D—l

LIGHTHOUSES AND HARBOUR-WORKS Electrification. —New electric automatic installations have been completed at Motuara Island, Gibson Point, Slope Point, Whangaroa Harbour, and The Mount, Tauranga. A gas automatic light has been installed at Whitianga, Mercury Bay, and an electric buoy light at Awanui Harbour. Four small automatic beacons at Lake Taupo have been completed and put into commission. The installation of new electric automatic lights _at Cape Kidnappers, Slipper Island, Cape Farewell, Ohau Point, and Bushey Point is in hand. The electrification of automatic beacons at North Cape, Chicken Island, and Channel Island is complete. Preliminary work has begun on new beacons at Chatham Island and at Mangonui Harbour and on the electrification and installation of a radio beacon at Portland Island. The electrification of Cape Egmont is nearing completion. Baring Head is being modernized and connected to the power-mains supply. Lighthouses.—The usual maintenance of lighthouse buildings and residences has been earned out. An additional water-supply has been provided at Mokohinau, where the wharf fender piles and tram-tracks have been repaired. A new sewer with patent lavatories has been laid at Cuvier Island, and materials are on the site for an additional water-supply. Improvements practically completed to the landing jetty and adjacent harbour at Portland Island will facilitate the unloading of stores. A water-supply has been installed at Centre Island. Earbour-works. —Comprehensive soundings of the Tauranga Harbour have been carried out, partly by lead-line and partly by echo-sounding apparatus hired from the Napier Harbour Board. The area covered by the soundings, approximately <l| square miles, included the entrance and the channels leading to wharf-sites both at Mount Maunganui and Tauranga. Several borings have been taken by jetting at the shallowest part of the Tauranga Harbour entrance. The work is still in hand. A slipway has been constructed at Moeraki for bringing ashore the dinghies used to unload fish from fishing-launches. This slipway is 100 ft. long and is equipped with an electric winch. The work is practically complete. During the year work continued, as labour and tides permitted, on the stake groyne on the beach at the mouth of the Waikouaiti River. AERODROMES Maintenance The usual maintenance has been undertaken at aviation establishments, both R.N.Z.A.F. and Civil, and has included work on airfields, buildings, engineering services.. roads, grounds, aeradio services, and general aerodrome facilities. Capital Works, R.N.Z.A.F. Stations Construction items of importance include : Lauthala Bay, Fiji. —Five housing units have been completed and two further units are in course of erection. Whenuapai. —For the interim use of Civil aviation an extra concrete hardstanding is under construction. The provision of permanent runway lighting and night-flying facilities is in hand. The erection of four housing units has been commenced.

30