H.—ls.

Sick and Injured Seamen. The total amount paid by shipowners to sick and injured seamen, under the provisions of the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, and its amendments, was £12,357 2s. 6d., as against £9,764 19s. Bd. for the previous year, an increase of £2,588 2s. lOd. Survey op Ships. The following statement shows the number of certificates of survey issued to ships during the year, the figures for the previous year being shown in parentheses : — Sea-going steam and motor-ships .. . . . . . • .. 145 (147) Sea-going sailing-ships .. .. .. . . ■ ■ • • 4 (4) Restricted-limits steam and motor ships . . .. . . . . 370 (389) Total 519 (540) Two sea-going vessels and eleven restricted-limits vessels were surveyed in the Dominion for the first time during the year under review. The new sea-going vessels were the m.v. " Breeze " and the s.s. " Waitaki," both fine examples of modern cargo-ships. The " Breeze ' is a motor-vessel of 622 tons gross and 316 tons register propelled by a single set of two-cycle Diesel engines developing 725 brake horse-power. An oil-fired auxiliary boiler is carried which supplies steam to engine-room auxiliary machinery, steering-gear, windlass, and cargo-winches. The vessel is engaged in the coasting trade. The " Waitaki " was built in Glasgow early in 1934, and was put through a first annual survey in July, 1934, immediately after her arrival in New Zealand. She is a steamship of 2,211 tons gross and 1,097 tons register and is propelled by a single set of triple-expansion steam-engines developing 1,350 indicated horse-power. The boilers are oil-fired, and the vessel is engaged in the intercolonial trade between Melbourne and southern New Zealand ports. The sailing-vessel " Ethel Wells " was converted to an auxiliary-powered vessel by the installation of an oil-engine, and the steamship Pakura " was converted to oil-engine propulsion. The latter was the largest conversion job yet carried out in the Dominion. The boilers and engines were removed and replaced by a single set of two-cycle Diesel engines developing 750 brake horse-power. These engines occupy less space than the steam-propelling machinery, and the length of the engine-room was therefore reduced to provide increased cargo-carrying space. The speed has been fully maintained with the new machinery. The vessel has been operating some months since the alterations were carried out and is reported to be satisfactory in every respect. The first complete survey in New Zealand of the Intercolonial passenger and mail steamship " Monowai " was carried out from June to October, 1934. The vessel had hitherto been surveyed annually at Sydney, New South Wales, but this year the owners decided to take advantage of the drydocking facilities now provided at the Port of Wellington, and the complete survey, including examination of the hull in dry-dock, was carried out at this port. In addition to opening up and routine examinations, the machinery, equipment, and hull, including the passenger-accommodation, were reconditioned throughout. The work involved provided employment for a large amount of labour during the period that the vessel was laid up. This is the first survey carried out under the rules of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. The Pacific mail and passenger steamships " Maunganui " and " Makura," usually completely surveyed at Sydney each year, were partially surveyed at Wellington ; the work done included dry-docking for examination and repairs of hulls, propellers, and underwater fittings. Two hundred and fifteen surveys for efficiency and seaworthiness under section 226 of the Shipping and Seamen Act and twenty-five tonnage and other surveys were made during the year, making the total number of surveys for all purposes 759. Twenty-two of the seaworthiness surveys were made in connection with the hulls, machinery, or equipment of overseas vessels not registered or normally surveyed in the Dominion. The damage, or deficiencies in equipment, were of minor nature, there being no major casualties connected with overseas shipping on the New Zealand coast during the year. Three vessels, the " Katoa," " Komata," and ". Kaimanawa," formerly regularly engaged in intercolonial and coasting trades, but latterly laid up in New Zealand waters, were sold to Eastern buyers for breaking up. After being reconditioned for the voyage, they left for the East in ballast. The " Kaimanawa " was towed to her destination by the " Komata." Safe Working Loads Regulations : These regulations form a part of the General Harbour Regulations designed for the prevention of accidents to persons engaged in working cargo on board ship. The two thousand copies which were printed of the first edition are now sold out. Since the regulations were first published the British Standards Institution has prepared standard specifications for shortlink chain, galvanized shipping-ropes, and cargo-lifting blocks. In order that the purchase and certification of these items of cargo gear may be simplified the requirements of the regulations relating to quality and physical tests of new chain and wire rope have been brought into agreement with the appropriate British standard specification. The quality and breaking loads of chain prescribed in the standard specifications do not differ materially from those given in the previous edition of the regulations, and no alterations to the tables of safe-working loads for chain have been necessary in the new edition. A slight alteration, however, has been made in the tables of safe-working loads for wire ropes in Older that the nominal factors of safety may remain the same as previously. A supplement has been added to the regulations giving information which could not properly be included in the regulations but which will enhance the value of the regulations from the point of view of the prevention of accidents. The new regulations have now been gazetted.

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