H.-IOA.

4

causing the death of twenty-eight persons and the injury of sixty-five. Nearly ail the catastrophes seem to have been due to weakness, mostly the result of the age of the boilers. There were also several cases of steam-pipes bursting through water-hammer action. We are very free from disasters of this kind in New Zealand. There were several accidents connected with machinery in motion, some of them proving fatal. The particulars of the several reported accidents are fully set out in Returns Nos. 5 and 6. Postal and Police Departments. These Departments have again aided the Department when required, and thanks are due to both for the material assistance thus rendered in many ways. Marine Engineer's Examinations. Examinations for marine engineers have been held at Auckland,* Hamilton,* Napier,* Wanganui,* Wellington,* Christchuich,* Timaru,* Dunedin,* Invercargill,* Russell, Havelock, Foxton, Greymouth, and Westport during the year. Of those who sat for examination, 204 were successful and 43 failed. Of those who failed, 7 sat for first-class marine engineer, 14 second-class marine engineer, 5 third-class marine engineer, 8 for river engineer, 2 for marine-engine driver, 1 first-class engineer (powered vessels other than steam), 1 second-class engineer (powered vessels other than steam), and 5 for restricted-limits engineer (powered vessels other than steam). The work in connection with the examinations has gone on very smoothly during the year, and very little friction has arisen between the Examiners and the candidates. Some of the candidates' papers are of a very high standard. This refers more particularly to the first-class marine engineer's examination. A candidate for this certificate has to sit three days under examination in mathematics and mechanics, mechanical drawing, and a long oral examination. The thirdclass engineer's examination is still very popular with the young engineer just out of his apprenticeship. Return No. 14 gives the names of the successful candidates and the various grades for which they passed, the total number of applicants, total fees payable, and the number of candidates who failed to pass such examination. In addition to the examinations for engineers, two master mariners sat for examination for masters in steam, one sitting at Auckland and one at Wellington. Each candidate failed to secure a pass. It is now a number of years since a similar examination was held in New Zealand. Explosives. At Wellington 312 permits were issued by this Department for the carriage of explosives. Surveys of Steamships and Auxiliary-powered Vessels. This branch of the Department's work is practically up to date, very few ships being overdue for survey. A number of the steamships have received considerable overhauls and renewals during the year, comprising partial renewals to hull-plating, new bunkers, repairs to bulkheads, floorplates, and many repairs to main boilers and renewals to different parts of machinery, defects in chain cables, steering-gears, &o. When the turbine steamer " Maori " was under survey at Lyttelton I paid a special visit to inspect the turbines when they were opened out. I was much interested in the thousands of blades, and with their accurate fitting, which go to make up the finished turbine. When it is considered that the whole is set up when working with a very small clearance, it is marvellous that they run so well, especially when the different thicknesses of material used in the Different parts, and the varying temperatures, are considered. The usual number of excursion trips have been run by steamships during the year, without any accident. A number of the intercolonial steamships had additional passenger-accommodation fitted up to cope with the demand for extra berths. All these fittings were duly inspected by the Surveyors of Ships at all hours. The total number of surveys of steamships and auxiliary-powered vessels made was 392. The fees received for these surveys amount to £2,072. Return No. 15 gives the total number of steamers and of auxiliary-powered vessels surveyed by the Surveyors of the Department during the year. It also gives their names and registered tonnage, the nominal and indicated horse-power of steam-vessels, the brake horse-power of auxiliary-powered vessels, and the nature of machinery and propeller. Surveys of Vessels for Seaworthiness. A great many special surveys of steamships and of sailing-ships were made during the year. The repairs in some cases were very extensive, and the vessels were detained a considerable time for overhaul. Amongst the most important surveys made was that of the s.s. " Navua." In this case the damage was caused through the vessel's contact with coral reefs in the South Seas. The principal causes that necessitated surveys being made were defects to steam-pipes, loss of propeller-blades, grounding, fires in holds, collisions, collapsed furnaces of main boilers, broken pistons, broken propeller and crank shafts, boiler-defects, and defects in various parts of the machinery. In all, sixty surveys were made. A full description of each appears in Return No. 17.

* Places at which examinations have been held more than once during the year.