H.—ls.

Return showing the Orders in Council which have been issued during the Year ended 31st March, 1939—continued.

Adjustment and Inspection op Compasses. The regulations for the adjustment of compasses have been carefully administered, and compasses continue to be maintained in a good state of efficiency. The results of the investigation of adjustments show that the work of the Inspectors and Adjusters has been carefully performed. Extra supervision has been necessary in a few cases on account of the changes in the magnetic forces in the vessels. Admiralty Charts. The Department acts as agent for the sale, of Admiralty charts, and maintains a stock at Head Office and at the Mercantile Marine offices at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. The stock includes all charts of the Dominion, and also a considerable portion of the world, which practically includes passages to all places where non-regular traders are likely to go after discharging in the Dominion. A supply of about 360 different charts is maintained to meet normal demands. The charts, after their receipt, are periodically corrected to date, and to ensure that purchasers receive any further information received between the dates of correction a list of Notices to Mariners affecting the charts is maintained at each office for inspection. The sales last year amounted to 1,222 copies, an increase of 49 per cent, during the last four years. Examination op Masters and Mates. During the year examinations were held in Auckland and Wellington and were conducted in a satisfactory manner, those for foreign-going certificates being in accordance with the Imperial Board of Trade requirements. One hundred and twelve examinations were held during the year, the percentages for foreigngoing and home-trade certificates being as follows—Foreign-going: Full pass, 42 per cent.; partial pass, 42 per cent. ; failure, 16 per cent. Home-trade : Full pass, 61-8 per cent. ; partial pass, 23-5 per cent. ; failure, 14-7 per cent. Two candidates passed for fore-and-aft sailing-ship endorsement and one for compass syllabus. The regulations governing the examination for certificate as yacht masters in New Zealand waters were altered, as a result of representations made by the Auckland Branch of the Navy League, in the direction that the age-limit was raised to twenty-three and a period of three years' service in sea-going yachts subsituted for the ownership clause. Since the alteration thirteen candidates, all of whom passed, presented themselves for examination : they showed a good knowledge of navigation and a commendable standard of seamanship.

10

Date of Order. Purpose of Order. 1939. 30th January .. .. Approving plan (M.D. 7807) —Launch jetty, Haulashore Island, Nelson Harbour ; Nelson City Council. 14th February .. .. Revoking Order in Council of 21st October, 1935, licensing A. W. Bryant, Ltd., to use and occupy part of the land below low-water mark at Whangapoua. 14th ,, .. . . Amending Order in Council of 24th June, 1919, licensing George Hunter Neill to occupy land between high- and low-water marks in | Mangamuka River, Hokianga. 14th ,, .. .. j Revoking Order in Council of the 8th December, 1937, licensing Gideon Laurence Taylor and Edward Broadley Brown to use and occupy part of the foreshore at Matakatia Bay, Whangaparoa. 14th ,, .. . . Approving plan (M.D. 7787) of a protecting-wall which the Panmure Yacht and Boat Club propose to erect at Panmure. 14th ,, .. .. Amending salt-water fishery regulations. 28th ,, .. .. Approving plan (M.D. 7785) —Bridge, Whenuakite River ; Coromandel County Council. 28th ,, . . . . Approving plan (M.D. 7824)—Boat-shed and slipway, Roseneath Sawyer's Bay, Otago Harbour ; H. J. Simpson. 8th March .. .. Authorizing the further investment of £1,100 of the Auckland Harbour Board's insurance and other reserve funds in first-mortgage, security of the real estate of Leonard Louis Orr at Horohoro, Cambridge. 8th ,, .. .. Vesting control of foreshore, Tauranga, in Mount Drury Domain Board. 8th ,, .. .. Revoking control of part of foreshore at Tauranga by Mount Maunganui Domain Board. 8th „ .. .. Approving plan (M.D. 7827) —Boat-shed, Karitane, Waikouaiti River ; E. T. Barnett. 29th ,, .. . . Prescribing dues for the use of wharves on Waitakaruru Stream and Piako River (Hauraki Plains County Council).