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MARINE. Kohukohn Reclamation. —The erection of the timber breastwork was completed, and the sawdust backing filled in. Clay filling was placed behind the timber breastwork along the County Wharf, reclaiming an additional area, but the wall has given way at one place, and repairs will be required. Hokianga. —A new residence and office for the Harbourmaster were erected at Rawene, and the boatman's cottage was shifted from the Heads to Rawene and re-erected, with sundry improvements. Whangapara Wharf. —The Great Barrier Island County Council has submitted plans and specifications for repairs and extension. Mahurangi Heads Wharf. —Proposals for repairing and strengthening this structure have been submitted by the Rodney County Council. Silverdale Wharf. —The new wharf has been completed by the Waitemata County Council. Needles Wharf, Manukau Harbour. —The Franklin County Council has let a, contract for the erection of a new wharf at The Needles, Manukau Harbour. Turanga Creek Wharf. —A survey of the proposed wharf-site has been made and a. plan prepared. Te Aroha Wharf. —A survey was made during the period for the purpose of fixing the position of a groyne in the Waihou River with the object of deepening the berthage at the wharf. Netherton Wharf and Goods-shed. —This wharf ami shed were completed, the road approach formed, and the reserve fenced in. Piako River. —Two leading-beacons have been erected on the' western side of the Piako Rivet to indicate the fairway as observed at low water. Tiritiri Lighthouse. —Material was obtained for the creel ion of two dwelling-houses and outbuildings. The material was taken to the island and stacked, but the erection of the buildings has not yet been put in hand. Waikato River. —Information was obtained in connection with the proposed snagging of the river. Tauranga. —A.rrangements have been made to commence immediately the dredging of a portion of the channel leading up to the town wharves, (lie spoil to be used in connection with the railway-formation along the foreshore. Gape Egmmil Lighthouse. —A. petty contract iias been let for the manufacture of a revolving cowl for this lighthouse. Karori Rock Beacon. —This new lighted beacon has been completed. Progress has been slow and difficult owing to the fact that work was possible only during very fine weather. Beacon Reach Buoy, Kaipara. —The manufacture of this buoy has been delayed through difficulty in obtaining materials, but is now about completed. Karamea Harbour. —The contracts in hand were completed during the period, but unfortunately a great deal of damage was done during October and November by Hoods. Since then maintenance-work has been carried out from time to lime in order to safeguard the remaining works. The depth of water on the bar at high water is now about 10 ft. Taiaroa Head Lighthouse. —The fog-signal has been repaired. Cape Saunders Lighthouse. —The derrick crane has been repaired. Nuggets Boat-landing, —The extension of the small breakwater was completed in December last. Tautuku. —A report was prepared in connection with a proposed breakwater at this place.

DEFENCE WORKS. Sundry buildings have been erected, and the existing works have been maintained and improved. For obvious reasons no details of these works can be included in this report, but there can be no objection to the inclusion of some particulars of the work at the military camps which has been carried out by the Department, a considerable amount of descriptive matter having appeared in the public Press. The work was one of considerable magnitude, and it was carried out with a depleted staff and in the face of many difficulties in a manner which reflects great credit upon those officers immediately concerned. The following summary will give some idea of the nature and extent of the work :— Trentharn Gamp. —The following structures have been erected : Seventy men's huts, sixteen officers' huts (two containing forty cubicles each, and fourteen containing ten cubicles each), nine cookhouses with wash-ups, two guard-rooms., six orderly-rooms, two power-houses, and one boilerhouse, six latrines, three bathhouses, sixteen ablution-stands, one disinfector-house, six A.S.C. stores, three regimental stores, one hospital store, four drying-rooms, one dining-room for officers' mess, one medical-inspection building, one chiropodist's hut, one dental surgery, one mortuary, one'fire manual shed, one brick incinerator. Extensive alterations were made to officers' mess, hcaquarters, dental surgery, and A.S.C. stores. The road-construction comprised 110 chains of formation and metalling, 150 chains of concrete channelling, and 346 chains of op'en channelling. Water-supply and drainage involved the construction of a reservoir (450,000 gallons), seven 5,000---gallou concrete fire-service tanks, two large concrete tanks for sewage, two septic tanks at hospital, one 3,000-gallon water-tank on 30 ft. stand, 200 chains of water-piping laid, 121 chains of 6 in. steel drainpipes, and nearly 2 miles of earthenware pipes of various sizes, 150 chains of new canal cut, and 50 chains old canal cleaned out; also a great variety of minor and incidental works.