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Radio Direction-finding Apparatus for Navigational Purposes. Since erecting the joint wireless and radio direction-finding beacon at Cape Maria Van Diemen the Department has taken no steps to provide further navigation aids of this class for the reason that there was very little response on the part of shipping in fitting the complementary apparatus. There are now, however, clear indications that this state of affairs is altering, and a number of the overseas ships are now so equipped or to be equipped. A general provision is being made on the appropriations to enable shore apparatus to be installed. It is proposed that there should be two beacons located somewhere in the Cook Strait area. This would greatly facilitate the approach of overseas vessels. Adjustment and Inspection of Ships' Compasses. During the year 183 compass-adjustments were investigated at Head Office. The work performed by the licensed adjusters of compasses at the various ports has been closely examined by the Department's Inspectors of Compasses, with the result that a high standard of efficiency of this important navigational instrument has been maintained. The gyroscopic compass is not as yet in use on any of our coastal ships. The beneficial results accruing from this compass in high latitudes, where the magnetic declination changes rapidly, are amply reflected in the fact that all the modern whalefactories operating in the Antarctic are now fitted with gyro compass and repeaters. Marine Casualties. The year witnessed a normal number of marine casualties at or near our coasts, varying considerably in their nature. The usual number of minor casualties caused by stranding, collision, fire, defective machinery, &c., continue to occur. This year there were eighty-seven vessels concerned in casualties with no lives lost, as against 112 casualties last year, with thirteen lives lost, eight of which were lost when the " Isabella de Fraine " capsized on the Hokianga Bar. Preliminary inquiries have been held by departmental officers when considered advisable. During the year four casualties have warranted a Magisterial inquiry, three of which involved collisions between vessels, and one, the major casualty of the year, being the stranding and subsequent total loss of the s.s. " Manuka " at Long Point, Otago, on the 16th December, 1929. " Notices to Mariners " and Navigational Warnings. Information of importance relating to changes in the many descriptions of aids to navigation on our coasts and at more remote places frequented by our ships, and concerning newty discovered obstructions, derelicts, wreckage, &c., or other dangers which might affect shipping, has been published throughout the Dominion and overseas on occasions when such has been deemed necessary. This information, if of a general character and not requiring urgent dissemination, is issued in the form of " Notices to Mariners." During the year sixty-five such " Notices to Mariners " were published in the New Zealand Gazette. This Dominion reciprocates with other countries in the exchange of information concerning dangers and navigational aids. Warnings of an urgent nature relating to temporary extinction of lights or displacement of principal aids to navigation and other important liydrographic matter are broadcasted by wireless telegraphy. Thirty-five such notices were broadcasted during the year. Admiralty Charts. The Admiralty charts stocked by the Department are being increased annually as demand necessitates. Many hydrographic corrections necessary to the charts occur from time to time, and these corrections are made here so as to ensure that receive the most up-to-date charts available. The importance of mariners procuring up-to-date charts cannot be too strongly urged, as the value of a chart used for navigation must manifestly depend upon its accuracy and the inclusion thereon of the corrections to which the chart has been subjected to subsequent to the survey on which the chart is based. Examination of Masters and Mates. The examinations of masters and mates are conducted periodically at Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton. The total number of examinations held at those places for certificates of competency as master and as mate, and for certificate-holders who desired to have their certificates endorsed as having passed the voluntary examination in compass-deviation, was seventy-four. Six of these examinations were for certificates for restricted-limits ships, and two for the voluntary examination as yacht master in New Zealand waters. The latter examination is a purely voluntary one, and is confined to those persons who own or partly own pleasure yachts. The examination in navigation is similar to that of a home-trade master. The two successful candidates, both from Auckland, passed this examination creditably. The number of examinations held during each of the past- ten years were : 1920-21, 107 ; 1921-22, 104 ; 1922-23, 91 ; 1923-24, 69 ; 1924-25, 105 ; 1925-26, "133 ; 1926-27, 96 ; 1927-28, 87 ; 1928-29, 69 ; 1929-30, 74. From year to year the number of candidates is found to vary considerably, and this variation would, appear to depend upon the coaching facilities available in this Dominion. After a period of eight years Auckland again provides the greatest number of candidates, the percentages of the total number of examinations held for each of the three ports being Auckland, 62 per cent. : Wellington, 28 per cent. ; and Lyttelton, 10 per cent. These figures for 1928-29 were : Wellington, 46 per cent. ; Auckland, 44 per cent. : and Lyttelton, 10 per cent. The improvement in Auckland, being due to improved tuition facilities now provided at that place.