H.—ls.

19-28. NEW ZEALAND.

MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1927-28.

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

Your Excellency,— Marine Department, Wellington, 30th July, 1928. 1 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., F. H. D. Bell, For the Minister of Marine. His Excellency General Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., Governor-General of New Zealand.

BE PORT. The Secretary, Marine Department, to the Hon. the Minister op Marine. Sir, — Marine Department, Wellington, 25th July, 1928. I have the honour to submit this niv fourth annual report on the operations of the Marine Department for the financial year ended the 31st March, 1928. Financial. The Department's cash position shows a slight improvement on last year's figures, the surplus of receipts over payments for 1926-27 being £13,702, and for 1927-28 £14,697. The following comparative statements of the receipts and payments for the past seven 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 £14,697 in 1927-28

Receipts.

I—H. 15,

Branch. 1921-22. 1922-23. j 1923-24. 1924-25. 1925-26. 1926-27. 1927-28. Shipping Branch — £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Light dues .. .. 41,311 39,689 76,868 80,469 78,709 82,082 80,763 Engagements, discharges, &c. 3,968 4,108 4,027 4,155 4,532 4,074 3,658 Survey fees .. .. 3,354 3,202 4,666 5,027 5,750 5,310 4,957 Examination fees .. 586 396 370 417 431 379 322 Miscellaneous receipts .. 1,076 1,288 1,331 1,174 823 449 461 Harbours — Pilotage, port charges, &c. 648 765 769 843 871 934 1,768 Foreshore revenue .. 1,175 1,131 2,904 4,579 5,374 6,041 5,781 Fisheries — Sale of oysters .. .. 7,763 7,702 7,356 8,395 10,205 8,345 7,315 Sundry receipts .. .. 324 324 926 667 804 738 779 Inspection of Machinery — Inspection of boilers, &c. .. 13,102 17,300 16,568 18,417 17,289 19,136 19,969 Examination fees .. 602 618 635 649 568 464 425 Tramways Act — Examination fees .. 57 49 104 84 91 92 73 Ross Sea Revenue .. .. .. .. 200 200 1,721 2,921 7,177 Miscellaneous Receipts .. .. j .. 653 307 2,278 2,519 327 Totals .. .. 73,696 76,572 117,377 125,383 129,446 133,484 133,775