H.—26

4

be abandoned. She has been removed to her old moorings off Kohirnarama; and as the sleeping accommodation on shore is insufficient for all the boys, some of them are berthed on board at night; and she is also used for teaching the boys to go aloft, and to do such other duties as can be carried on in a stationary vessel. As the institution was established for the purpose of preventing neglected and destitute boys from drifting into vicious and criminal habits, and for providing them with an education and training which would fit them to become useful sailors for our rapidly increasing mercantile marine, I submit that any reasonable outlay for these useful objects, and to render the institution thoroughly efficient and complete, could not be objected to. This condition of efficiency and completeness cannot, I believe, be secured unless a sailing vessel be provided for the purposes indicated above. I therefore submit that steps should be taken, whenever a fitting opportunity presents itself, to procure a suitable vessel. 13. Weather Reporting Service. —1 enclose a report by Captain Edwin on this service. Last year, on his recommendation, mercurial barometers and otber instruments, to the value of about £470, were ordered from England ; these were recently received in good order. I may here remark that when I was in London, in July of last year, Captain Toynbee, the Marine Superintendent of the Meteorological Office, told me that Mr. Meldrum, the Director of the Observatory at Mauritius, was regarded as a high authority on weather telegraphy, and recommended me to communicate with him, as he would probably be able to afford information on this subject which would be of value in New Zealand. Accordingly, on my way out, I wrote to that gentleman from Aden, and received a most interesting letter in reply, copy of which is appended hereto. It will be seen that he thinks that weather forecasting would be greatly aided if weather telegrams were sent from Hobart Town, Melbourne, or both, to New Zealand. The cost of such telegrams sent daily would amount to about £450 per annum, which is considered to be too great an expense to incur for the present. It is hoped, however, that the Telegraph Cable Company may be induced to reduce their charges for these telegrams. The General Manager of the Telegraph Department is now in communication with them on the subject. The cost of the weather telegrams sent within the colony last year is set down by the Telegraph Department approximately at £800. 14. Lighthouse Administration. —In February, 1875, after an uninterrupted service of twenty-nine years, I applied for and obtained leave of absence to visit England. On my return, in the following November, I made a report to the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs, containing information I acquired in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, respecting lighthouse administration and other matters. The Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, before leaving office, suggested that that document should be published with the next annual report of this department. I accordingly append hereto copy of those portions of it which relate to lighthouse management, and other subjects which are under the supervision of the Marine Department. The usual returns, wreck chart, &c, are appended hereto. I have, &c, William Seed, Secretary of Customs.

RETURN showing the Amount Expended on New Lighthouses up to the 30th June, 1876.

Name of Lighthouse. Amount Expended up to 30th June, 1875. Amount Expended during Financial Year 1875-76. Total Amount Expended up to 30th June, 1876. Jape Foul wind ?he Brothers 'ortland Island lokitika 'uysegur Point loko Hinau Jape Maria Van Diemen Jentre Island iiscellaneous and Unallocated £ s. d. 1,452 8 7 206 10 1 4 10 0 1,213 8 0 501 16 1 14 0 £ s. d. 5,165 12 8 3,224 17 5 1,535 0 7 65 16 7 3,794 9 1 55 18 2 1,002 13 3 160 9 1 1,235 11 1 £ s. d. (5,618 1 3 3,431 7 6 1,539 10 7 1,279 4 7 4,296 5 2 57 2 2 1,002 13 3 160 9 1 1,235 11 1 Totals ... 3,379 16 9 16,240 7 11 19,620 4 8