H.—26.

23

APPENDICES TO MARINE REPORT.

APPENDIX A. REPORT BY MARINE ENGINEER ON WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH NEW LIGHTS. Mr. Blackett to the Secbetaby of Customs. Sib,— Marine Office, Wellington, 15th June, 1876. I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs, the following memorandum on works executed in connection with the construction of lighthouses in New Zealand during the past year. Pwysegur Point, Preservation Inlet. —It having been determined that a lighthouse should be erected at this place, a party of men, under a competent overseer, was sent there in the s.s. "Maori," in February, 1875, with a proper supply of tools, tents, and provisions, as also the materials for building a small wooden store. The work to be executed was the clearing and formation of a road from tile landing-place to the proposed site for the lighthouse on Puysegur Point, about If miles in length, and the clearing and preparation of a site to receive the lighthouse, dwelling-houses, and stores. This work was accordingly executed (with the exception of about eight chains of road not quite completed), and the men withdrawn in November, 1875. The drawings and specifications are prepared for the above work, which may be advertised for public tender as soon as the services of a steamer can be assured to the department. Part of the material for the lighthouse has already been landed in Preservation Inlet, viz. the heavy timbers for the tower, which, being of special sizes and character (iron-bark), were procured by the Government. The Brothers, in Cook Strait, and Portland Island, in Hawke's Say. —When the overseer and working party were withdrawn from Puysegur Point, it was intended to transfer them at once to the Brothers, to prepare the landing-places, cut the necessary tracks, and excavate the sites for the tower, and dwellings, &c.; but, on their arrival in Wellington, it was found that the services of the " Luna" could not be secured continuously for the work. This being the case, it was arranged that they should proceed instead to Portland Island, which, being more accessible by ordinary steamers, does not require such continuous attention as would be needed by a party at the Brothers. Accordingly, the usual preliminary works have been carried out at Portland Island, viz. a serviceable track has been mado up the cliff at the northern end of the island and along the top to a point on the southern end where the lighthouse will be erected; a store for tools and goods has also been built, and the reserve acquired from the Native owners for lighthouse purposes has been fenced in. The heavy iron-bark timber for the tower has also been landed on the island. Before this work was quite completed, an opportunity of beginning work on the Brothers presented itself, the " Luna " having been placed at the service of the department. Another working party was accordingly organized and despatched to the Brothers in March, 1876, with the usual appliances for work, including the timbers for the landing-stage. A. house ready framed was also sent, as well as a small store, and both of these were erected in suitable places, tracks cut and excavated in the rock where required, landing-places partly prepared, and the sites for the dwellings and tower partly excavated. When nearly ready, however, to begin the actual erection of the buildings, it was found that the " Luna," being required for other services, could not be depended on to visit the island regularly, which was absolutely necessary, as the men depended entirely on her visits for everything they required. An attempt was made to arrange satisfactorily for the use of one of the small local steamers for one trip, which, after much delay, was successful; but it being found that these could not be depended on to go when required, and that they were not suitable for carrying and landing such material as would bo necessary, it was determined, very reluctantly, to suspend the works until, by the arrival of the " Stella" from England, the department would be placed in a position to carry on the work vigorously and uninterruptedly. The working party was therefore withdrawn on 4th May, 1876. The erection of Portland Island Lighthouse had meanwhile been advertised for public tender, and tenders have been received. They are now under consideration. ■ Cape Foul wind.— After the necessary felling and clearing of the bush on the Cape had been executed, and a branch road constructed to it from the main road between Westport and Charleston, the erection of the tower 40 feet high, two dwelling-houses, and two stores, was let by contract after public tender, and the work was satisfactorily completed last month. Towards the completion of the work, Mr. Mill, an artizan skilled in lighthouse apparatus and lantern erection, arrived from England (having been engaged to come to New Zealand for special employment in such work), and he was immediately sent to Cape Foul wind to erect the lantern and apparatus. This work is now nearly finished, and in a few weeks the whole will be ready for lighting up. Timaru. —The erection of this, although a local and provincial light, has for convenience sake been undertaken by the Marine Department, the cost being defrayed by the province. An eligible site has been acquired near the present signal station. Plans and specifications for the building of the tower have been prepared, and tenders have been called for its erection. 4—H. 26.