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Candidates for Third Marine Examination total 146 ; of these, 94 passed and 52 failed. Candidates sitting for First-class Coastal Motor Certificates total 6 ; of these r 5 passed and 1 failed. Candidates sitting for Second-class Coastal Motor total 23, all of whom passed the examination. The remaining 113 candidates were examined for River Engineer (Steam) and Restricted Limits P.Y.O.S. (Oil) Certificates of Competency : of these, 6 passed for River Engineer and 98 passed and 9 failed for Restricted Limits P.Y.O.S. Examination.. SURVEY OF SHIPS Survey Certificates were issued during the year ended 31st March, 1949, for 4 steam and 4 motor foreign-going ships, 33 steam and 87 motor home-trade ships, and 39 steam and 293 motor restricted-limits ships and launches. Equipment Certificates were issued for 23 foreign-going, 23 home-trade, and 1 restricted-limits ships, all of which carry certificates of class issued by classification societies. Survey and Equipment Certificates issued for the year ended 31st March, 1949,. total 507, as compared with a total of 465 for the year ended 31st March, 1948, and 451 for 1947. Surveys were also made in 303 cases for sea-worthiness, efficiency of equipment,, tonnage, radio-telegraphy, &c., as against 280 such cases surveyed during the year ended 31st March, 1948, and 297 during 1947. Of these surveys made in 1948-49, 76 were in respect of overseas ships not registered nor normally surveyed in the DominionNew Zealand's sea-going merchant fleet has been augmented during 1948-49 by the largest tonnage of reconditioned and new ships since 1939, including the transTasman passenger and cargo liner " Monowai," which has been extensively reconditioned at Sydney after war service ; the new cargo motor-vessel " Kaitoke," of 3,550 gross tons ; and the " Kaitangata," of 2,485 gross tons. " Kaitangata " is of special interest and importance. She is one of a class of six similar motor-colliers which have been specially designed by the Union Steam Ship Co., Ltd., to suit the restricted draught of the Grreymouth bar. On her maiden voyage from Greymouth the " Kaitangata's " cargo of 2,923 tons of coal was the largest ever taken from the port by a vessel drawing, under 17 ft. 6 in. of water. This vessel carried 800 tons more coal, for an extra 2f ft. of draught, than her immediate predecessor, the steam-collier " Gabriella." The " Kaitangata " and her sister ships " Konui," " Kaitawa," and " Kaiapoi "" and two others not yet built embody the most recent advances made in naval architecture and marine engineering as applied to cargo-ships. Features of special importance are the steel hatch-covers which are removed and replaced entirely by mechanical means,, thus overcoming the necessity for the usual manual removal and replacement of wood hatches and removing the risk of falls of watersiders down the holds. Steel hatch-covers-provide also a superior means of protecting the ship from the ingress of water to the holds. The officer and crew spaces are also deserving of mention as providing a high standard of comfort not only in the very necessary domestic amenities, but also in the decorative finish, which it is now recognized is an important element in securing contentment and ship-pride in both officers and crew. Another good example of the modern small cargo-ship is the new motor vessel " Puriri," which was built in the United Kingdom during 1948 for the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Co., Ltd., Nelson, to replace the minesweeper " Puriri" lost during war service off the New Zealand coast. The new vessel is of 1,248 gross tons and is> propelled by twin screws, and is engaged in the coastwise cargo service.

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