D—No. 1. C. (appendix.) No. 2.

REPORT OF PRESIDENT OF MARINE BOARD.

Marine Board Office, Wellington, 14th June, 1865. Sir,— I have the honor to report, for the information of His Excellency's Government, the proceed. ings of the Marine Board since the last meeting of the General Assembly in October, 1864. I have, &c, Charles Sharp, President, Marine Board. To the Honorable Major Richardson, Post-master General, Wellington. PILOTS AND PILOTAGE. This indispensable department, which, under the most favorable circumstances, has seldom collected sufficient amount of dues to pay the necessary expenses of its maintainance, have, sinca he passing of the Marine Board Act of Ifc63, been a heavy burthen on the respective Provincial revenues. Clause XXXVII. of that Act leaves it optional with masters of vessels to engage the services of a pilot, which, owing to the great facilities now afforded, either by the aid of steam tugs or prominent harbour marks, can be dispensed with without incurring the risk of accident. The inevitable consequence has been a very large dimunition of receipts. To obviate this undue pressure on the Provincial revenue the Board have, at its recent sittings, passed several resolutions which, if adopted, will enable the department to raise a sum sufficient to defray a large portion of the cost of its maintenance, without bearing heavily on the shipping frequenting the ports. The rate of pilotage might be varied at the different harbours according to the extent and nature of service required. LIGHTHOUSES. The Lighthouses in course of erection at the date of last report are now, with one exception (Dog Island), in operation. They are as follows:— Tiri Tiri, Gulf of Houvaki. The works comprise an iron tower forty-eight feet in height, having a lantern and 2nd order fixed white dioptric light, commodious dwellings for two keepers, and outhouses. The total cost, including foundation, road, carriage, freight, and optical apparatus is estimated at about five thousand six hundred pounds (£5600), a small portion of which is still unpaid. The light is placed on the highest knoll of Tiri Tiri, and affords an excellent direction to vessels approaching Auckland from the northward or eastward. It is seen from a distance of eighteen to twenty miles. The li"ht was exhibited on the Ist January, 1865, from which date dues have beeu collected. Mana Island, Cook Strait, is precisely the same character of light, tower, and dwellings as those on Tiri Tiri, having, in addition, a small store at the landing place, for the convenience of housing supplies until thev can be removed to the lighthouse, a distance, over a difficult road, of about a mile. The total cost, including freight, carriage, road making, optical apparatus, &c, is estimated at £5500. The light is placed at the north-vest extremity of Mana Islaud, at an elevation of about 450 feet, and can be seen from a distance of thirty miles in clear weather. The completion of this work was somewhat retarded, owing to the imperfect and unfinished state of the iron tower, many borings which should have been made at the manufactory having to be done here with great labor and expense. The light is spoken of very favorably, and must be of great assistance to navigators in passing through the dangerous and intricate part of Cook Strait. Established Ist February, 1865.