D.—l.

Cape Foulwind Lighthouse. —Keeper's cottage repaired, and signal-hut erected. Little Wanganui. —Wharf repaired and shed enlarged. Karamea. —Signalman's house built. Point Elizabeth Harbour. —The survey of this harbour has been completed, plans made, and soundings taken along the coast to Greymouth. A good harbour can be constructed with 36 ft. of water by erecting artificial breakwater walls, &c.; but the cost would be very heavy. Okarito. —A survey was made of this harbour, and plans prepared. Okuru. —Plans of wharf have been made, and price for building it submitted. Karamea Harbour. —A very extensive survey, with plans and soundings, has been made of this harbour, and a full report submitted on it. Further examination is to be made. Godley Head Lighthouse, Lyttelton. —Workshop and outbuildings erected; rear porches to each house; fences and gates overhauled. Godley Head Fog-signal Station. —A survey has been made and a track cut down the cliff to the site, which has been formed. The apparatus is being installed. S.s. " Hinemoa." —Alterations and repairs to bathroom carried out; vessel fumigated ; officers and men's quarters and upper cabin repainted. Besides the above items, a very large number of plans, schedules, Bills affecting Harbour Boards, &c, and other marine matters have been submitted to the Marine Engineer for examination and decision, which have all been duly attended to. ROTORUA AND HANMER. Rotorua Sewage-drainage. —The street sewers, receiving-tank, duplicate pumping plant, septic tank, and filter-beds have been completed. All the principal private buildings, the public buildings, and the new Bath Buildings have been connected up to the sewers. The S3 7 stem was opened and brought into use on the Ist November, 1907, and finally handed over to the Tourist Department on the 12th May, 1908, and that Department will complete the other private connections. The gravitation water-supply from the reservoir at the Moerangi Springs, 5 miles 49 chains distant, has now been completed, the whole of the street-reticulation laid in, fire-plugs provided, and the whole service handed over to the Tourist Department on the 12th May, 1908. Hanmer Water-supply. —This service was completed in February, 1908. Since then a flood did some damage to the head-works, which have been repaired. The stave pipes still leak a little, but are taking up. ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS. City of Auckland. —Twenty-three additional cars have been added during the year and tested. The track in Queen Street has been strengthened with pile framing. The extension to Mount Eden has been completed, and was opened on the 15th May, 1908; and the extension to Mount Roskill is in hand and nearly ready. Wanganui. —A start has been made to construct the necessary buildings and lay the tracks in the streets. Wellington. —The extensions to Miramar and Seatoun have been opened during the year, and about the same number of additional cars as in Auckland have been examined and tested. UTILISATION OF WATER-POWER. Rotoiti-Kaituna Scheme. —Records are being obtained of the rainfall, rise and fall of lake, and total discharge at various states of water-level. Similar records are being obtained at Lake Taupo, at the Waikato River outlet. Similar gaugings are being obtained of the Hutt River and of the Tauherenikau. Some gaugings were also made of the Canterbury rivers after the severe droughts last year. DEFENCES. Auckland. North Head. —The extra magazine is nearly finished. Approach-roads have been formed and gates fixed around it. The barracks and officers' quarters have been painted and renovated. The emplacements for the new 6 in. battery are being excavated. The store has been repaired. Fort Resolution. —Fences repaired and noxious weeds destroyed. Fort Takapuna. —Barracks painted and renovated. Maintenance of grounds, &c, carried out by prison labour. Auckland Drill Hall. —Maintenance attended to. Mount Eden Magazines. —Proposals submitted for enlarging them. Hamilton, Rifle Range. —lnspected and reported on. Wellington. Shelly Bay to Point, Halswell. —Road widened and straightened. Point Halswell to Mahanga Bay. —Road improved and metalled. Mahanga Bay. —Water-pipes- laid on wharf, and Defence buildings repaired. Fort Ballance Magazine, Mahanga Bay. —Site has been excavated, and the concrete is now in place up to the roof-covering. Prisons Building, Point Halswell. —Has been repaired and renovated.

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