H.—ls.

4

shipowners (Captain McArthur), was set up to inquire into and to report as to what is necessary, and evidence was taken by the Commission at Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton. Dunedin, and Port Chalmers. The recommendations of the Commission are attached hereto. Attached is a return of vessels to which certificates have been issued. Proceedings were taken by the Department for breaches of the law in connection with the survey of ships: The master of launch "Leone," for carrying passengers without a certificate — convicted and ordered to pay costs; the master of s.s. " Kotiti," for carrying more passengers than allowed by the vessel's certificate—fined £6 and costs (on appeal the conviction was upheld); the master of launch " Phyllis," for running without a certificate for the boat—fined ss. and costs; the master of launch " Konini," for carrying passengers without a certificate for the boat—convicted and ordered to pay costs; for running launch " Wahora " without the necessary life-saving appliances, and also for running without a survey certificate—fines of £5 and costs for the first-mentioned offence and £2 and costs for the second; for running a launch without a survey certificate the owner was fined .£1 and costs; for running ketch " Result" without a survey certificate —fined f()s. and costs; for carrying more passengers in s.s. " Nikau " than allowed by the vessel's certificate—fined 10s. and costs; for running launch " Tuhua " in coasting trade without the boat having a certificate for that trade —fined 10s. and costs; for running scow " Pakihi " without a certificate for the vessel—fined £5 and costs. Deceased Seamen's Estates. The estates of twenty-seven seamen have been dealt with. The amount received was £531 3s. 6d., and the amount paid to relatives and other claimants was £409 19s. Id. The sum of £1 4s. 6d., which had remained unclaimed for over six years, was paid into the Public Account. Appended is a return of the estates. Wrecks and Casualties. During the year eighty-one inquiries were held, seventy-four of them being preliminary inquiries and seven Magisterial inquiries. The appended returns show the casualties and an analysis thereof. Those on or near the coasts of the Dominion were 71, of 39,864 tons register, as compared with 50, of 25,484 tons register, in the previous year. The number of lives lost was one, as compared with fourteen in the previous year. Notices to Mariners. A return of the Notices to Mariners relating to New Zealand is appended. In addition to these a large number of outside notices have been published by the Department. Government Steamers. S.S. " Sinemoa." —This vessel has continued the work of conveying oil, gas, stores, coal, and provisions to lighthouses, and of overhauling, cleaning, and painting coastal and harbour buoys, and the erection and painting of beacons. This work has been carried out in a very satisfactory manner. A thorough examination of the vessel has been made, which showed that with care she will be able to safely carry on her work for some time yet. She has had a thorough chipping and cleaning out inside. In addition to the ordinary lighthouse work she has conveyed the material for three new dwellinghouses to Puysegur Point Lighthouse, and has also conveyed material to Dog Island for building a new lighthouse-tower. S.S. " Amokura." —The training of boys for the sea on this vessel has continued during the year. There has been no difficulty in getting boys —in fact, a number have had to wait a good while for vacancies on board. The Department has had to appeal for some of the Instructors who were called up for military service, owing to its being found impossible to get other qualified and suitable men. In each case the Military Appeal Board adjourned the appeal sine die. Employment for the boys in other vessels has been found on their completing their training. As is usual, the vessel spent last winter in Wellington Harbour, and the boys attended Technical School classes in the ship's schoolroom on Thorndon Quay. The general behaviour of the boys has been good. During the year the vessel visited the outlying islands to search for castaways, but none were found. The necessary material and appliances for installing wireless on the "Amokura" has been obtained, and the work of installation will be put in hand shortly. Appended is a return of the boys who have served in the vessel during the year. S.S. "Rama." —This vessel, formerly H.M.S. "Torch," has been given to the Dominion by the Imperial Government, and has been placed under the control of this Department. She is at present moored ysx the stream in Wellington Harbour. S.S. " Tutauekai." —As this vessel is no longer required for cable work she has been transferred from the Post and Telegraph Department to this Department, and it is the intention of the Minister for Marine to obtain reports immediately as to what would be the cost of making the vessel fit for carrying cargo and what amount she would carry if altered. Lighthouses. The erection of a tower for an automatic light on Flat Rock, in the Ilauraki Gulf, has been commenced, but owing to exceptionally bad weather the progress has been slow. The site is on a rock which can only be worked when the sea is not rough. Soon after the erection was started a very heavy sea washed away the concrete which had been put down and also the casing in which it had been placed.