H.—ls

1927. NEW ZEALAND.

MARINE DEPARTMENT. ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1926-27.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Your Excellency,— Marine Department, Wellington, 27th September, 1927. I do myself the honour to transmit for Your Excellency's information the report of the Marine Department of the Dominion for the financial year ended the 31st March last. I have, &c., G. Jas. Anderson, Minister of Marine. His Excellency General Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.G., K.C.8., D.S.G., M.V.0., Governor-General of New Zealand.

REPORT. The Secretary, Marine Department, to the Hon. the Minister op Marine. Str, — Marine Department, Wellington, 24th September, 1927. I have the honour to submit this my fourth annual report on the operations of the Marine Department for the financial year ended the 31st March, 1927. Financial. The Department's cash position shows an appreciable improvement on last year's figures, the surplus of receipts over payments for 1925-26 being £7,445, and for 1926-27 £13,702. The following comparative statements of the receipts and payments for the past six years are interesting, showing as they do that the Cash Account has risen from a deficit of £78,000 in 1921-22 to a surplus of £13 702 in 1926-27

Receipts.

I—H. 15.

Branch. 1921-22. 1922-23. 1923-24. 1924-25. 1925-26. ! 1926-27. Shipping Branch— ££££££ Light dues .. .. 41,311 39,689 : 76,868 80,469 78,709 82,082 Engagements, discharges, &c. 3,968 4,108 4,027 4,155 4,532 4,074 Survey fees .. .. .. 3,354 3,202 4,666 5,027 5,750 5,310 Examination fees .. .. 586 396 370 417 431 379 Miscellaneous receipts .. 1,076 1,288 1,331 1,174 823 449 Harbours — Pilotage, port charges, &c. .. 648 765 769 843 871 934 Foreshore revenue .. .. 1,175 1,131 2,904 4,579 5,374 6,041 Fisheries— Sale of oysters .. .. 7,763 7,702 7,356 8,395 10,205 8,345 Sundry receipts .. .. 324 324 926 667 804 738 Inspection of Machinery — Inspection of boilers, &c. .. 13,102 17,300 16,568 18,417 17,289 19,136 Examination fees .. .. 602 618 635 649 568 464 Tramways Act — Examination fees .. .. 57 49 104- 84 9] 92 Ross Sea Revenue .. .. .. .. 200 200 1,721 2,921 Miscellaneous Receipts .. .. .. 653 307 2,278 2,519 Totals .. .. 73,696 76,572 117,377 125,383 129,446 133,484 I