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H.—ls

The book contains numerous worked-out examples and diagrams illustrating some new short and accurate methods of determining the ship's position from observations of sun, moon, and stars, which it is hoped will encourage the practice of such observations, and thereby be the means of saving life at sea and preventing shipping disasters. Wages and Effects of Deceased Seamen. —The estates of fifteen seamen, amounting to £105 12s. 4d., have been dealt with during the year, of which seven were new estates. The sum of .£55 17s. 6d. has been paid to relatives and other claimants, and the sum of £4 17s. 4d., which was in possession of the Department for more than six years, has been paid into the Public Account. The sum of £68 17s. 9d., being money deposited in the Seamen's Savings-bank in the United Kingdom, has, at the request of the Board of Trade, been paid to the depositors in the colony. These moneys are refunded by the Imperial authorities. Wrecks and Casualties. —Attached are tables showing the casualties to ships and an analysis thereof. Those on the coasts of the colony numbered sixty-four, representing 32,536 tons, as compared with fifty-eight, of 16,200 tons, in the previous year. The total wrecks within the colony were ten, of 1,182 tons, as compared with nine, of 3,022 tons, in the previous year. The number of lives lost was eight, as compared with fourteen last year. Of these, six were within the colony — viz., five in the " Hoanga " and one from the " Surprise." Weather Forecasts. —The duty of making weather forecasts and issuing weather reports and storm warnings has been efficiently carried out by Captain Edwin. Government Steamer. —The " Hinemoa " has continued to carry out the work of attending to lighthouses, laying, overhauling, cleaning, and relaying buoys both on the coast and in harbours. She has visited the Kermadec Islands to search for castaways, and overhauled the provision depots which are maintained on those islands. She has also performed various other work outside her ordinary work of attending to lighthouses, buoys, and provision depots. Lighthouses. —All the lights have been maintained in an efficient manner, and the keepers have carried out their duties properly. During the year I have visited and inspected the lighthouses at Godley Head, Jack's Point, Taiaroa Head, Cape Saunders, Nugget Point, Waipapapa Point, Dog Island, Centre Island, I'uysegur Point, Cape Egmont, Manukau North and South Heads, Kaipara, Bean Rock, Ponui Passage, Tiri Tiri, Cuvier Island, and Moko Hinou. The lighthouses were found to be well kept in all cases, and in most cases the stations were generally well kept. Some of the keepers are deserving of great credit for the neat appearance of their stations, and for the excellent gardens which they have. There are, however, a few who do not appear to take much pride in their gardens or in keeping the surroundings as neat and well kept as they should be. 1 hope, however, to see an improvement in the cases where such a condition of things exist when 1 next visit the stations. At Cape Maria van Diemen the tramway which was damaged by a heavy sea has been repaired. The erection of a new tower at Cape Campbell is nearly completed, and as soon as it is ready the new lantern which has been procured for the purpose will be fitted into it, and then the machine and apparatus will be moved into it from the old tower. It is anticipated that the revolving light will only have to be discontinued for two nights, and during that time arrangements will be made to show a fixed light. At Akaroa Head the landing-stage, which was becoming decayed, has been repaired. The rings and rollers on which the revolving carriage travels are showing signs of wear, and new ones are therefore being obtained from Scotland to replace them. New rings have been obtained from Scotland for Puysegur Point Lighthouse to replace those which have been in use since the light was first exhibited on the Ist March, 1879, and they are now being fitted by Mr. Scott, Lighthouse Artificer. During the time the work is being carried out a fixed light is shown, four port lights being used in the tower for the purpose. The road at this station has been repaired, and is now in good order, and new roofs have been put on the houses of the Principal and First Assistant Keeper, and a new landing-store erected. New burners have been fitted in Dog Island light. At Manukau South Head extensive repairs have been executed to the keepers' houses, and the station is now in good condition. Two wash-houses and a workshop have been erected. At Jack's Point a workshop has been erected, and an incandescent burner for this light has been ordered from England. It is anticipated that when it is in use the light will be very much improved. The lens of the Jackson's Head beacon light having been damaged by the sea, a new one has been obtained from the makers of the light in Dublin and fitted on to it. The work of attending to this light is now carried out by Mr. E. C. Perano, master of the s.s. " Elsie," who is paid £50 a year for the service. Shipmasters have petitioned that a low-level light should be erected at Pencarrow Head as a guide for the harbour-entrance when the fog obscures the present light, and the Wellington Harbour Board has offered to contribute towards the cost of the erection of such a light if this Department will erect and maintain it. For ordinary coastal purposes the present light is sufficient; but as it may be possible to move it to a site lower down the hill, where it would do equally well for a coastal light, and at the same time make a better harbour-mark in thick weather, the Marine Engineer will visit the lighthouse and report as to the feasibility and cost of moving it lower down. The automatic fog-signal at Pencarrow has worked satisfactorily during the year, and an improved automatic fog-signal has been procured from England for Taiaroa Head, where it is now being erected. Captain Bollons has, as in former years, inspected the lighthouses when going round in the " Hinemoa." During the year one lightkeeper has retired on account of ill health, receiving compensation for loss of office, and eight have resigned. Eleven new appointments have been made, one of them