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side, and the top of the casing, were all renewed; about two-thirds of the starboard bunker and onethird of the port bunker, and all bunker-stays were renewed. The forward bulkhead of the crossbunker was shifted aft 7 ft. ; new stiffeners of 3 in. by 3 in. by fin. angle-bars were riveted to the bunker : the hatchways were enlarged ; a room was built for the master on the bridge deck, and the crew accommodation was refitted; the hull, both inside and out, was thoroughly chipped and painted ; all rigging, derricks, cargo gear, and all life-saving equipment, excepting the, boats, were renewed ; the main boiler was also thoroughly overhauled- a piece was cut out of the bottom of the shell and a, patch 8 ft. by 8 ft. by j? in. riveted on ; an old patch in the starboard combustion-chamber was renewed ; all the boiler-mountings were refitted and the boiler relagged and tested to a suitable hydraulic pressure ; the main and auxiliary steam-pipes were also tested by hydraulic pressure ; the funnel was lengthened by 7 ft., the two bottom courses being renewed. O.E.V. " Waihau." In the hull a number of the floors have been renewed and a number have been backed with new timber. All damaged planks have also been renewed. A fume-proof bulkhead between the engine-room and the cabin, and two ventilators in the engine-room, have been fitted. The renewals to the propelling-machinery include new bearings for the crank-shaft, new cross-head-pins, new reverse wheels and clutch, and a new lignum-vitse stern-bush. Auxiliary Scow " Wave." —The centre case was taken out of this vessel and a new false keel put on. The cabin and crew's quarters and all bulkheads have been renewed. A new rudder-band was fitted to the rudder and the rudder was refastened. A. new stud-link anchor-chain and two new anchors were added to the equipment. The engines, including the thrust-block, have been refastened. New sleeves were fitted to both tail-shafts, and new bushes in. tubes and brackets. New exhaustpipes and valves were fitted. 6. Survey of Ships for Seaworthiness. Forty-three special surveys of ships for seaworthiness were made. Most of the accidents were due lo the vessels encountering heavy weather. Four sprang a leak from this cause, but most of the others were damaged at their moorings or whilst berthing. Grounding, striking rocks, and collisions accounted for about 25 per cent, of the accidents. Only one case of fire was reported. The accidents to boilers included one each due to corrosion, crack in furnace, furnace down, and leak in main steam-pipes. Failures in the engine-room included piston-valve chamber breaking ; cracking of horse-power ahead column ; breaking of connecting-rod bolts, junk-ring, crank-web ; the blowing-out of a cylinder-joint; and the loss of propeller-blades. The most s»rious casualty was that of the s.s. " Port Hacking." This vessel is owned by the Commonwealth and Dominion lane, and is over 6000 gross tonnage. She grounded on the tail of Horseshoe Bank, Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A., on the 19th October, 1917, but was floated, the next day. She proceeded on her voyage to Auckland via Panama. When about 1600 miles on her way to New Zealand it was discovered that the rudder had broken off at the second gudgeon. A jury-rudder was rigged and a course set for'Callao, where, temporary repairs were effected. While at Callao a, diver found that the stern-frame and rudder-post had carried away. This information was reported to the. owners, who then had sent to Auckland a new stern-frame, rudder-post, and rudder. After a trying voyage, through the temporary rudder also carrying away, the vessel arrived at Auckland on the 13th March, 1918.'*~Arrangements were immediately made to'have repairs executed with all possible, despatch, and to'place at the disposal of the contractors the resources of the whole Dominion. The repairs were wholly supervised on behalf'of the Admiralty by?an Engineer Surveyor of Ships, who also decided upon the minimum amount of repairs that was absolutely necessary to put the vessel into a seaworthy condition. The following repairs were, done: The damaged, rudder and stern-frame were removed and a, new frame and rudder fitted. A number of shell plates had to be removed and reriveted in the vicinity of the stern-frame. A number of keel-plates and other shellplates were removed and straightened, or straightened in place. A. great many ballast-tanks floors were cut, taken out, and straightened, and. several were faired in position. Running repairs were, carried out to the propelling and auxiliary machinery and steering-gear. The stern-tubes and bush were found to be fractured, but not sufficiently to make the vessel iinseaworthy. The tail-shaft was replaced by a spare tail-shaft to which the propeller-boss was properly fitted. A new nut was made for the stern-tube, and new lignum-vitso fitted into the bush. The vessel was in dock from the 26th March to 31st May, and the repairs were completed some four days under contract time. The work was carried on night and day continuously, and it cost approximately £14,000 to repair the vessel. 7. Survey of Government Vessels. The number of Government vessels surveyed during the year totalled sixteen, as follows : S.S. " Amokura," s.s. " Ben Lomond," s.s. " Earns'aw," s.s. " Hauraki," s.s. " Hinemoa," o.e.v. " Huia," o.e.v. " Irini," s.s. " Janie Seddon," s.s. " Lady Roberts," o.e.v. " Mororo," p.s. " Mountaineer," o.e.v. " Patiti," o.e.v. " P.W.D.," o.e.v. "Reremoana," s.s. " Tutanekai," and s.s. " Rama " (late H.M.S. " Torch "). S.S. " Rama."- -During the year'the Engmeer""Surveyors of the Department acted as Superintendents while this vessel was being refitted for sea for the Royal Navy. The work entailed in the refitting of the vessel was a complete overhaul, and renewals in every department of the vessel, and in addition extensive repairs to the auxiliary machinery in the engine and boiler room, including a, complete overhaul of the electric system throughout the vessel. The Commander's, officers', and crew's quarters were and all;internal fittings fitted up drawers, lockers, &c, which werelpolished and! painted. The''storerooms were all relined and painted, magazines rehired, and internal fittings replaced in position.*:* All lavatories, bathrooms, and sanitary conveniences received the necessary attention and repairs.