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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

MARINE DEPARTMENT. (ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1903-1904.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

My Lobd, — Marine Department, Wellington, 15th August, 1904. I do myself the honour to transmit herewith, for Your Excellency's information, the report of the Marine Department of the colony for the financial year ended the 31st March last. I have, &c, Wm. Hall-Jones, His Excellency the Eight Hon. Baron Plunket, Minister of Marine. Governor of New Zealand.

Sir, — Marine Department, Wellington, 31st May, 1904. I have the honour to make the following report on the work of this Department during the financial year ended the 31st March last. Lighthouses. —All the lights have been properly maintaiued, and the keepers have carried out their duties in an efficient manner. The new light at Kahurangi Point has been exhibited since the 30th November last, and has proved to be of great benefit to ships, especially to those trading to Westport and Greymouth. Owing to the impossibility of landing at this place when there is any sea on, it must be expected that the attending steamer will often be delayed there. On two occasions since lighting up, provisions have had to be packed down from Collingwood owing to the sea preventing a landing at the lighthouse. It would be a great advantage in connection with the landing, and would save the attending steamer a lot of useless steaming, if the station was connected with the telegraph system of the colony, as the vessel could then go on with other work until advised by wire that the landing was workable, when she could run down and land without delay. A telegraph-station there would also be of value to passing vessels. A new lighthouse is now being erected at Jack's Point, near Timaru, which will be of great value to vessels passing that point. The fourth-order lantern and apparatus which were formerly in use on Somes Island are being erected in this lighthouse. During the year the light at the French Pass, which is in charge of one man, has been reduced from the grade of a Principal Keeper's station to that of an Assistant Keeper's. The change was made on the retirement from the service of the Principal Keeper who was formerly in charge, and it will reduce the cost of maintenance. It is proposed to erect a new iron tower at Cape Campbell as soon as the steamer is available to convey the balance of the ironwork from Wellington. In order that the light may be out as little time as possible, a new lantern has been procured from England, and it will be fitted in the new tower before the light is interfered with. The old lantern will be available for use elsewhere. A new dwellinghouse has been erected at Cape Maria van Diemen, and sundry repairs to buildings have been executed at other stations. During a recent heavy gale and sea the flagstaff at Cape Maria was broken, and considerable damage was done to the tramway which goes down to the landing-place. A new mast, and material to repair the damage to the tramway, have been sent to the station by the " Hinemoa." The wire tramway across which mails and fresh meat are conveyed from the mainland to this lighthouse was out of working-order for some time, owing to the breaking of the hauling-wire, but it has now been repaired. The landing-place at East Cape has been very much damaged by slips, and owing to the nature of the cliff it is feared that further slips will come down. The Wigham light on the beacon at Jackson's Head, which should burn thirty days without attention, has become extinguished several times during the year. As it was found inconvenient for a Union Company's steamer to attend to it, arrangements have been made with Mr. Norgrove, who owns small steamers plying in the Sounds, to attend to the light, and it has latterly been burning well. I—H. 15.