H.—ls.

Another sea-going vessel to be surveyed for the first time during the year was the ferry steamer Rangatira. This vessel arrived in New Zealand waters in October, 1931, and ran under a certificate issued by the Imperial Board of Trade until 2nd July, 1932, when a departmental survey was made at the Port of Wellington. The " Rangatira "is the first vessel engaged in New Zealand trade to be fitted with electric couplings. The propelling machinery consists of two sets of turbo alternators each comprising one turbine direct-coupled to an alternator which supplies power to a double-unit synchronous-induction motor direct-coupled to the propeller shafting. The machinery develops 13,000 shaft horse-power, and a service speed up to 22 knots can be obtained. The six oil-fired boilers providing the steam-power carry a working-pressure of 425 - 446 lb. per square inch, which, at present, is the highest steam-pressure carried in the Dominion, ashore or afloat. The boilers are water-tube of the Yarrow type with superheater. The steam, water, and superheater drums are made of forged steel without longitudinal seams. The Lyttelton-Wellington ferry §(>rvice is now maintained by three turbine-driven steamers, and the increase in boiler-pressure since the oldest of the vessels, the " Maori," went into commission is of interest. The comparison is as follows Boiler-pressure. « lb - Maori .. .. .. .. .. built 1907 140 " Wahine" .. .. .. .. .. built 1913 200 " Rangatira " .. ... .. .. .. built 1931 425-446 One hundred and seventy-six vessels were surveyed for efficiency and seaworthiness under section 226 of the Shipping and Seamen Act. There were also fourteen tonnage and other surveys, making a total of 190 surveys carried out in addition to the usual annual surveys, as against a total number of 257 additional surveys in the previous year. Twelve overseas vessels sustained damage during the year and were surveyed for seaworthiness by the Department's Surveyors. The " Paktha," which put back to Wellington when two days out from Auckland with the stokehold bilges flooded, and reported hull leakage, which on investigation was found to come from defective engine-room pipes and connections ; the " Norfolk," with defects in the forward ballast-tanks ; the " Huntingdon," with bottom plating set up and frames and floors buckled, due to pounding in heavy weather on passage from the United Kingdom in ballast; the " Tymeric," with the keelson and several frames and intercostals buckled by grounding at Wanganui ; and the " Cumberland," with damage to bridge and shelter decks by fire at Lyttelton, were the most important of these surveys. It might be supposed that, as so few ships are being built nowadays, a. large proportion of those in commission are old vessels. The fact is, however, that the relative number of vessels of ten years of age and less under survey this year is double the number surveyed ten years ago. Further, in the case of vessels over thirty years old, the number surveyed this year is 12-7 per cent, of the total, whereas ten years ago the corresponding percentage was 25. The probable explanation of this is that the hulls and propelling machinery of modern vessels are more efficient, and show lower fuel consumption per unit of horse-power than the old vessels. At one time the deciding factor in the scrapping of a vessel was the cost of repairs, but at the present time, ships are more often laid up on account of their inefficiency as reflected in increased running-costs as compared with modern ships. The Department's instructions relating to equipment of fire-extinguishing appliances on board ship have been in operation since August, 1931, and the standard of fire-fighting equipment in vessels surveyed by the Department has been brought up to date during the past year. The attention of Surveyors of Ships has been directed to the provisions of the new helm or steering orders, and actual trials of the steering-gear of ships under survey have been made to ensure that the new orders have been complied with. The stock of Safe Working Loads Regulations, two thousand of which were printed in 1927, is getting low. Before the regulations are reprinted it seems desirable that they should be revised to bring them into line with the British Standard Specifications for Crane Chain, Ships' Cargo Lifting Blocks, and Wire Rope for shipping purposes, issued since 1927, and this is being done. Twenty-four international load-line certificates have been issued to ships under the authority of the Department. All these certificates were issued as provisional certificates pending the passing of the necessary legislation to bring the provisions of the International Load Line Convention into force in New Zealand. In no instance, except that of the " Paua " was the load-line altered. The " Paua " is an oil-tanker, and this class of ship obtains a deeper loading under the Convention Rules. The load draught of the " Paua " has been increased 2| in. Registration of Shipping. On the 31st December, 1932, there were on the Register of Vessels in the Dominion 58 sailingvessels of 5,380 tons register, 225 steamers of 103,185 tons register, and 236 motor-vessels of 8,800 tons register, as compared with 65 sailing-vessels of 5,892 tons register, 231 steamers of 95,929 tons register, and 234 motor-vessels of 8,118 tons register at the end of the previous year. The number of seamen employed on board was 3,560, as compared with 3,597 for the year 1931. Government Shipping Offices. In the Government shipping offices the administration of the Shipping and Seamen Act has been efficiently carried out. Appended is a statement showing the number of seamen engaged and discharged at the various ports during the year, and the fees received for such transactions. The total

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