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Cape Egmont.—The existing watched light at this station is one of the older fixed type, being one of the earliest provided by the service. The growth of motor traffic on the adjacent roads and the increasing number of electric lights in the locality make it difficult for shipmasters to quickly and surely pick up the fixed light at this station. It was therefore decided to provide a completely new and up-to-date revolving light giving a triple flash. The apparatus has now been received, and it is anticipated that the installation will shortly be completed. Baring Head Lighthouse. —At present the entrance to Wellington Harbour is marked by two lights, one a second-order oil-burning watched light at an elevation of 322 ft., maintained by the Department, and the other a low-level Wigham light maintained by the Wellington Harbour Board. For some time past it has been felt that it would be much better if the existing Harbour Board light was strengthened and the Department's light shifted to Baring Head. As a situation for a coastal light Baring Head has a distinct advantage over Pencarrow, and arrangements are in hand to give effect to this policy, provision being made on this year's estimates accordingly. Godley Head. —A new lightkeeper's cottage has been built at this station, and plans are in hand for the conversion of the light itself to automatic operation. The present light is a fixed one, and in these days of universal electric lighting and the use of powerful headlights on motor-cars it is necessary to provide a light which has a distinct flashing characteristic, to avoid any chance of confusing it with other lights in the vicinity. It is mainly for this reason that the conversion is being made. Tory Channel Leading-lights. —An order has been placed for the necessary apparatus to convert these lights, which are at present oil-burning, to automatic acetylene operation. Tory Channel Light on West Head. —Specifications have been prepared and an order placed for the supply of a 300 mm. lens with open-flame burner, sun-valve, &c., for erection on the West Head at the entrance of Tory Channel. At the present time difficulty is sometimes experienced in picking up the entrance in thick weather owing to the leading-lights being visible over a small arc only. It is anticipated that the provision of this additional light will be of considerable assistance in picking up the leading-lights and in coastal navigation generally. Jack's Point.—lt is proposed to install a new lens at this station, and an automatic open-flame flashing burner with sun-valve, and orders have been placed for the necessary apparatus. Wireless at Lighthouses.—The Department now'has fully-equipped transmitting and receiving stations at Cape Maria van Diemen, Stephen Island, and Puysegur Point, and it is proposed to install another station at Portland Island. It is interesting to note that the keepers own twenty-seven receiving sets located at eighteen stations. Lighthouse-vessel. —Tenders were received for the building of a new lighthouse-ship to replace the " Tutanekai." Considerable negotiation over details has been necessary, but the Department was unable to finalize the contract with the firm whose tender was provisionally accepted. Negotiations are now in progress with another tenderer. Inspection and Adjustment of Ships' Compasses. During the year 183 compass adjustments were performed, and these were inspected by the Department's Compass Inspectors. Marine Casualties. A normal number of shipping casualties, the majority of which were of comparatively slight importance, have occurred during the past year. These embrace collisions with wharves, strandings, fires, founderings, &c. Those worthy of reference are the following : Three totally lost by stranding— the auxiliary schooner " Zingara," at Hokitika, Westland ; the scow " Herald," at Flat Rock, Hauraki Gulf ; and the trawler " Thomas Bryan," at Port Charles, Coromandel Peninsula. Three ships foundered owing to stress of weather —the scow " Maggie," at Auckland Harbour; the ketch " Glenae," at Hauraki Gulf ; and the auxiliary schooner " Elsie Mary," at Bay of Plenty. The auxiliary ketch " Isabella de Fraine " capsized when entering Hokianga Harbour. It appears this regrettable casualty occurred owing to the ship being overwhelmed whilst negotiating the bar at the entrance to the harbour. The ship and her crew, comprising eight persons, were lost. The collision cases were confined to harbours, and no collisions occurred at sea. The influence of fog on the safety of ships in a locality in which fogs infrequently occur became pronounced on the night of Bth December last, when a dense fog existed in the locality of Cook Strait. This fog accounted for the stranding of three coastal ships. Fortunately the sea was fairly smooth, and only slight damage was caused to the stranded ships. Magisterial inquiries were held in connection with ten casualties, six of which were strandings, two collisions between ships, one a total loss by capsizing, and one a missing launch. " Notices to Mariners " and Navigational Warnings. The distribution of navigational information of importance to shipping has been carried out as found desirable. The fact that so many of our ships are now fitted with wireless telegraphy has been of invaluable assistance in sending urgent warnings to ships at sea. Fifty " Notices to Mariners " had reference to navigation on New Zealand coasts and harbours, ten to navigation within the Commonwealth of Australia, and sixteen to the navigation of ships trading to and from New Zealand. " Notices to Mariners " are exchanged internationally, in which this Dominion suitably reciprocates.