D.—2

8

Extensions of sidings and station-yards have been made at Waipawa, Waipukurau, Ormondville, New Plymouth, Lyttelton, Christchurch, Ashburton, Lovell's Flat, Gore, Bluff, Wright's Bush, Winton, Lumsden, Kingston, and several other places. New goods-sheds have been erected at Hook, Seadown, and Greymouth, and those at New Plymouth, Masterton, and Eketahuna enlarged. A number of new cattle-yards have been put up at various places. Additions to workshops have been made at Petone, Addington, and Greymouth. The long and steep grade south of Halcombe has been reduced from 1 in 55 to 1 in 70, with curves of larger radius. A new loop-line at Sentry Hill has been completed, making a direct run from the South to New Plymouth. Improvements have been made to the gradients between Waihola and Millburn, and at Owhiro, enabling engines to haul increased loads from Milton towards Dunedin. Expenditure. —The total cost of maintenance for the year was £245,163, being at the rate of £131 17 per mile. This is slightly less than last year's rate, and is the lowest yet attained. New Construction. —The following works have been carried out under the vote for additions to open lines Cattle-wharf at Onehunga, additional siding-accommodation and enlargement of goodsshed at New Plymouth, loop-line at Sentry Hill, alteration of grades between Halcombe and Feilding, extension of sidings at Ormondville, Waipawa, Sefton, Islington, Oamaru, Warrington, Lovell s Flat, Gore, and Kelso , enlargement of goods-sheds at Eketahuna and Masterton, and station-extension at Petone, coal-store, Palmerston North, new weighbridge, Foxton, new stationbuildings at Ashurst extension of machine-shops at Petone, extension of boiler-shop, erecting-shop, and new pattern-shop at Addington, and new sidings , fire-service for Christchurch station-yard , sidings and signals, Christchurch yard, new goods-sheds at Hook and Wyndham, loading-platform at Belfast, alteration of grades between Millburn and Clarendon, extension of sidings, approaches, and cattle-yard, Wright's Bush , cattle-yard at Tapanui, extension of wharf and sidings at Kingston, wharf-extension at Picton (this work is well advanced) Tree-planting. —A large number of forest trees were planted out in the Canterbury District, and supplies sent to other districts in both Islands. Planted in Canterbury, 79,900 , sent to other railway districts, 33,150, supplied to Christchurch City Council, 50 total sent out from nursery, 113,100. Private Sidings. —There were twelve new grants of private sidings made during the year, and fourteen renewals of former grants. These have an aggregate rental of £575 per annum. Leases. —New leases to the number of 188 were granted during the year The usual detailed annual statements are appended. I have, &c, J Heney Lowe, The New Zealand Eailway Commissioners. Chief Engineer, W.E.

APPENDIX B. Gentlemen, — Locomotive Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 6th May, 1892. I have the honour to report upon the Locomotive Department for the year ending 31st March, 1892. The locomotives, rolling-stock, tarpaulins, machinery, and general plant have been maintained in good condition, and have been considerably improved. The improvements to locomotives are giving excellent results. Balanced valves have run 50,000 miles, and on examination have been found in good order Some have been in three years without being touched, and are still in good condition. Standard side-rods run four to six times longer without alteration than the old type, and the life is also proportionately longer Metallic packing has run 45,000 miles without replacing, at an annual cost of about one-tenth that of the ordinary packing previously in use. The class "W" engine on the heavy grades between Hutt and the Summit ran 31,356 miles from Ist October, 1889, to November, 1891, when it had to be stopped for turning up the tires only, the other parts being in good order Locomotive Repairs and Rebuilding. —lso locomotives have come into the shops for repairs. Of these, 3 have been entirely rebuilt, 1 rebuilt and fitted with new boiler, cylinders, gear, tanks, &c, 13 are now being rebuilt —2 of these will be entirely replaced, and the other 11 will be fitted with new boilers, cylinders, gear, tanks, &c. In each case the locomotives rebuilt are of greatly-increased power This is the first year that locomotive-rebuilding has been carried out so extensively. 61 locomotives were thoroughly overhauled, 24 underwent heavy repairs and 48 light repairs, 57 were wholly painted, and 36 had paint-work renewed and were revarnished , 4 stationary boilers underwent heavy, and 3 light repairs. Car and Wagon Repairs and Rebuilding. —B bogie cars have been entirely rebuilt, to replace old stock condemned , 285 cars have been thoroughly overhauled, and 170 received light repairs ; 127 were wholly painted and varnished, and 127 had the paint and varnish renewed , 7 bogie brake-vans have been entirely rebuilt, to replace old four-wheel stock condemned, 95 brake-vans were thoroughly overhauled, and 79 received light repairs, 44 were wholly painted and varnished, and 46 had the paint and varnish renewed, 1,824 wagons were thoroughly overhauled, and 1,521 had light repairs , 170 were entirely rebuilt. Of the old stock which these new wagons represent, 100 wagons