, two expensive beacons having to
be renewed altogether.

THURSDAY ISLAND.

The timber portion of the jetty was finished last year, and the T end is
now being slowly proceeded with, the velocity of the tide rendering the
performance of the work very difficult. When complete it will be a great
convenience to large steamers, not exceeding 22 feet draught of water,
which will be able to lie alongside. The buoys and beacons are well
maintained, but there are at present no leading lights for guiding
vessels into the port at night-time. This want is often a source of
great detention and loss to vessels visiting the port, and many
complaints have been made in consequence. Arrangements can easily be
made to provide leading lights; and as their maintenance would not
require any addition to the present staff, the outlay would be very
moderate. The lighthouse and signal station at Goode Island are in a
very efficient state, but the tramway for getting oil and stores from
the beach (some 1,100 feet in length) is quite past repair, and requires
renewal. It is proposed to put iron instead of wooden rails, as being
more economical in the end.

At the pilot station everything is in order, no outlay for repairs being
necessary. The pilot cutter "Lizzie Jardine" has been relieved by the
cutter "Eileen," recently repaired at Cooktown.

PROUDFOOT SHOAL LIGHTSHIP.

When I visited this vessel I found that the heavy weather experienced
during the last north-west monsoon had caused her to ride heavily, and
that her decks forward had, as a consequence, strained a little. The
necessary repairs are being effected by one of the crew, who is a
practical shipwright. I propose in future to keep a carpenter in lieu of
a seaman on each light-vessel.

NORMANTON.

The dredged cuttings at the mouth of the Norman were completed on 20th
September, 1890, when the necessary beacons and leading lights were
erected, and all the works of the Department were in good order until
the 24th February last, when the Gulf of Carpentaria was visited by a
gale of great violence, accompanied by unusually high seas. Vessels
anchored at the Norman Bar dragged considerably, although riding with
both anchors down. The damage to the harbour works was very great. All
the beacons at the mouths of the Norman and Albert Rivers were
displaced, some being destroyed altogether. The lightship parted her
cable, and was carried about 900 feet above ordinary high-water mark