H. —15.

that H.M.S. " Endeavour " will arrive in New Zealand in April, 1937, to undertake the survey, and that His Majesty's Government in Great Britain will provide the ship complete and bear the expenses connected with pay, victualling, &c., of the officers and ship's company, leaving the New Zealand Government to provide coal and the cost of docking and refitting, including stores used. The very generous manner in which the British Government has met the needs of New Zealand is much appreciated. It is interesting to note that the ship which is now to resurvey the New Zealand coast-line bears the historic name of the barque in which Captain Cook made the first of his famous voyages, when in October, 1769, he made the coast of New Zealand at Young Nick's Head and spent six months exploring, mapping, and sailing around both islands. A technical officer of the Post and Telegraph Department proceeded to Great Britain during the year past and acquired first-hand information on the most recent developments in the use of wireless on ships, both for communication purposes and for direction-finding from radio beacons. He obtained valuable information from the lighthouse authorities responsible for radio beacons in England and Scotland, also from technical men engaged in the manufacture of the apparatus, and on his report the Government can proceed confidently with the installation of a system of radio beacons on the New Zealand coast. Plant is being ordered at once from England, and it is confidently anticipated that before the end of the year radio beacons will be in operation at Baring Head and Cape Campbell, covering the eastern approach to Cook Strait. The work involves not only the purchase of the electrical apparatus but also the housing of operators. Other stations will follow throughout New Zealand as quickly as funds can be made available, until the network is complete. The activities of the Department are dealt with in more detail under appropriate headings. Financial. The following statement summarizes the revenue and expenditure of the Department (excluding Westport and Greymouth Harbours) for the past four years in comparison with the figures for 1922-23 : —

2

Branch. 1922-23. 1931-32. 1932-33. 1933-34. 1934-35. 1935-36. Revenue. Shipping Branch— £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d Light dues .. .. 39,688 16 8 78,334 6 0 87,297 17 7 89,075 6 0 91,108 3 3 94,020 10 10 Engagement and discharge 3,179 11 0 2,002 13 0 1,561 10 11 1,712 19 6 1,711 13 6 1,793 8 6 Survey fees .. .. 3,095 9 0 3,809 5 0 3,551 3 5 3,542 5 9 3,500 12 0 3,625 5 10 Examination fees, &c. .. 395 12 6 252 13 6 264 17 6 229 12 6 194 14 10 202 3 0 Lighthouse tender — Freight, passage-money, &c. 1,785 0 7 756 10 10 1,527 12 4 719 4 0 4,464 17 0 642 3 8 Miscellaneous .. .. 1,289 0 4 1,543 7 3 1,717 14 1 1,370 19 10 1,305 7 9 1,416 6 10 Harbours— Pilotage, port charges, &c. .. 764 14 6 1,293 4 1 1,860 7 5 1,806 3 0 1,711 15 1 2,044 0 11 Foreshore revenue .. 1,126 14 1 2,611 18 9 2,498 11 3 2,192 8 1 1,963 13 11 2,203 17 10 Inspection of Machinery— Inspection fees, &c. .. 17,126 19 6 22,801 19 8 18,981 3 10 19,529 12 2 19,331 14 10 19,566 5 8 Examination fees, &c. .. 667 0 0 384 7 0 401 0 0 313 2 6 359 4 6 422 14 6 Fisheries — Sale of oysters .. .. 7,702 9 6 5,430 8 5 5,101 9 4 5,359 16 9 5,925 8 4 3,765 6 8 Fishing-boat license'fees, &c. 324 9 6 691 0 3 560 1 6 613 7 6 513 17 1 555 8 9 Rental of toheroa-beds .. 10 0 0 309 0 0 317 18 6 320 1 9 316 0 0 313 0 0 Ross Sea revenue .. .. .. 600 0 0 .. 1,000 7 6 600 0 0 500 0 0 Miscellaneous revenue .. 2,800 11 4 26 1 7 27 17 1 14 8 10 525 11 8 516 19 1 Totals .. .. 79,956 8 6 120,846 15 4 125,669 4 9 127,799 15 8 133,532 13 9 | 131,587 12 1 Expenditure. Head Office .. .. 9,612 2 8 8,931 6 9 7,124 6 0 7,788 11 9 8,612 5 5 9,193 9 7 Harbours .. .. .. 4,826 13 2 2,409 16 0 1,919 12 1 1.792 3 3 2,071 3 7 2,333 3 11 Lighthouses .. .. 49,532 14 2 38,801 11 5 36,707 5 3 38,306 13 11 40,190 0 8 43,928 18 8 Mercantile marine .. .. 15,150 17 11 21,216 13 0 19,383 12 5 18,868 11 0 19,629 5 3 20,256 11 9 Inspection of Machinery .. 27,015 0 0 22,800 13 1 14,636 5 6 14,279 19 6 15,130 5 5 15,863 12 0 Fisheries .. .. .. 9,580 7 J 7,207 0 7 8,784 6 10 8,948 11 2 10,191 16 10 9,785 3 4 Miscellaneous services .. 2,655 3 8 1 14 8 0 18 11 25 19 6 .. 5 0 0 Grants and subsidies .. 1,510 0 0 125 0 0 629 3 4 550 0 0 550 0 0 250 0 0 Depreciation .. .. 8,156 0 10 13,343 13 2 13,598 8 3 13,303 8 10 13,140 4 9 12,961 3 2 128,038 19 6 114,837 8 8 102,783 18 7 103,863 18 11 109,515 1 11 114,577 2 5 Interest on capital .. .. 15,716 7 3 20,325 19 2 20,609 4 5 20,634 1 0 14,331 17 2 13,917 8 0 Totals .. .. 143,755 6 9 135,163 7 10 123,393 3 0 124,497 19 11 | 123,846 19 1 128,494 10 5 Deficit. Deficit. Surplus, Surplus. | Surplus. Surplus. Financial result .. .. 63,798 18 3 14,316 12 6 2,276 1 9 3,301 15 9 [ 9,685 14 8 3,093 1 8 I