MARINE DEPARTMENT

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1695, 24 August 1904, Page 70

MARINE DEPARTMENT

f ANNUAL REPORT. The lion W. Hall-. Tones, Minister of Marine, presented his annual report to Parliament last Wednesday. It. is proposed to erect a new iron tower at: Cape Campbell as soon as tne steamer is available to oonvey the bixlaaco of the ironwork from Wellington. In oi'der that the light may* be out as little time as possible, a new lantern has been procured from England and it will be fitted in the new tower before the light is interfered with. The old lantern will be available for use elsewhere. In order to, enable keepers at isolated stations, which are not within reach of the ordinary public schools, to have uieir children educated, the Department has erected buildings for schools at these places, and Education Boards have made grants towards providing teachers. The schools have been of great advantage to keepers'; but the Department has experienced during the last two or three years a good deal of difficulty in arranging to place keepers with children of school age at all the stations where they are situated. This is owing to many of the more recent keepers being single men, and others who are married having sinali families. During the year seven keepers have resigned, five have been retired—one on account of age, and four on account of bad health—one has died, and one has been transferred to the head office. To fill the vacancies and to provide for the now lighthouse at Kahurangi Point seventeen new appointments have been made.

The officers at the ports under the control of the Department have performed their duties satisfactorily, and the buoys and beacons have been properly attended to. Most of the work of overhauling and cleaning the buoys and their moorings has been done by the Hinemoa during her periodical trips round the colony.