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dwellings for Portland Island and Godley Head. Extensive repairs and reconditioning have been carried out at Stephens Island, Cape Brett, East Cape, and Pencarrow Head. At Cape Campbell the access road has been improved. It is interesting to note excellent liaison between the Department, the Merchant Service Guild, and the Bluff Harbour Board in connection with the proposal to relay the Fairchild Rock buoy. As a result of consideration, a decision has been reached to replace the buoy with a fixed light at Bushey Point. This will be a much more reliable navigational aid than the buoy moored near the Rock. GOVERNMENT VESSEL " MATAI " The necessity for other means of transport during the war period, and the progressive policy of the Department in providing improved access to lighthouses, has resulted in a decision to lay up the G.s.s. " Matai," or, alternatively, to use her in other services. During the past year, on two occasions the vessel has been engaged on cable-repair work for the Post and Telegraph Department, work for which she is particularly efficient. BLUFF - STEWART ISLAND FERRY SERVICE The service between Bluff and Stewart Island —thrice-weekly in the summer months, and twice-weekly in the winter —has continued on an excellent footing. The installation of Diesel engines two years ago, and the reconditioning of the vessel to fit her for the special ferry work, were two steps in the right direction. In addition to the ferry service, the G.s.s. " Wairua " has carried out the servicing of the lighthouse at Puvsegur Point, and done excellent service in the conveyance of mutton-birders to the South Cape Islands and return during the mutton-bird season. PROSECUTIONS During the year there were 157 prosecutions instituted by the Department; 140 of these constituted breaches of the Fisheries Act, and 17 were for breaches of the Shipping, and Seamen Act. The New Zealand Naval Board continues to conduct an excellent fisheries patrol in northern waters, in combination with our own vessels ; and, in addition, patrol by air has been undertaken on several occasions. HARBOURS The Department continues to control the harbours of Westport, Picton, and Dargaville. At Picton, 288 coastal vessels, representing a net tonnage of 148,543 tons, and two intercolonial vessels, aggregating 2,760 tons, visited the port during the year. The services of a Pilot were required on two occasions. The harbour launch " Enterprise " has done excellent work in servicing the Brothers Lighthouse. This launch also carries out maintenance of automatic lights in the Sounds area, and is utilized for the servicing of Karori Rock light when required. At Dargaville during the year one vessel made this port with a coal cargo, and the absence of a Harbourmaster there was overcome by making available the services of Captain Dutch, from "Westport Harbour staff. The maintenance of the buoys in this harbour is carried out by the District Inspector of Fisheries at Te Kopuru, combined with the Department's Auckland staff. WESTPORT HARBOUR For the measure of success in operation the port of Westport is dependent primarily upon the available depth of water at the entrance ; and as bar depths were during this past year ended 31st March, generally speaking, the best experienced for many years, it was reasonable to expect that this would reflect very favourably in the trade statistics of the port. However, due to various reasons, the reverse was the case.

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