t).—2.

The following table gives particulars of repairs, &c, to tarpaulins for the year:—■

Stationary engines and cranes : The following table gives particulars of repairs, &c, to stationary engines and cranes for the year :—

The erection of two 10-ton hand and one 7-ton steam cranes was completed. The expenditure per train-mile has been as follows : —

The cost per train-mile is practically the same as it was the previous year. The usual returns are attached. I have, etc., A. L. Bbattie, Chief Mechanical Engineer. The General Manager, New Zealand Eailways, Wellington.

APPENDIX C.

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE MAINTENANCE OF THE NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. Sm, — Chief Engineer's Office, Wellington, Ist April, 1903. I have the honour to submit the following report on the maintenance of the New Zealand Eailways for the year ending 31st March, 1903 : — Permanent-way. —The track has been maintained in good condition. During the year fifty-four miles of track have been relaid, 39-J miles with 701b. rails and 14-J miles with 561b. rails. The best of the second-hand rails taken up from the main lines have been used to relay lighter classes of track on the branch lines, thirteen miles having been so relaid. In my previous report I called attention to the necessity for increasing the rate of relaying, but I regret to say that this year, owing to the delay in obtaining rails, there was less done thaii for some three or four preceding years. The remarks I made in my last report in connection with relaying still apply. The track now being relaid is not unfit for traffic, but if the relaying be not pushed on faster the expenditure in the near future must be abnormally increased to keep our lines in a safe condition. The return of sleepers, attached to the Statement, shows that during the year we have relaid 384,469, of which 92,597 were imported hardwoods, and the balance, 291,872, native timbers. The expenditure on sleepers, exclusive of laying, was £76,888. I regret the decision to cease the use of hardwood sleepers, for the reasons given when I recommended their importation. Considerable delay has occurred in the delivery of the new creosoting plant for Woodville and repairing the plant at Invercargill, but a large number of sleepers have been procured in readiness for treatment and the work will be commenced early in the forthcoming year. During the year there has been expended on track-renewals £176,494, as against £170,473 in the previous year, although a less amount of track has been relaid. The difference is accounted for by balances of rails and sleepers carried over, having been received too late to lay during the year, and by relaying with second-hand rails on the branches.

6

Description, ... Number passed Manufactured Condemned i through Shops. New. and replaced, 8,278 391 642 Repaired. 7,245

Type. a. r& O a-3 O s : s so 5 « >' t si 3 c3 O 6 s O I 3 T3 ■I s CO M J I £ 2 I o H , pq Boiler•epairr*. rf} o5 s^ & ! cu : <u CJ l O ■ 7Z a I !5> i I M i 5 "l "7 I !." 3 8 ... ... I 4 .. Hand-cranes Steam-cranes Stationary engines Hoisting-engines Pile-drivers ... , 26 49 8 3 7 2 1 1 1 1 2 4 ! 15 1 1 3 19 30 6 2 2 3 6 1 1 2 ... ... . ... 2 1 1 1 ... 1 —

Cost in Pencr, Engine Mileage. n , m • 5 5 Branch, per Tram Mile. Coat in Pence, Car and Wagon Branoh, per Train Mile. Total. Year. Train Mileage. 902-3 901-2 5,443,333 5,066,360 7,626,628 6,996,765 16-69 1664 4-67 4-71 21-36 21-35