H.—ls.

Jacksons Bay Harbour.—During the year a survey of the harbour-site has been carried out and a contour plan of the bottom prepared for the purpose of locating a wharf-site. Lighthouses. The work of tendering the lighthouses has been satisfactorily carried out by the Government steamer " Matai," and, where possible to do so, steps were taken to provide many of the light-stations with more frequent mail-services. The provision of two additional automatic lights was commenced, and these will be in operation before this report appears in print. One is on Pearl Island at the entrance to Port Pegassus, and the other on St. Anne's Point at the entrance to Milford Sound. During the year arrangements were made to reduce the hours of duty of keepers to approximately forty hours per week by prescribing the hours of day duty to two hours per day for five days per week. At stations manned by two keepers only, the annual holiday leave was increased to six weeks to offset the extra hours of duty over forty per week. Six keepers were transferred to other branches of the Public Service, one resigned, while the services of two probationary keepers were dispensed with. Seven new keepers were appointed to fill existing vacancies. Considering the age of the wooden buildings at the lighthouses, many of which are over seventy years old, they are in a wonderful state of preservation and reflect credit on those whose duty it has been to attend to them in the past. However, in a few instances, notably at Centre Island and Portland Island, new dwellings are required, and it is hoped to proceed with the erection of them in the coming year. The curtailment of expenditure on repairs during recent years will, for. some little time, be reflected in an increased annual expenditure on repair work. The following are the more important works carried out or put in hand during the past year :— Godley Head Fog Signal. —The fog-signal machinery has been overhauled and new parts supplied where necessary. The signal was dismantled and cleaned and new parts made and fitted. Aharoa Lighthouse.—A new steel staircase for the landing-stage has been designed and is now in the course of manufacture. Tin Tin Fog Signal Station.—New handrailing has been fitted in the engine-room.. A full-way 6 in. valve has been incorporated in the main air-pipe line to the diaphone in place of the original 6 in. screw-down valve. A small hillock of earthwork has been excavated away from the site immediately under and extending outwards from the sound-projecting horn to improve the range of the signals. Milford Sound Lighthouse.—A new reinforced-concrete lighthouse has been erected on Anne Point, Milford Sound, complete with steel tower and fourth order flashing light in 300 m.m. dioptric lens. A crane has been erected at the landing and the bush cleared around the light. A new track has also been formed from the landing-point to the lighthouse. Pearl Island Lighthouse. —A new flashing light in 140 m.m. dioptric lens has been erected on a steel tower at Pearl Island, Port Pegassus, Stewart Island. Akers Point Light. —Action has been taken to procure a substitute flasher for the lighthouse at Akers Point. Ponui, Moko Hinau, Cuvier Island, North Cape, and Cape Maria Van Diemen Lighthouses. — In order to improve the transport conditions on the above stations the Department has arranged for the manufacture and delivery of power-winches to take the place of the present hand-operated outfits. The foundations and anchorage for the cable-way at Chicken Island has been put in, and it is hoped to have all the winches installed during the coming year. French Pass Beacon.—Considerable damage was done to this beacon when it was struck by one of the Anchor Shipping Co.'s steamers. A ring of reinforced concrete has been placed round the base of the beacon, and attention to a few minor details will complete the work. This work was hampered, as it could only be carried on during some spring tides. Kahurangi Point Lighthouse. —On account of sea-erosion during spring tides the lightkeeper's residence and store were endangered, and it was found necessary to remove the building 120 ft,, to a safer position. Baring Head Lighthouse.—The necessary equipment for a modern radio beacon has been ordered. Two 75 ft. steel masts have been fabricated and erected, and it is anticipated that by the time this report is in print the radio beacon will be in operation. The beacon will be operated on the existing Diesel power-supply, but a new 250 amp. 110 volt battery has been installed in place of the smaller one originally provided. This new battery will have ample capacity to meet the existing services as well as the additional load. During fog the beacon will transmit signals every two minutes in every six minutes' interval. In clear weather transmission will be made during the first and second six minutes' interval of each half-hour for the purpose of affording ships an opportunity of testing their directionfinders and the accuracy of the bearings obtained. This beacon, as well as the others to be erected on the coast, would be classified as W /T fog signals to distinguish them from beacons which operated at stated times irrespective of weather conditions or only on request. Cape Maria Van Diemen Lighthouse.—The old type W/T fog signal at Cape Maria Van Diemen is giving a considerable amount of trouble and has reached the stage when it is unreliable if operated for a lengthy period of fog. Pending the replacement with a modern type beacon, it may be necessary to make the signals available only on request. Cape Campbell Lighthouse.—lt is now proposed to electrify this light and also to provide a radiobeacon service. The apparatus has arrived in New Zealand and duplicate units of 18 kw. Diesel engined :generating-sets are expected shortly. Plans have been prepared for the power-house and radio quarters. Arrangements are being made to ship the necessary material to Cape. Campbell,, and the erection of power-house, aerial, generating-sets, &c., will be carried out by the Public Works staff, and

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