Australia. Queensland. Department of Ports and Harbours

“ The approach to Moreton Bay by the South Passage should be discouraged, as the banks move about in a remarkable manner; and variation in the depth of water and direction of the channels being of frequent occurrence, it should be attempted only by men possessing good local knowledge, in vessels of light draught. ”

“ Considerable expense has been incurred through the renewals of buoys and beacons occasioned by the floods in February last, almost every buoy being displaced. All the marks are now, however, in position again. The light on Gatcombe Head and the apparent light on Oyster Rock are working satisfactorily, and the dwelling-houses of the lightkeeper and pilot crew are in very fair order, only one of them requiring repairs of any consequence. Ordinary wear and tear is the only expense likely to be required for the pilot schooner "Enid" during the current year. ”

“ Pintsch's gas for beacons, buoys, and light-vessels is being adopted to a great extent in Europe, Asia, America, and the Suez Canal. In the colony of Victoria Pintsch's gas buoys are also in use. It possesses great advantages, owing to the cheapness of first cost and to the fact that no outlay is necessary for lightkeepers, as the light burns from six weeks to two months without attention. This system of lighting is admirably adapted for use in the Inner Route and for the shifting channels at the entrance to Moreton Bay. ”

“ During the past year large quantities of spat have fallen on the oyster banks in Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait, some of the banks being literally covered, thus preventing the shipment of good marketable oysters, which, if removed in their present state, would cause the destruction of all the young oysters attached to them. ”

“ In January and February of the present year another series of heavy gales was experienced along the whole coast of the Colony, and on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of June a gale of unusual severity, accompanied by torrents of rain, swept along the coast from Bowen southwards, causing heavy seas and abnormally high tides. Such unfavourable weather, of course, occasioned considerable loss to the Department, a great number of buoys being driven from their moorings (some lost altogether) , and beacons and other plant receiving a large amount of damage. ”

“ During the past year the swinging basin has been dredged, which considerably increases the anchorage accommodation at this port. The pilot vessel "Governor Cairns" has been recently repaired and remetalled, and consequently will require no further outlay for some time. She is principally employed in attending to the beacons in the Inner Route to Torres Straits, and conveying stores to the lighthouses at Archer Point and Rocky Islet. The harbour plant, buildings, buoys, beacons, and the lighthouse and signal station on Grassy Hill are well cared for, and in good order. ”

“ 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 pilot vessels at Broadsound, Mackay, Townsville, and Cooktown have been frequently utilised during the last twelve months in conveying cocoanut and other trees, to the various islands and reefs adjacent to our coast, where they have been planted, and the lightkeepers in the neighbourhood have been instructed to protect the young plants as far as possible. ”

“ Great attention has been paid by the different licensees to the cultivation of their banks by removing the poor oysters from the high ridges, after being carefully culled and separated into clumps containing from three to four oysters, are deposited on the grass flat and lower ground lying near. ”

“ The buoys and beacons are in good order throughout this district. When the cutting at Horse-shoe Bend is completed, there will be a depth of 10 feet at low water, spring tides, through all the cuttings in the Mary River, and vessels drawing 19 feet will be enabled to reach the wharves at Maryborough.
The lightkeeper's cottages at Woody Island and one of the cottages at Inskip Point require some repairs, but with those exceptions the domiciles are in good order. ”

“ WRECKS AND CASUALTIES.
A tabulated statement is attached hereto, giving particulars of the wrecks and casualties to shipping on our coast for the year ending 30th June last. Happily no loss of life has been the result. ”

“ She is kept in excellent order, and requires no outlay. The Piper Island lightship will be the next vessel to be relieved. The metal on her bottom is becoming thin, and the caulking in her topsides defective. After a careful examination I consider she may remain another year or eighteen months at her station. The repairs necessary in the meantime are unimportant.
BEACONS, INNER ROUTE.
These are now in an efficient state, the heavy weather of the pant year having occasioned considerable damage, two expensive beacons having to be renewed altogether. ”