H. — 15a.

7

S.s. " Tutanekai." —This vessel received a considerable overhaul to her main engines, bunkers, and to ballast-tank No. 2. Main engines: the pistons and piston-rods of both sets of main engines were overhauled, the neck-brasses for these rods were renewed, the slide-valves were trued up and neck-brasses renewed. All drag-links were rebushed with gun-metal bushes, feed-pumps overhauled, and thrust-bearings relined. All the main shafting was relined up and propeller-shafts drawn, the starting-engines thoroughly overhauled, the electric-light engine, the ash-hoist, the steering-engine, the forced-draught engine, the ballast donkey-engine, the deck windlass and winches, were all overhauled where required, and several of their parts renewed. Several pipes were repaired in. the engine-room. The funnel-apron and ventilators for engine-room and bunkers also received attention. Repairs were effected to donkey and main boilers, and both were relagged with asbestos pulp and sheet iron. No. 2 ballast-tank received a general overhaul, having fresh stays fitted to act as ties to the plating forming sides of the tank. The whole of this work was done by a Wellington firm, and to the satisfaction of the supervising Surveyor of Ships, who was appointed to act as inspector while the repairs were being effected. Additional Steamers and Vessels Surveyed for the First Time. Thirty-two new steamers, and. vessels fitted with oil-engines as auxiliary power, have been surveyed for the first time during the year. The names of these vessels are " A.H.8.,"* " Arapawa," " Breeze " " Catherine,"* " Clematis,"* " Fannie,"* " Gisborne,"* " Goshawk," " Hipi," " Ivy," " Kairak'i " " Kapuni," " Kia Ora," " Kiritona,"* " Kuiow," " Mihi Moana,"* " Monica," " Moturata,"* "Novelty," '" Orete,"* " Psyche,"* " Pupuke," " Rahutai," "Ripple,"* " Southern Isle,"* " Sparrow," " Tamure,"* " Te Aroha,"* " Tofua," " Waikana," " Waimea," and " Wakaiti."* The sailing-vessels surveyed for the first time were the " Bankfields " and the " Weathersfield." Sailing-ships. Twelve sailing-ships were surveyed during the year, and most of them had repairs effected, to them The barquetine " lima " received a considerable overhaul, which included the fitting of. thirty angle-iron reverse bars 2| in. by 2J in. by -| in., and forty-two short reverse angles to carry two longitudinal stringers. These stringers were made up of double angles 3 in. by 3 in. by fin., and were 150 ft. long. Doubling-plates were fitted to bulwarks where required, and the pintles of rudder were rt? b usli cci.. Return No. 16 gives the names of these vessels, their gross and registered tonnage measurements, class of vessel, and the number of times surveyed. The total fees for these sailing-vessel surveys amount to £79. Districts and Inspectors. No new appointments of Inspectors of Machinery were made during the year. Inspector Walker, of the Otago District, assisted in the Southland District for some weeks ; Inspector McKenzie, of the Canterbury District, assisted in the Westland District for two months ; Inspector Williamson, of the Timaru District, assisted in the Marlborough District for some weeks ; Inspector Culleri, of the Palmerston North District, assisted in the Taranaki District for a month; and Inspector Mackenzie, of the Wellington District, assisted in the Auckland District for two months. The following are the returns in detail, numbered from 1 to 19 : — 1 Number and class of boilers inspected, and fees payable thereon ; the machinery inspected, and the fees payable ; and the classes and numbers of engine-drivers' certificates issued, and the fees payable therefor. 2. Return of defects found on inspection of boilers. 3. 'Return of notices given, to repair boilers. 4. Return of notices given to fence dangerous parts of machinery. 5. Return of accidents which were not fatal. 6. Return of accidents which proved fatal. 7. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Names of all persons to whom land stationary, winding, and locomotive and traction'certificates of competency and service have been granted during the year. 14. List of persons who were examined and passed for marine engineers' certificates of competency. 15. Return of steamers and oil-engined vessels surveyed during the year. 16. Return of sailing-vessels surveyed during the year. 17. Return of vessels surveyed for seaworthiness, &c, during the year. 18. Return showing sums earned or received and amount spent during the financial year for inspection of machinery, examination of engineers and engine-drivers, and survey of steamers and sailingvessels. . . 19. Return showing the names of owners of additional boilers and transfers which require to be in charge of certificated engine-drivers. I have, &c, Robert Duncan, Chief Inspector of Machinery, Chief Surveyor of Ships, and Chief Examiner of Marine Engineers and Land Engine-drivers. The Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Inspection of Machinery Department. * Oil-engine vessels.