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Lighted Beacons for Kaipara. —The sites for two lighted beacons proposed to be erected on the Wairoa and Kaipara Rivers have been fixed and surveyed. Matakana Harbour. —A survey has been made of this harbour, and a report prepared on the silting-up which is taking place. Whalipu Wharf. —The question of providing a wharf at Whatipu near the north head of Manukau Harbour has been carefully gone into, surveys made, and alternative plans and estimates prepared. Onehunga Wharf. —The question of utilising satisfactorily the £1,000 voted for dredging at the Onehunga wharf has been gone into, and a survey and report prepared. Warkworth Wharf a,nd Channel. —An examination and report has been made on the bars in the channel between Wilson's cement-works and Warkworth wharf, and also of the shoaling at the Warkworth Town Wharf. Helensville River: Beacon at Entrance. —The beacon erected in November, 1907, to mark the entrance to river-channel was raised 10 ft. to give it greater distinction. Great Barrier Wharf, Port Fitzroy. —Various sites for a wharf at Port Fitzroy have been examined and surveyed, and a report upon the matter prepared. Clevedon Wharf. —A new wharf, built by contract for the Road Board, on the Wairoa South River, at Clevedon, has been examined. Leigh Wharf. —A report and plan in connection with a proposed wharf at Leigh has been prepared. W aikato-W aiuku Canal. —ln April last a preliminary examination of the locality was made to find a line for the proposed canal. Oyster Depot, Auckland. —This depot was erected near the .foot of Railway Wharf, and was in readiness for the Customs authorities at the opening of the oyster season. Harbourmaster's House, Hokianga. —The contract for erection of Harbourmaster's house at Hokianga was completed in April last. Cape Maria van Diernen, Lighthouse.-—A new landing-pedestal for the crane, 10 ft. high, has been erected and the crane placed upon it. A landing-store has been built on the cliff behind the crane, a site for same having to be blasted out of the rock. The tramway has been remade for 8 chains, and formed to the old line. Cape Brett Lighthouse. —Work was commenced at Cape-Brett for the new lighthouse in November, 1908, material being landed at Whangamumu and Rawhiti in the first instance, and conveyed from thence by steam-launch to the Cape. The work already done consists of the erection of three keepers' dwellings complete, with concrete-tank water-supplies to each, workmen's quarters (to be used as a school later on), carpenters' and blacksmiths' shops, and landing-shed. About 25 chains of tramway has been laid down, with turntable and winding-gear. The landing-crane pedestal is now being erected, the foundations for the tower are being taken out and fencing erected. The whole of the material required for the various works is on the site, including ironwork for the cast-iron lighthouse-tower, which was manufactured by contract at the Thames. The oil-store and dry store also still remain to be erected. Tuahine Point Light, Gisborne.— During the year an acetylene-gas light has been placed in position in a small lighthouse structure specially imported from England, and erected on a concrete foundation. Patea Harbour Works. —The work of construction of the eastern wall as a whole-tide wall has been inspected from time to time and reported upon. The work has been satisfactorily carried out. Somes Island, Wellington. —Several small repairs to buildings and wharf have been effected, and landing-crane has also been overhauled and repaired. Havelock Dredging. —Arrangements are being made to lend the Priestman dredge to the Havelock County Council and Harbour Board to dredge the bar leading up to the Havelock wharf. Godley Head Fog-signal (Lyttelton). —This work was completed in October last, and the fogsignal has been in use since. Wainono Lagoon, South Canterbury. —An examination was made of this lagoon, and a report prepared in reference to providing an outlet-culvert. Kaikoura Wharf. —On the completion of this wharf, built by the County Council by contract, a survey was made to ascertain the ar*ea in which steamers could manoeuvre in safety, and plan made of it. Okuru Wharf, South Westland. —The new wharf at Okuru has been completed. Two additional spans were found necessary owing to river-encroachment. Holy ford River. —A party of four men have been engaged in blasting out rocks at the entrance to Holyford River in order to make it more navigable, and they now report a good channel along the sandspit side all the way in. Karamea Harbour. —An examination of the Karamea Harbour and the encroachment of the sea at the entrance to the Karamea River was made, and a scheme for confining the river and entrance to a proper channel submitted. ' A contract for the first section of the necessary trainingwall is being prepared. Nuggets Fishing-boat Landing, Otago. —Rocks in the fairway to landing rendered access very dangerous at low tide. These rocks were blown out by subaqueous blasting, and all rocks along

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