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1941. NEW ZEALAND.

MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1940-41.

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

Marine Department, Wellirigtoh, 16th July, 1941. Your Excellency,— , I do myself the honour to transmit for Your Excellency's information the report of the Marine Department for the financial year ended the 31st March last. I have, &c., R, Semple, Minister- of Marine. His Excellency the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand.

REPORT.

The Secretary, Marine Department, to the Hon. the Minister of Marine. Sir,— Marine Department, Wellington, 7th July, 1941. I have the honour to submit the annual report on the activities of the Marine Department for the year ended 31st March, 1941. Under war conditions it is inevitable that much of the work of the Department is directed to defence, involving close co-operation with the Services .Departments and with the Ministry of Supply. Many vessels have been requisitioned for naval purposes and refitted for their new duties. S.s. "Maunganui" was chartered from Union Steam Ship Co. and extensive alterations undertaken for her equipment as a hospital ship. British troOp transports have been met on arrival, and any refitting required has been attended to on behalf of the British Ministry of Shipping. Building is in hand in Auckland of three mine-sweepers on the lines of a well-known type of steel trawler, but modified to a composite construction of wood and steel. Plans are in hand for further mine-sweepers of all-steel construction. Until early in 1941 G.s.s. " Matai " regularly serviced lighthouses, automatic lights, and other navigational aids, but on her being commissioned as a naval ship it became necessary to improvise transportation. Servicing is now carried out by overland routes where practicable, otherwise by means of vessels hired locally. The policy of progressively improving amenities at light-stations has been continued ; also, an entirely new light-station has been built on the mainland, at Capo Reinga, replacing the inaccessible island station at Cape Maria Van Diemen. This station is electrified, is fitted with wireless and radio beacon, and has its own hard-road access.' Electrification and establishment of radio beacons have been completed at Moko Hinau and Cuvier Island. Reconstruction work is in hand at Puysegur Point and Cod ley Head. Harbours. The financial and engineering aspects of each application by Harbour Boards for loans are examined by the Department for, the Local Bodies' Loans Board in conjunction with Treasury. This is a necessary feature to offset any desire to advance the parochial rather than the national viewpoint. Direct administration of Kaipara, Picton, Little Wanganui, and West port Harbours has been maintained by the Marine Department. All other Harbour Boards,, except a few vested in alreadyexisting local authorities, are administered by properly constituted Harbour Boards. Kaipara Harbour.—Usual maintenance of buoys in the Kaipara Harbour has been given effect to during the year. The untimely death of the Harbourmaster, Captain McLeav, brought to a close an excellent career in the service. Captain Dutch has been appointed Harbourmaster in the meantime. The well-known river steamer s.s. " Wairua ■" has been repaired, and in the Great Barrier to Auckland service. Picton Harbour- During the year 7 overseas vessels aggregating 40,611 tons, 12 intercolonial vessels aggregating 15,383 tons, and 341 coastal vessels aggregating 189,344 tons entered the port. Thirty-two fishing-vessels were licensed during the year. The Harbourmaster, in. addition to acting as Collector of Customs for this port, maintains a supervision of lights, buoys, licensed launches, and foreshores. The departmental residence has been thoroughly renovated during the year.

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