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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR 1903-4.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Hon. the Acting Minister of Marine to His Excellency the Governor. Inspection of Machinery Department, My Lord, — Wellington, Ist July, 1904. I do myself the honour to transmit herewith, for Your Excellency's information, the report of the Inspection of Machinery Department of the colony for the financial year ended the 31st March last. I have, &c, His Excellency the C. H. Mills, Right Hon. Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., Acting Minister of Marine. Governor of New Zealand.

The Chief Inspector op Machinery to the Hon. the Acting Minister of Marine. Inspection of Machinery Department, g IE) Queen's Chambers, Wellington, 19th May, 1904. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report on the operations of the Inspection of Machinery Department for the twelve months which ended the 31st March, 1904 : — The work of the Department is practically up to date, with the exception of the inspection of a few boilers in the outlying parts of the Auckland District. This omission unfortunately occurred through one of the Auckland Inspectors being off duty from the 9th November, 1902, till the 28th June, 1903, and the Nelson Inspector being off duty from the 9th October, 1903, till the Bth January, 1904, both owing to illness. Only for this I think there would have been no arrears at the end of the financial year. A considerable correspondence has taken place with manufacturers of machinery outside the colony regarding the manufacture of boilers intended for use in this colony. On the whole, it has been of a very pleasant nature, and most of the manufacturers have complied with our rules. To have a uniform system of rules for construction is very desirable,, more especially in these days of high pressure and keen competition. It is with pleasure I have again to report that no boiler-explosion has taken place in New Zealand during the year. I think no little credit is due to the staff of the Department for this desirable result. In looking over the returns connected with the reports of the Board of Trade upon the working of the Boiler-explosions Acts in Great Britain, I find that the average number of explosions per annum during the last twenty-one years amounts to sixty-nine, the number of lives lost to twenty-nine, and the number of persons injured to sixty-one. The number of formal investigations held in Great Britain into the circumstances attending boiler-explosions which occurred during the year ending the 30th June, 1903, was ten. The causes of these explosions have been clearly ascertained, and in no case has the explosion been attributable to unavoidable accident. Although there are incomparably more boilers in Great Britain than there are in New Zealand, still I think it is something to satisfy the most fastidious that this Department has done excellent work in safeguarding the interest of both owners and employees in seeing things safe for them in connection with the use of steam-power throughout the colony. The number of boiler-inspections this year exceeds by .nearly one thousand the number inspected in any previous year. The actual number is 5,416. The number last year was 4,463. All the machinery in motion in connection with these was also looked over to see that the pulleys, shafting, and gearing attached to machines were safe for the employees. This is particularly safeguarded by the Inspectors, and the advice of the Inspector is often sought when new machinery is being erected. The number of boiler certificates issued during the year totals 5,416, being an increase of 953 on the number issued last year, I—H. 15a,