11.—12,

2

experiment. These should give a much better light than those commonly in use, whilst they will burn little, if any, more oil. Should they prove a success, I would recommend that a few of them should be imported, to be sold at cost price to any Harbour Boards that may require them. Two of these lights might also be very advantageously used for lighting the entrance to Tory Channel, where leading lights are much required. Owing to the increased number of lighthouses, the duty of supplying them with oil and stores is constantly becoming more onerous. In connection with this fact, I desire to indorse the remarks made in previous reports by the Secretary of Customs as to the necessity for a store for the Marine Department. At present there is only a very small store in the Customhouse yard : it is quite full, and there is no place for storing spare articles for lighthouse use, or the spare gear belonging to the Government steamers. It is urgently necessary, therefore, that, as soon as the lhorndon Reclamation is finished, the site allocated for a store for this department should be handed over, and the necessary buildings be at once erected. The cost of the store will be recouped in a very few years by the saving it will make possible. The following accidents have occurred during the year in connection with lighthouse works :—At Puysegur Point, on the lGth September, two of the contractor's men went in a small boat to try to cross Otago Retreat to Coal Island, where it was believed a fire was burning, which was presumed to have been lighted by shipwrecked men. It was afterwards found, however, that spray from a waterfall had been mistaken for smoke. At the time the men started it was blowing a heavy gale from seaward, and the boat is supposed to have been capsized, as a portion of her was found washed up on an island. The bodies of the men were not found. At the Brothers, on the 29th August, two men (a keeper and one of the carpenters employed on the works) were being lowered down the tramway, when the rope slipped, and the truck descended at a great speed. The carpenter threw himself off, and was stunned, but not much hurt; while the keeper was thrown over the rocks, and had his thigh broken. The same keeper, in June last, a few days after he had returned to the Brothers cured, fell down the lighthouse stairs, and again broke his thigh. He is now in the Wellington Hospital. Light Dues. —The light dues collected at the various ports of the colony during the year amounted to £11,517 19s. 2d., being £182 15s. more than for the previous year. Government Steamers. —Both the " Hinemoa" and the "Stella" are now under the control of this department. Regulations as to discipline, &c., and for insuring economy with regard to stores, have been brought into force. They also provide that the officers and crew arc to wear uniform. The " Stella" has been almost exclusively employed on services connected with the department, such as landing materials for the construction of new and stores for the maintenance of existing lighthouses, placing in position and overhauling buoys and beacons, and executing small surveys. Now that there are lighthouses from the northern extremity of the North Island to the southern extremity of the Middle Island she will be kept almost constantly at lighthouseservice work ; but in connection with this the various buoys and beacons under the control of the department can be attended to and small surveys can be made. Examination of Masters, eye.—Certificates of competency have been issued to 141 candidates, 108 being for masters, mates, and engineers of sea-going vessels, and 33 for masters and engineers of river steamers. Steam Navigation, —Passenger certificates have been issued to 109 steamers, of 10,1G4 tons and 3,937 horse power, being, in the aggregate, 2 steamers and 1,502 tons and 312 horse power less than were surveyed last year. Harbours. —Various repairs and improvements have been carried out in connection with several harbours. A new house for the pilot has been built at Foxton; the signalman's house at Manukau Heads has been repaired; the removal of rocks in the Turanganui River (Poverty Bay) has been completed; a contract for the erection of beacon in Kaipara River has been let; and numerous buoys have been placed or renewed. Wharves.— Advantage has been taken, in several instances, of the powers conferred upon the Governor in Council by "The Marine Act Amendment Act, 1877," to transfer the control of wharves at out-ports to Road Boards or other local authorities, it being believed that better management will thus be secured. Surveys. —During the year the entrance to Hokianga Harbour and the bar there have been surveyed. Great changes were found to have taken place since the previous survey. New sailing directions were therefore prepared, and an amended chart of the bar is being prepared.A survey of the Galatea Channel over the Kaipara bar has also been completed, and an amended chart will shortly be issued. The southern channel over the Mauukau bar, too, has again been surveyed, but the necessity for publishing a new chart for it is not great, as the signalman on the South Head can always discover the deepest water, and guide vessels through it by means of the shifting beacons and the semaphore. There are still several small surveys on various parts of coast that should be done. Naval Training School. —The able report of the manager is forwarded herewith. The great difficulties at present in the way of proper management of the school are the want of quarters for the instructors, and the presence of a criminal clement amongst the boys. The latter is the more important. If it can be got rid of through the establishment of a reformatory, the Kohimarama School may no doubt be made a success; but at present masters and owners of vessels, knowing what some of the boys have been, hesitate to take any of them as apprentices.