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Light-keepers are appointed by the Corporation. Applicants must be between the ages of nineteen and twenty-eight, and procure certificates of character .and physical ability, and that they can read, write, and perform simple operations of arithmetic. As vacancies occur, successful candidates are taken on probation as supernumerary light-keepers; they are then sent to the depot at Blackwall, where they are trained in the use and care of the lamps and lighthouse apparatus, also of meteorological instruments, and the general management of the affairs of a lighthouse. Supernumeraries are paid at the rate of £45 per annum on entering, but as soon as they become proficient in their duties, and give satisfactory proof of their steadiness and sobriety, they obtain assistant keeper's pay. The following are the rates of pay:— Principal Keeper. Assistant Keeper. Term of Service. Deduct Ins. Deduct Ins. £ s. d. £ £ b. d. £ Above 10 years, if insured ... ... ... 72 0 0 3 58 0 0 3 Above 10 years, if uninsured ... ... ... 70 10 0 ... 56 10 0 Above 5 years and under 10 years, if insured ... 68 0 0 3 56 0 0 3 Above 5 years and under 10 years, if uninsured ... 66 10 0 ... 54 10 0 Under 5 years, if insured ... ... ... 66 0 0 3 54 0 0 3 Under 5 years, if uninsured ... ... ... 64 10 0 ... 52 10 0 Trinity Wharf, BlaohwM, —Here the Trinity House steamers lie when in port, and buoys, mooring chains, and various stores are kept in readiness for immediate use. There is a large building containing lighthouse stores, and several extensive workshops for the construction and repair of lighthouse appliances. At the time of my visit to the works, a light ship for the Shipwash Station was being fitted with the "Syren" fog horn; and I saw a large lighthouse lantern in course of construction on the latest pattern approved of by the Trinity Board. The astragals were placed diagonally like those of the Scotch pattern as adopted in New Zealand, but were of steel instead of gun metal. The Superintendent's office at Trinity Wharf is connected by telegraph with Trinity House, so that when intelligence is received of the breaking away of a buoy, or the occurrence of an accident to any of the light ships, orders are promptly sent for one of the steamers to get up steam immediately and proceed to the scene of accident. In the case of a buoy breaking away, a duplicate of it is taken aboard from tho large stock of spare buoys kept in the buoy shed. The officers spare no exertions in carrying out this important part of their duty, and pride themselves on the short time in which they can replace buoys, after receiving intelligence of any having broken away. The Trinity Board have eight steam tenders or " Trinity yachts " as they are called, five paddle and three screw, each carrying a steam launch: the largest of these yachts is the " Galatea," of 506 tons gross ; their newest vessel is the " Stella," of 149 tons, built recently by Seath, of the Clyde; this vessel, when tried at the measured mile under steam and canvas, attained a speed of 15 miles an hour; her ordinary speed is 10 knots an hour. She has compound engines, and burns 5 cwt. of coal an hour. I was told by the Superintendent of Trinity Wharf, who has been thirty-two years in the service (including ten years as master of one of the Trinity steamers), that tho " Stella " was in every respect their handiest and best vessel. She is about the size of the one it is intended to procure for the New Zealand Lighthouse service, tenders for which had not been called for when 1 left London. I accordingly wrote to the Ager f-General and suggested that he should procure full particulars of the " Stella" from the Triniiy iioard, and invite tenders for the building of a similar vessel. I did this because I considered that a vessel of this kind, which had good speed on a low consumption of coal, was an excellent sea boat, and had been fitted with every necessary appliance which long experience could suggest, was sure to be well suited for our use ; besides, in adopting the " Stella " as a model, there would be a greater degree of certainty of our procuring a good serviceable boat, than if we adopted the most carefully prepared plan by a person not practically acquainted with the requirements of the Lighthouse service. Light Ships. —The masters and crews of these vessels are shifted once a month. When on shore they attend at Trinity Wharf and assist in the general work of fitting out light vessels, repairing and painting buoys, &c. Buoys. —Wooden buoys are shifted every six months. Iron buoys are hove up and painted twice a year. The chains of large buoys are changed every three years ; those of small buoys every four years. Lamp Glasses. —These when received at the store are unpacked and gauged by a template to ascertain that they are of the proper size and shape ; those which are not fit for use are rejected and returned to the makers. This is an excellent arrangement and should be adopted in procuring our lamp glasses, as the misfits, which are quite useless in the colony, form a considerable portion of those sent out, and therefore greatly enhance the cost of the good glasses. Scotland. —* <: The Board of Commissioners for Northern Lights was established in 1798. Up to that time the Trinity House exercised direct control over the Scottish lights, and it does so now in some small degree. The Commissioners receive no salary. They are all ex officio members, viz. the Lord Advocate and Solicitor-General of Scotland, the chief municipal authority (whether Lord Provost or Senior Bailie) of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Campbelltown, Dundee, Leith, and Greenock ; and the Shertt's of the maritime counties of Scotland. The committee of the Board meet twice a month, but the entire executive functions are exercised by the Secretary and Engineers. "The latter are Messrs. David and Thomas Stevenson, whose published writings on lighthouses and their illumination have not only given them a world-wide fame, but have established the reputation of the lighthouse system of Scotland as second to none but that of France, which is acknowledged to be the model for all others." * Elliot's European Lighthouse System.