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98
Office.—The Office Staff remains the same, but there has been a substantial
addition to the work here caused by the advance in Food Inspection,
and temporarily from the notification of passengers' addresses in relation to
Cholera, Plague and Small-pox.
Some re-distribution of duties has enabled the present staff to cope with
the work, but occasionally the pressure is great.
Hospital. —Except for changes among the domestics, there is no alteration
in the staff of the Hospital.
Launch Crews, &c.—One of the boy deckhands left the service during
June to take up other employment. Otherwise there have been no changes
in this section of the staff.
LAUNCHES.
I again present a tabulated statement of the work of the launches, and cost
of upkeep, which Tables give a comparison for the past three years.
A reference to Table III. shows that the total number of vessels visited by
the launches during the year, was 14,914. That of these the largest number
as usual were visited in the Upper District, the Middle District coming next
in order.
Owing to the slightly increased number of working days as compared with
the preceding year, the average daily number of vessels visited shows a
corresponding rise.
The "Clotho" shows an increase in inspection on a lesser number of
working days.
With regard to the cost of upkeep, this is shown to be fairly constant, and
calls for no special comment for the past year.
The slight variations shown are fully accounted for by a corresponding
variation in the number of days the launch was employed.