H.—ls

4

" Forecasts based on those reports have been issued about noon daily, except on Sundays and the five or six Telegraph holidays in the year. On such days, when very few weather reports can be transmitted because only chief offices are open for a brief period, forecasts are not issued except under exceptional circumstances that call for special treatment. At the same time we keep in communication with the Telegraph Office, make observations of weather conditions, and are constantly answering questions from mariners over the telephone and through the Telegraph Office. The non-issue of forecasts on these rare but by no means unbroken holidays is, however, misunderstood by some critics in the Press, who regularly take occasion to remark on the nonappearance of our reports following these holidays. They seem to want the usual tale of bricks although the supply of straw is then withheld. " In the evening weather reports and forecasts are issued through the New Zealand Press Association to all the chief daily morning papers. Forecasts are also sent out, from the radiostations at Awanui, Wellington, and Awarua for the benefit of shipping. Occasional forecasts are also sent out by wireless to Chatham Islands, and every night, without failure, a weather report is received from Waitangi. This is, by special request, cabled to the Commonwealth Weather Bureau. " The Observatory grounds at Wellington have been put in good order —painting of the building, screens, fence, &C, being carried out by the Public Works Department; also an evaporimeter has been established by the Department, and observations of daily evaporation will now be recorded. " The observations in the other chief centres have been carried on satisfactorily, in some cases under difficulties brought about by the war, but the returns have been nearly always forwarded without interruption to the records. " Authority has been granted for equipping Trentham and Keatherston Military Camps with certain meteorological instruments, and it is hoped that these will soon be in working-order. The Agricultural Department also intend to establish a good climatological station at the Central Development Farm at Weraroa, and the Lake Coleridge electrical-power station is being equipped with a fine set of instruments. " While speaking of the chief climatological stations I regret, to say that the proper methodical and periodical inspections have not lately been possible. This inspection is really necessary to keep up the interest of observers, correct irregularities in the observations, and for the standardization of the instruments. " A number of new rainfall stations have been established during the year, but a few have ceased recording on account of observers leaving for the front. Some of these have already given their lives for their country's cause." Government, Steamers. " Hinemoa." —The " Hinemoa " has continued the work of conveying stores, coal, provisions, and oil to lighthouses, and of cleaning and painting coastal and harbour buoys and the erection and painting of beacons. The work has been done in a very satisfactory manner. The matter of obtaining a new steamer to replace her is at, present held in abeyance owing to the war. " Amokura." —So many boys have offered themselves for the training-ship " Amokura " during the year that it has been impossible to take them all, owing to there only being accommodation for sixty. There are now twenty-six waiting for admission, and I am afraid that some of them will be shut out altogether through passing the maximum age al, which boys are taken before there are openings for them. The vessel spent last winter in Wellington Harbour, and the boys attended technical-school classes in the vessel's schoolroom on Thorndon Esplanade. These classes are conducted by a teacher employed by the Wellington Technical School, this Department paying his salary. The subjects taught are those which will be useful to the boys in a maritime career. The examination held at the end of the time showed that satisfactory progress had been made. The general behaviour of the boys has been good, and there has been no serious breach of discipline. During the year tho vessel made two trips to the Southern Islands and one trip to the Kermadec Islands to search for castaways and examine the provision-depots which the Department maintains there. No castaways were found, and the depots had not been touched. In addition to these trips coastal training trips have been made. Appended is a return showing the names of the boys who have served on the " Amokura " during the past year. Light houses. Owing to the need for economy in consequence of the war, no new lighthouse has been commenced, but it has become absolutely necessary to erect a new tower at Dog Island, as the present, stone- tower is becoming unsafe owing to the perishing of the mortar. It is intended to erect a ferroconcrete tower around the present structure, and part, of the required material has been taken to the island by the s.s. " Hinemoa." The work will be commenced as soon as suitable men can be obtained. The Pintsch-gas light on the beacon at Jackson's Head having become unreliable it has been replaced by an Aga automatic acetone-acetylene light, which is giving satisfaction. The cost of gas is now less, and owing to the cylinders containing it, being smaller than those containing the Pintsch gas there is much less difficulty in renewing it. The lantern-panes in Kai-ori Rock light, having cracked bad!)' new panes have been put, in. These were made of the right: shape in Dunedin. The automatic light procured for erection on Flat Rock is still in store, as the work of erecting the tower is held over owing to the war.