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H.—ls

In the new year it is intended t<> renew the eecond-class station at Hokitika, &c, and to establish Uigh-level stations at Mount Egmont and the Bealey. In September, L9lO, Mr. H. V. Peniberton, F.R.Met.Soc, was transferred From the Magnetic Observatory at Christchurch, where he had for several years attended to the meteorological obser vations, to the Meteorological Office, lie has given much satisfaction as Assistant Meteorologist. both in genera] meteorological work and weather-forecast. Mr. W. \\ . Goudie, typist and staiisi ical clerk, has attained lank as a permanent Civil servant through five years' service in the ( tovernment. In the work of the Weather Bureau which is attached to the Meteorological Office a new code lias been m constant use. and proved very beneficial. It will shortly be amended and extended. A code address of " Weather. Wellington." for all inward messages to the office has In in adopted. Important concessions have been made by the Telegraph Department in Regulation Id: " Masters of vessels are permitted to forward messages at one uniform rate of (i<l. lor each message (including reply) to the Harbourmasters of the several ports, or to " Weather, Wei lington," seeking information as to the state of the weather, ivc. at the port to which they are bound, or From any port which may lie in their route. These telegrams must be concise, and should be tilled in in accordance with the directions to be seen at the telegraph-offices. In no rase will a larger nnnibei of words than twelve be allowed m the body of the message. At any station where the telegraphic report giving the stati of the weather in different parts of the Dominion is exhibited, a peison so desiring will lie supplied with a copy daily, except Sunday, at a charge of £1 per annum." For purposes of expedition the weather-reporting stations have iieeii divided into two sections, one for the North Island and another for the South. This with a slight curtailment in the number of the less important stations enables the Meteorological Office and the telegraph-offices to publish the weather report throughout the Dominion much earlier than was formerly the case. Every morning forty live stations report the wind direction and forces, barometric pressure, temperature, weather, tide, &c. These reports, when edited, are transmitted and published in all the chief centres of the Dominion. <>n these reports arc based the daily forecasts which are telegraphed In over a hundred stations every morning. Occasional warnings are also sent of storms affecting different parts, especially of the Mackenzie country. Special forecasts of siorms. Hoods, &c, are also sometimes issued, ami. by favour of the Secretary of the Post Office, are sent to every office in the parts affected. In the evening reports are received from twenty-three stations. These reports are supplied to the Press Association, and by it transmitted to the chief centres of the Dominion. Government Steamers. The " Hi nemo a " has continued to carry out the work of attending to the lighthouses and tin.' buoys and beacons in the harbours under the control of the Department, and has performed the work in a very satisfactory manner. ('wing to the increasing work on tiie coast she has been relieved of the duty of visiting the Keiniadees ami the southern islands to examine the provision depots and search for castaways, this work being now done by the training-ship ".Amokura." In order that a more suitable vessel might be obtained it was decided to oiler the " Iliiiemoa " for sale. This was done, but in. suitable offers were received. Engine-room and boiler repairs have since been executed, and. considering her age, the vessel is now in good condition. The " Tutaliekai " has carried out repairs lo the telegraph-Cables, having been employed On the Cook Strait cables from the Ist to the 22nd April. 1910, from the Ist to the 28th February. 1911, and on the East (Jape cable from the 6th May to the 4th June. During the remainder of the year she had been laid up in Wellington Harbour. During last winter the training-ship "Amokura " was moored in Wellington Harbour, unci during that time the boys underwent the courses of training on board which are carried out whilst the vessel is in port, and also attended classes at the Technical School. The subjects in which they were instructed at the school were specially selected as being of value to them in their seafaring careers. The vessel made her Hist cruise of the summer in Cook Strait to enable the boys to become accustomed to the sea, and during this cruise she visited Queen Charlotte Sound and Kapiti Island. Shortly after her return from this trip she made a voyage to the Southern Islands to examine the depots'for castaways which are maintained on the Snares. Auckland. Campbell. Antipodes, am! Bounty Islands. On her way south she called at Akaroa. 'liiuaru. OtagO Harbour, tin- Bluff, and Stewart Island, and on her way back she visited OtagO Harbour, the Bluff, I , reservation Inlet, and Dusky. Milford, and Queen Charlotte Sounds. After the midsummer holidays she proceeded to Auckland, and from there to the kcrniadcc Islands to examine the depots for castaways, returning to Wellington via Auckland. Tutukaka. and (Ireat Harrier Islam. Whilst the ship was at Auckland an outbreak of scarlatina occurred ai gst ill' boys, which necessitated the ship being taken to Motuihi Island and the crew being landed so that she might lie fumigated. This occupied a month, and made it too late ill the season to make another trip to the southern islands before winter. Six boys were affected by the illness, and they were sent to the Auckland Hospital, as. the ship being small and having no medical officer, tl utbieak could iml be coped with otherwise. The commander reports that the boys have conducted themselves well during the voar. and have proved that they are capable of becoming good seamen. All the steering of the ship has been done by the boys since her first cruise as a training-ship. The smallness of the ship is a drawback. Attached is a return showing the boys who have passed through the ship and those still on board. Ltffhfhovxes. — V T otes were taken last session for the erection of two new lighthouses on the east coast of the North Island, and it has been decided to erect one at Castlepoini and the other