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t!ic development of the coal trade at Greymouth and Westport. I would urge upon the Government the desirability of proceeding with the erection of this light as soon as possible. The masters of vessels trading to Napier are urging that a light should be erected at Cape Kidliappers ; this light would be of great service to traders to Hawke's Bay. Harbours. —No works of any importance have been carried out at any of the harbours, the administration of which is under the control of this department. The accounts, however, show expenditure in respect of snagging the Mokau River and the improvement of the Ferntown Channel, Collingwood. These works were, however, practically completed during the previous financial year. The buoys and beacons have been attended to as in former years by the s.s. " Stella." It has been found that the services of the boat's crew at Manukau could be dispensed with, and the work of attending to the Heads carried out by a local steamer at a small cost. The services of the chief boatman at Manukau Heads, whose principal duties were to assist the signalman, have also been dispensed with, and arrangements made for the lighthouse-keepers to carry out his duties. At Eaipara the port charges have been raised in order to make the revenue nearly equal to the expenditure. The result of the survey reported as having been done last year has been added to the Admiralty chart of this port. At Wairau a pilotage-rate has been imposed in order to cover the cost of maintaining the pilot establishment, no harbour dues having been collected there before. The Southland County Council, wishing to continue the pilot establishment at Fortrose, Mataura River, the Council has been, under the provisions of section 242 of "The Counties Act, 1876,-' declared to be a Harbour Board for that port. Orders in Council. —The following Orders in Council under the provisions of the Harbours Acts have been issued during the year : — April 19, 1887. Approving plans of ferry-jetty and goods-wharf off Quay Street, Auckland. April 19. Fixing pilotage, &c, for Kaipara Harbour. April 19. Validating election of members of Waitara Harbour Board. May 9. Vesting Wainui Wharf in Akaroa County Council. June 1. Approving plans of north wall to enclose Tiinaru Harbour. June 14. Approving plans of extension of Havelock Wharf. June 14. Approving plans of drain from Gisborue Hospital into Turanganui River. June 14. Approving of Thames Harbour Board licensing J. W. Rickit to occupy portion of foreshore for shipbuilding, &c. June 14. Approving of Thames Harbour Board licensing J. G. Ralph to occupy portion of foreshore for working tailings, &c. June 28. Appointing Trustees of Moeraki Sea-bathing Trust. June 28. Approving plans of first 800ft. of Gisbome Breakwater. June 28. Approving plans of Borough Council's Wharf at Akaroa. June 28. Licensing Akaroa Borough Council to occupy foreshore for wharf at Akaroa. July 5. Approving plans of James Darrow's boom across Kirikiri River, Thames. July 5. Licensing James Darrow to occupy foreshore at Kirikiri River, Thames, for booms. July 5. Validating election of members of Waimakariri Harbour Board. July 19. Approving plans of No. 2 Jetty, off Quay Street, Auckland. July 19. Approving of Thames Harbour Board licensing W. Rowe and R. B. Williams to occupy foreshore for working tailings, &c. August 2. Approving of Westport Harbour Board connecting Cape Foulwind Railway with eastern breakwater. August 2. Approving plans of C. Georgeson's smokehouse, Otago Harbour. August 2. Licensing Charles Ceorgeson to occupy foreshore in Deborah Bay, Otago Harbour, for smokehouse and fish-curing. August 16. Approving of plans of reclamation in Freeman's Bay, Auckland. August 23. Approving plans of site, etc., of Charles Effey's bathing-machines, New Brighton. August 23. Licensing Charles Effey to occupy foreshore at New Brighton for bathingmachines. August 30. Revoking license for Auckland Tramway Company to use foreshore for wharfsite. August 30. Fixing pilotage-rates for Port of Wairau. October 5. Approving plans of cattle-landing wharf, Greymouth. October 5. Approving of meat-freezing as purpose for which Harbour Boards may allow use of foreshore. October 18. Approving plans of Wellington Rowing-club's boatshed, Wellington. November 8. Approving plans of slipway, Timaru Harbour. November 8. Approving plans of outer tee of Burke Street Wharf, Thames. November 8. Approving' plans of wharf, Miranda River. November 8. Licensing W. Findlay and others to occupy foreshore, Miranda River, for wharf. November 8. Prescribing additional dues for Kaikoura Wharf. November 15. Revoking Order in Council vesting Whangaroa Wharf in Mongonui County Council. November 15. Vesting Whangaroa Wharf in Whangaroa County Council. November 22. Revoking Order in Council approving plans of additions and repairs to outer tee of Queen Street Wharf, Auckland. November 22. xVpproving plans of additions and repairs to outer western tee, Queen Street Wharf, Auckland. January 5, 1888. Approving plans of further reclamation, To Aro, Wellington. January 5. Approving plans of baths at Port Moeraki.