9

H.—ls

Additional Steamers and. Auxiliary-powered Vessels surveyed for the First Time. There were sixty vessels surveyed during the year for the first time. The majority of them are propelled by oil-engines. Sailing-vessels. The number of sailing-vessels surveyed during the year totalled seventy-nine. The following are particulars of some of the most important repairs made to sailing-vessels: — Schooner "Alert." —The donkey-boiler of this vessel was turned down and thoroughly overhauled. A patch was riveted on the shell on the vertical seam near the foundation-ring. The manhole-door was repaired, and a new supporting-ring for the boiler was fitted. The pressuregauge was tested. Ketch " Kereru."— This vessel was gutted by fire, and considerable repairs were therefore necessary. The hull was cleaned out and all lining was removed. Four new beams were fitted at both the forward and the after ends. On the port side twenty new top-timbers were fitted. An ironbark rider, 66 ft. by 12 in. square, was fitted on the keelson, and nine iron stanchions were put in under the deck. New decking was fitted at the forward and after ends, and new cabins and a galley were erected. All anchor-chains were annealed and all new equipment placed on board. Scow "Ranger." —All broken and chafed planks on the bottom of this vessel on both sides were renewed for a distance of about 45 ft. The partitions in the hull were all refastened from the bottom, and were also strengthened at the bottom for a distance of 45 ft. with 6 in. by 4 in. timber. The rudder-pin was straightened and the rudder-gudgeons were refastened. A new double iron block for the cargo gear was fitted. Schooner " Tsabel." —This vessel received a gootl overhauling and many parts were renewed. Renewals were made to tho main-hatch coamings, 30 ft. of planking on the starboard and 20 ft. on tho port sides, covering-boards and waterways round the stern, decking at the after end, stern stanchions and bulwarks, lining under stringers amidships, and twenty hanging knees. Eleven 10 ft. and ten 3 ft. top-timbers on the port side and fourteen 10 ft. and eleven 3 ft. top-timbers on the starboard side were renewed, and a3O ft. rider was fitted on the keelson. A new step was fitted for the foremast. All anchor-chains were annealed. Four additional freeing-ports were fitted. The hull-bottom was sheathed with 8 in. by 1 in. totara. A new maintopmast was fitted, and new trestle-trees and cross-trees were fitted to the foremast. Explosive Permits. There were 100 permits issued at the Port of Wellington for the carriage of explosives on ships. Marine Engineers' Examinations. Examinations for certificates of competency were held at the following places throughout the Dominion, viz. : Auckland,* Wellington,*' Christchurch,* Dunedin,* Invercargill,* Hamilton,* Greymouth,* Timaru,* Napier,* Nelson,* Tauranga, Portage, Queenstown,* Wairoa, Whitianga, Mangonui, Hokianga,* Russell, Havelock, Wanganui,* Whangarei,* Rotorua, Westport, Alexandra, Gisborne. Examinations were held for the following grades during the year : First-class marine engineer, second-class marine engineer, third-class marine engineer, river engineer for steam-vessels, marine engine-driver, first-class marine engineer for auxiliary-powered vessels, second-class marine engineer for auxiliary-powered vessels, and river engineer for auxiliary-powered vessels. The total number of those who sat for these examinations was 272. Of this number thirty-one failed. I continued my visits to technical schools during the year, and I was more than pleased with what I saw of the training that is given the engineering students. I not only was present when the classes were being held, but I also had a look through the students' notebooks to find out the scope of the class-work. A. great deal of good practical instruction is given, and there seems to be a, fine sympathy existing between most of the teachers and the scholars. With the work in the machine shops, including tools for iron.and wood work and blacksmithing, I was very much struck with the aptitude of the students, and to see the number of useful tools and appliances that were being made for the students' own. use. Tho various principals and the teachers were most courteous and kind to me during those visits, and desirous that I should see all that they were doing. Concessions have since been granted to engineering students who have attended such schools as were reported on by me. Examinations of Land Engineers and Land Engine-drivers. These examinations were held at the principal centres throughout the Dominion, and special examinations have also been held at many places to suit the convenience of applicants. The full list of places where examinations were held is as follows : Auckland,* Blenheim,* Carterton, Christchurch,* Dannevirke,* Dunedin,* Gisborne,* Greymouth,* Hamilton,* Hawera, Hopelands, Inglewood, Invercargill,* Kohukohu, Masterton, Napier,* Nelson,* New Plymouth,* Pahiatua, Palmerston North,* Papatowai, Pukapuka, Puponga, Queenstown, Russell, Te Kopuru, Timaru,* Tokomaru Bay, Waimana, Wanganui,* Wellington,* Westport, and Whangarei. The examinations held were for extra first-class engineers, first-class engine-drivers, secondclass engine-drivers, winding-engine drivers (electric), locomotive and traction engine drivers, locomotive-engine drivers, and traction-engine drivers. Reciprocal certificates were issued to applicants from other States as follows -. New South

* Plaoes at which examinations have been held more than once during the year,

2—H. 15.