarrow. Up to 40 people, including officials, went ashore and walked up to the lighthouse. They were shown the workings of the light by Edward Wright, the engineer who had supervised its construction. A few days later the Spectator reported that:

All those who have seen the [b]uilding speak of it in the highest terms as a most creditable piece of workmanship and reflecting great credit upon Mr Wright and others concerned in its construction.

As dusk drew near the light was lit for the first time by Wellington’s provincial superintendent, Isaac Featherston. He was a fitting choice, having forged ahead with the construction of the lighthouse despite opposition from the central government. When it was lit, those remaining on board were concerned at the ‘apparent inefficiency’ of the light. But on the return voyage, ‘disappointment soon gave way to [a] feeling of pleasure’ as the light came into view ‘in all its brilliancy’.