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maintenance of the light hereafter. A very low tower would suffice here, in the erection of which either wood or stone might be used, as the latter could be obtained by excavation at the site. A wooden tower would, however, be most cheaply constructed. Cape Sounders. In connection with this light two sites were examined, the first of which is on the cape itself, and which is marked Don Sketch 3. This site is seaward of the site originally selected, and at a much lower elevation, viz. 292 feet as compared with 472 feet; it is on the advanced edge of the cliff, on a rocky shelf about a chain wide and three or four chains long, and it can be reached by a road from Porto Bello, about seven or eight miles distant. A portion of this road nearest Porto Bello is already made, but from the end of the made portion to the site is some very rough country aud very steep hills, and the completion of the road would involve a heavy expenditure. An easier method of access would be by forming a road from a landing-place situated in a small bay immediately to the south of Cape Saunders. This would be nearly two miles long, and would involve a considerable amount of work. The portion of the road near the landing would be rather steep, and for a certain distance in bush and scrub; the rest in open land, and tolerably steep in places. The second site here examined is marked E on Sketch 3, situated a short distance to the south of Cape Saunders, and at an elevation of 180 feet above sea level. This could be reached from the same landing-place as described for the last site, and only about 60 chains of road would be required, 40 chains of which would be common to the two sites D and E, as shown by the dotted lines on sketch. It can, I think, be shown that, taken in connection with existing lights, this site is equally eligible for navigation purposes with site D ; while, as regards first cost of construction and future maintenance of light, it will be infinitely cheaper. Its lower level also gives it a very great advantage over the other, as it lies below the line of fog which so frequently obscures the higher levels, as we had abundant opportunities of verifying during the trip. Huapuke Island. One eligible site for a lighthouse was examined on this island; it is marked Pon Sketch 4, and is situated on the northern extremity of the island, near the North Head. The elevation is about 220 feet above sea level. A very fair landing-place was found on a rocky beach to the westward, and the ground from thence to the summit offers good facilities for making a road, which will probably be about a mile or a mile and a quarter long. The part of the island visited is partly in grass and partly in scrub and flax, with rocks protruding in places through the soil, the rocks being granitic. Centre Island. This island offers great facilities for the establishment of a lighthouse—a good landing on a sandy beach; easy rising ground over which to form a road ; a prominent site (marked F on Sketch 5) ; of a convenient elevation, viz. 247 feet; abundance of stone (granite) for building, if required; and a commanding position in the Straits. The road to the site would probably be about half a mile long from the landing. Mugged Island. This island, though admirably suited as regards position, offers no facilities for the economical establishment and maintenance of a lighthouse. Its general appearance is shown in Sketch 6, from which it will be apparent that the name of " Rugged " is well bestowed. The site, and the only one adapted for the purpose (marked G- in the sketch), is a rocky tongue, covered with scrub, projecting from the body of the island, at an elevation of 247 feet above sea level. This is not accessible from its own proper side of the island, and can only at present be reached by landing on the opposite side on a rocky ledge, clambering to the summit (535 feet) up the south-east sloping side of the island, and descending by a difficult path under the bluff rocky face to the site described. It will be evident that even with the best road that could be constructed, the work of building a lighthouse here would be one of immense labour and difficulty, and the task of maintaining it and keeping it supplied with the necessary stores one of incessant toil and hard work. It has been suggested that a tunnel might be made through the island on the level of the site to obtain a level road, and thus avoid the labour of climbing over the summit; but, in my opinion, the character of the rock will forbid such an attempt. It is of the hardest description, granitic in parts, but generally of pure rusty coloured quartz of the closest and densest texture. On the grounds, therefore, above stated, and the certainty that any attempt to tunnel would be attended with very heavy expense, I would not recommend the establishment of a lighthouse on Rugged Island. The Snares. After more than two days' delay, caused by heavy contrary winds, we succeeded in reaching The Snares, and in effecting a landing on the north-eastern side, where there is a very good boat harbour, having a rocky entrance and sides, situated at about the centre of the length of the largest island. This island is tolerably well covered with vegetation, consisting of—l. A heavy scrub, varying in height from 10 to 15 feet, with a rough stone-coloured cork-like bark, and a thick woolly-like foliage in tufts at the ends of the branches. The wood of this tree is tough and strong. 2. Koromiko, of one or two kinds, up to 6 feet high. 3. A large shrub with bright green leaves and large yellow flowers, arranged in cone-like clusters. 4. A strong, coarse, tall, broad-bladed grass, growing in tufts. 5. A less coarse kind, growing closer. 6. A fine wiry kind of grass, growing like " Maori-heads "on stems, 2 feet to 3 feet high, or sometimes in lines or ridges between which one can walk. The island is composed of rough coarse granite, covered with a thickness of chocolate-coloured ■vegetable mould of variable thickness, in which are hundreds of thousands of bird burrows ; these are situated not only in the open amongst the grasses, but in the bush also, every available piece of soil being made use of.