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APPENDIX.

REPORT ON LIGHTHOUSE WORKS, BY THE MARINE ENGINEER. The Marine Engineer to the Secretary Marine Department. Sir, Marine Office, Wellington, 31st March, 1880. I have the honor to forward, for the information of the Minister having charge of the Marine Department, the gjmual report on works executed for new lighthouses, &c, during the year s viz. :— Ilokitika Harbour Light. —-This has been completed since last report. The light was first exhibited ■on 22nd September, 1879. It is a fifth-order fixed light, the illuminant being gas. It will be maintained by the Harbour Board, Hokitika. Aharoa. —These works were satisfactorily completed, and the light was shown for the first time on Ist January, 1880. The light is a second-order flashing light, showing a flash every ten seconds. Cape Saunders. —The works here have also been completed in a satisfactory manner, and the light ■was first shown on Ist January, 1880. It is a second-order revolving light, attaining its greatest brilliancy once a minute. Marine Store and Shed.—These buildings, which were very much needed for the use of the department, have been erected on the Thorndon reclaimed land, near Pipitea Point, Wellington, and are now in use. I have, &c, JonN Blackett, The Secretary Marine Department. Marine Engineer.

REPORT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM OF STORM WARNINGS. Captain Edwin to the Hon. the Minister having charge of the Marine Department. :Sir,— Wellington, May 20th, 1880. In forwarding for your consideration the sixth report of the experimental system of storm warnings, I venture to commend to your notice the results of the work as shewn in the accompanying returns, which include information from all the stations since June 30, 1879, with the exception of Mongonui, from which place reports have only been received since January last, the percentage results of correct forecast at that place during the three months are as follows :—Direction of wind, 91.17 ; force ■of wind, 17.64. Barometer movement, 75.75 ; sea movement, 50.00. Return No. 1 gives the percentage value of correct forecast at each station during the last nine months, and the yearly mean for the whole colony is given at the foot of the return; the result for the force of wind is, as heretofore, lower than, any of the other values, but the results of the forecast of direction of wind and barometer movement continue the best criterion of the reliability of the work ; the barometer forecast especially so, as the force of wind depends upon the nature of the country in the vicinity, which may shelter the station greatly, but the barometer is not affected by such peculiarities, and the result of this forecast is therefore of especial value. Timaru shews the lowest value for force of wind, but it will be seen that the forecast result for barometer movement is not ,very different from those of Lyttelton and Oamaru. The sea movement continues to shew a good result of correct forecast. This return also shews the number of gales which were experienced at each station without intimation of their approach having been received; of these the greatest number occurred at Wanganui, amounting to nearly 8 per cent, of the warnings received there. Results for New Plymouth are published for the first time in this report. Return No. 2 is a comparative one, showing the monthly value of correct forecast for the whole colony during a period of three years, with the exception of the months of August and September, 1877, during which time I was under medical treatment. The mean values of the six monthly periods are also given, and this return shows conclusively that reliable information can be given upon these subjects. Return No. 3 shows the percentage of correct forecast for the whole colony during the first three months of the current year. Return No. 4 shows the result of a storm warning issued in advance of a depression coming from the south-west on 2nd October, 1879 ; it was followed by another from the same quarter on the 3rd. In the first instance warnings were, as usual, not sent northward of Napier and New Plymouth, but by the next day the first depression had advanced well to the north-east, and warnings were therefore sent to the northern stations. The approach of the second depression necessitated warnings being again sent to the districts south of Napier. This is a very general method of procedure in this colony.