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lighthouses. I recommend that provision be made in the estimates for installations for further lights. Apart from the fact that these burners supply a better light, the cost of obtaining and installing them will soon be saved in the cost of oil, owing to the smaller consumption. The Three Kings Islands have been acquired and reserved for lighthouse purposes. The following works have been carried out at lighthouses during the year :— Cape Maria van Dieinrn : A workshop has been erected. The crane at the landing requires repairs. This station is much in need of a landing-place being blasted out of the rock well above the sea, as at present it' there is any sea on when the boats are landing it is very difficult to put stores where the sea will not reach them. The crane should also be raised, to enable the men to work it without standing in the water when the seas run up the rocks. It is proposed to have this work done during the present year. Moko Hinou: Some of the fences have been renewed. Bean Rock: A raft of logs in tow of the s.s. " Stella " struck and damaged the ironwork at the bottom of the tower. The cost of executing the necessary repairs was paid by the owners of the vessel. Tiri Tiri : The Auckland Harbour Board has erected a signal-house for the shelter of the keepers when on the lookout for vessels. Ponui Passage: The roof of the lighthouse and the platform-railing have been renewed. Cuvier Island : The two dwellinghouses which were damaged by a landslip have been removed to new sites. Portland Island : Material has been sent for wash-houses, a landing-store, and a porch to one of the houses, and these are now being erected. Manukau South Head: The balcony of the tower and the timber face of the bank near the lighthouse have been repaired. Cape Campbell: A new fence between the reserve and the adjoining land has been erected. Godley Head: New garden-fences have been erected. Material has been supplied for washhouses, workshop, coal-sheds, fowl-houses, and stable and cow-shed, and these are now being erected. A new track has been made from the landing-place to the lighthouse. Akaroa Head : The landing-stage has been repaired. Cape Saunders: Telephones have been installed between the lighthouse and the keepers' dwellings. Nugget Point : A new house and wash-house have been built for the principal keeper, and the second assist ant 'keeper's house has been enlarged. Waipapapa Point: Wash-houses have been erected. Dog Island : Wash-houses have been built, and the oil-store and fowl-houses repaired. Puysegur Point: Repairs have been executed to bridges, flagstaff, and boat-shed. Cape Foulwind : Repairs have been made to the dwellings, and a signal-hut erected. A vote was taken last session for the erection of a new lighthouse, and shipmasters were consulted as to the place where a light was most required between East Cape and Cape Maria van Diemen. Some named (.'ape Brett, others the Cavallis, and a few the Poor Knights. A careful examination of sites was made in December last by Mr. .1. A. Wilson, District Engineer at Auek land, Captain Bollons, of the s.s. " Hinemoa," and myself, and we came to the conclusion that a light on Cape Brett would be of greater service to shipping than ai any other place between ESasi Cape and Cape Maria. We accordingly made a recommendation to this effect, and this recommendation has been approved, and a first order group flashing incandescent light has been ordered. This light will be visible on the north about seven miles north of the Cavallis and on the south down to Three Gables and Poor Knights. The land at the site belongs to the Maoris, and steps are now being taken under the Public Works Act to acquire the area required. Plans and specifications of the tower, dwellings, and other buildings are being prepared so that the work of erection may be put in hand as soon as the land has been acquired. Wo found a very good site for a lighthouse, keepers' dwellings, il-c, on the small island off the North Cape. Should a lighthouse be elected on this island at some future time, and Moko Hinou light be moved on to the Hen Island, the coast would be well lighted from Cape Maria to Auckland. A report by the Marine Engineer on works carried out during the year is appended. During the year five lightkeepers resigned and two died. Seven new appointments have been made to fill the vacancies caused by the resignations and deaths. The amount of light dues collected during tin- year was £32,377 Bs. Bd., as compared with £32,454 Is. 4d. during the previous year. Fog-signalt. —The explosive fog-signals at Pencarrow Bead and Taiarba Head have worked satisfactorily. Signals have been obtained for Godley Head and Cuvier Island. The site for that at (lodley Head is down the cliff, and a road has had to be made down to it at considerable cost. The site is now being prepared, and the well for the weight is being blasted out of the rock. The signal at Cuvier Island will be erected shortly. Harbours. —The harbours under the control of the Department have been properly attended to, and the harbour officers have carried out their duties in an efficient manner. Last session an Act was passed constituting a Harbour Board for the Port of Wairau, and the Board has since been set up. The Board now has charge of the port, and the pilot has been placed under its control. The s.s. " Hinemoa " has overhauled and cleaned the variotis harbour-buoys that required attention. A beacon has been erected in the Helensville River, Kaipara, and a Priestman's grab dredge has been ordered from England for use in removing rocks from that river, and for other works in harbours under the control of the Department. As soon as the dredge is received, it is proposed to proceed with the removal of the rocks referred to. A large number of logs belonging to millowners having got adrift in the Wairoa River, Kaipara Harbour, they became a danger to naviga-