REGISTRY OF SHIPPING.
25. There are at present 62 vessels registered at this Port, being 4 vessels less than were regis. tered in 1876. 8 Vessels have been added and 12 vessels registers have for various reasons been cancelled..
The amount of fees received under this heading is $321.00.
MARINE MAGISTRATE'S COURT.
26. 195 cases have been tried. None of them were of a serious character.
EXAMINATIONS FOR THE POSTS OF MASTERS AND MATES, UNDER ORDINANCE No. 17 OF 1860.
27. There were 29 Candidates, of whom 19 obtained Certificates and 10 failed.
28. It will tend greatly to the safety of many of the steam-vessels trading to this place when a Board is constituted for the examination of Engineers. At present, there are several steamers with no one but Chinese engine drivers on board. Men who, if a serious casualty happened at sea, are totally incompetent to make any, but the most trivial repairs.
29. The steam-launch Ordinance provides for the examination of the men who drive licensed steam-launches, and the engines and boilers are subjected to a six monthly inspection, but for a vessel, over the size of an ordinary launch, Engineers of higher qualification than Chinese at present possess are a matter of necessity.
MARINE COURTS, UNDER ORDINANCE No. 11 OF 1860.
30. The following Courts have been held during the year:-
1. On the 6th March, 1877, inquiry as to the loss of the British barque Letty Gales, Official No. 70,131, on the North East side of the Pratas' Shoal in the China Sea. Certificate of Competency returned to the Master.
2. On the 27th March, 1877, inquiry as to the loss of the British ship John O'Gaunt, Official No. 24,201, on a reef on the East side of the Island of Batag, Philippine Islands. The Master's (Jous PLEASE) Certificate of Competency was suspended for six months.
3. On the 17th April, 1877, inquiry as to the loss of the British barque Naworth Castle, Official No. 58,116, on the Bombay Shoal, Paracels Group, China Sea. The Master, HENRY PHILLIP WEPPENER, was washed overboard and drowned soon after the vessel struck.
4. On the 2nd July, 1877, inquiry as to the stranding of the British Steam-ship Thales, Official No. 52,608, on a rock about 2 miles S. by E. of Canibridge Point, of the Mount Adolphus Islands near North Queensland. Certificate of Competency returned to the Master.
5.. On the 23rd October, 1877, inquiry as to the loss of the British barque Merse, Official No. 13,777. on the North West corner of the Pratas Shoal in the China Sea. Certificate of Competency returned to the Master.
6. On the 29th November, 1877, inquiry as to the loss of the British barque Queensberry, Official No. 16,928, on a reef lying off the South West Coast of the Island of Palawan in the China Sea. Certificate of Competency returned to the Master.
SEAMEN.
31. 7,358 Seamen have been shipped and 7,728 seamen have been discharged at the Shipping Office of this Department. Of the difference, 370, most of the men have left the Colony without being regularly shipped.
The Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G.,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
Your most obedient Servant,
H. G. TROMSETT, R.N., Harbour Master, Je.