The Marine Department.

Manawatu Herald, 16 November 1895, Page 3

The Marine Department.

From the Annual Report of the Marine Department we gather the following notes i-— The light on the beacon at the French Pass was not extinguished during the year, but on one occasion it smoked badly for a few hours, until the keeper was able to go ofl: to it; The only occasion in which the lamp in a lighthouse went out during the year was on the 10th A.pril, 1994, when the light at Pencarrow dead was extinguished for about seven minutes. The person answerable, a temporary keeper has had his services dispensed with. The sum of £16,299 10s 8d was received for light dues during the year, an increase of £867 14s 7d on the previous year. The question of establishing fog signals at some of the light-houses is under consideration. j A regulation prohibiting the practice of " blocking/ by which one person's nets were interfered with by other persons setting nets outside or round them, has been made. Regulations have also been made prohibiting the use of scrim or whitebait nets as set nets, and providing that scrim hand nets used for catching whitebait must not have an opening of more than five square feet. Some other items are these : — A firm, belonging to where is not mentioned, is stated to be employing five men on the Campbell Islands searching for gold. When the " Hinemoa " made her last visit to Campbell Island it was found that some of the clothing and provisions had been stolen from the depot there. Colonial pilots have now to be licensed and have to pay a fee.