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1875. NEW ZEALAND.

STATEMENT ON MARINE MATTERS.

by the commissioner of customs, the honorable william hunter reynolds. Mb Speaker,— Last Session I was frequently applied to in the House for information regarding the Marine Department, and you will remember, Sir, that before the Session closed I stated what progress had been made in the works undertaken by the department during the recess, and also the views of the Government as to what further action should be taken during the then current year. Anticipating the wish of the House for further information, I now propose to show what has been done during the past year, and what is proposed for the present. Lighthouses. —Shortly after the termination of last Session, officers of the Marine Department were despatched to visit The Brothers, in Cook Strait, with a view to ascertain whether it would be advisable to erect a lighthouse on one of these islets, instead of at the entrance to Tory Channel, and afterwards to visit the sites of the proposed lighthouses in the Middle Island. Erom the reports received,and which I have just laid on the Table, it was decided to erect a lighthouse at The Brothers instead of at Tory Channel. The apparatus which had been ordered for Tory Channel, and which is now in the colony, will consequently not be required for that place, and is unsuitable for The Brothers, but will be available for Hokitika, where it is proposed to erect it. In connection with Tory Channel, I may also state that last month Captain Johnson, of this department, was sent to select sites for the erection of leading lights to guide vessels into that channel; and as soon as the temporary beacons have been proved to be in their proper positions, it is proposed to provide the lights. Having obtained all the requisite information as to the sites and class of lights required, an order was sent to England in February last for the necessary apparatus for lights to be erected on The Brothers, in Cook Strait; at Puysegur Point and Centre Island, in Eoveaux Strait; at Moko Hinou Island, in Hauraki Gulf; at Cape Maria Van Diemen, at the extreme north of the North Island; and at Portland Island, off the Mahia Peninsula. Advices have been received from the engineers in Great Britain that the contracts for the lanterns and apparatus have been let, and no time will be lost in erecting the necessary buildings, so that they may be ready, or nearly so, to receive the lights when they arive in the colony. A road party has been for some time at work forming a road from Puysegur Point to Otago Retreat, at the entrance to Preservation Inlet, the nearest convenient harbour, and a road has also been formed to the site of Cape Eoulwind Lighthouse. The materials for this lighthouse are partly in the colony, and the remainder on the way from England; and preparation is being made for erection of the tower and dwellings. The Government propose ordering at an early date lights for the following places :—Moeraki, Cape Saunders, Akaroa Heads, and a site yet to be fixed near the eastern entrance to Hauraki Gulf. Your concurrence will be asked to these proposals when the estimates are under consideration, as also to provide for the erection of leading lights for Tory Channel, and for the