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The Marine Engineer to the Secretary, Marine Department. 16th June, 1909. I have the honour to report as follows on the works which have been carried out during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1909. Cape Brett Lighthouse. —During the year plans were prepared of the tower, and a contract let to Messrs. Judd, of the Thames, for its manufacture, which was in a forward state on the 31st March. Plans were also prepared for keepers' dwellings and usual outbuildings, workshop, oilstore, landing-store, water-tanks, landing-crane, and horse-whim. The materials for the buildings were obtained principally from the Government sawmill at Kakahi, and were stacked for some months for seasoning. A contract was let for the manufacture of the landing-crane, and duly completed. A survey was made of the land required to be taken for the lighthouse. A survey was also made for the tramway leading up to the lighthouse. Nearly all the materials required, with the exception of the tower, are now landed at the Cape. At the end of the year two of the cottages were rather more than three-fourths completed, and the third was about halfcompleted. The formation of the tramway along the top of the hill-from the top of the incline to the tower was nearly completed. Tuahme Point Lighthouse. —A small cast-iron tower, together with the lantern-lens and apparatus for generating and burning acetylene gas, was ordered from England, and duly arrived in the Dominion. The erection of the tower lias been put in hand. Cape Foulwind Lighthouse. —Some repairs have been effected to the keepers' dwellings. Cape Saunders LAghthouse. —A new landing-crane has been made and landed at the Cape, and is now in course of erection. Jackson's Head Beacon. —The necessary apparatus for lighting this beacon by means of Pintsch gas has arrived in the Dominion, and is now awaiting a suitable opportunity to be installed. Cape Maria Van Diemen Lighthouse. —The construction of a pedestal to the landing-crane in order to place it beyond the reach of the seas during heavy weather was put in hand, together with the reconstruction of the line of tramway for a short distance up the hill from the crane and the building of a new landing-store. Centre Island Lighthouse. —Some repairs to the keepers' dwellings, &c, were carried out. Point Anglem Lighthouse. —A small timber lighthouse was constructed on the Point, with an iron-framework lantern It was furnished with a fifth-order light. Ponui Passage Lighthouse. —-A small store was built on the structure, steps were substituted for the ladder, and sundry repairs were effected. Cuvier Island. —A heavy landslip having almost wholly destroyed the keepers' dwellings, they have had to be rebuilt. This work has been completed. East Cape Lighthouse.— -Plans have been prepared and materials obtained for the construction of an aerial tramway between the beach and the lighthouse to replace the tramway, which was continually being damaged by slips. The construction will be put in hand as soon as an opportunity occurs for landing the materials. Waipapapa Point. —Considerable repairs were effected to the keepers' dwellings. The iron on the roofs was replaced by malthoid, as it is considered that it will better stand the action of the salt spray than the usual corrugated iron. Godley Head Lighthouse. —Some repairs to the keepers' dwellings, and the reconstruction of some outbuildings, were carried out. Taiaroa Head Lighthouse. —An entrance-porch to the tower was erected. Harbourmaster's House, Hokianga. —A plan was prepared and a contract let for the erection of anncrw r dwelling, rendered necessary by the decay of the old one. Oyster-depot, Auckland. —The construction of a depot near the Railway Wharf was commenced at about the end of the year. Okuru Wharf, South Westland. —Plans were prepared and a contract let for the erection of a small wharf at Okuru. Kaipara River. —A patch of rocks in the river below Mount Rix interfered considerably with navigation at low tide. It was therefore decided to form a channel through the patch. The work has been carried out, and a channel about 60 ft. wide, with the bottom corresponding with the general level of the bottom of the river, has been formed. Priestman Grab Dredge. —For the purpose primarily of carrying out the work of removing rocks in the Kaipara River, and for subsequently doing work at the various small harbours throughout the Dominion, a small Priestman grab dredge was imported. It has successfully carried out the work at Kaipara, and has also done some dredging for the Railway Department at the berths of the wharf at Helensville. Okiwi Wharf, Great Barrier. —Considerable difficulty having been experienced in settling the best site for this wharf, owing to the different views held by settlers, the matter has been referred to the District Engineer, Auckland, who, at the first possible opportunity, will visit the island and decide upon the site. Waitara Harbour. —A survey was made of the river-encroachment at the upper end of the town, and plans and a report were prepared covering recommendations as to protective works. Patea Harbour. —At the request of the Harbour Board, the works in progress were inspected and a report prepared; a report was also prepared upon the effect of the construction of the west breakwater and the proposed extension of the east wall. Kaipara Harbour. —A survey has been made of the sites for lighted beacons, which it is proposed to erect in Beacon and Shelly Bay Reaches. Preparation of plans of the beacons is now in hand.