D.—l

A summary of the number of certificates of fitness, or permits to run, that were issued during the year is as follows : —

Vehicles condemned, total 22. Vehicles withdrawn voluntarily, 66. General. —A considerable amount of work of a mechanical nature has been done for other Government Departments during the year, principally concerning the preparation of contract specifications, arranging and supervising contracts, and making payments. The major work in this connection related to the following Departments, viz : — Agriculture Department . . . . Repair and purchase of tractors. Cook Islands Department .. . . Purchase of plant. Defence Department . . .. Steam services and cooking equipment, new barracks. External Affairs Department .. Purchase of plant. Forestry Department .. .. Purchase of plant. Health Department . . .. Installation of new boiler, Waikato District Hospital. Industries and Commerce Department Tourist and Health, heating hostels. Justice Department .. . . Heating courthouses. Lands and Survey Department .. Installation of pumping-plant. Marine Department .. .. Inspection of lighthouses. Installation of lighthouse plant at Baring Head and Tiritiri. Mental Hospitals Department .. Laundry equipment and water - supply, various institutions. Installation of plant at Auckland and Ngawhatu Mental Hospital. Mines Department .. .. Manufacture and repair of alluvial drills. Purchase of plant. Native Department . . .. Purchase of plant. Navy Department .. .. Purchase of plant for Naval Dockyard, Auckland. After preparation of suitable specifications and advertising contracts, numerous items of roadmaking plant were purchased through the Main Highways Board for sale to local bodies on hirepurchase system. These comprised nine power-graders, being one each for the following counties : Grey, "Wallace, Waimarino, Maniototo, Selwyn, Masterton, Waimate, Bay of Islands, and Vincent. One tractor and planer was purchased for the Opotiki County. One stone-crusher and elevator for Clifton County. Two motor-lorries for Grey County and one motor-lorry each for Maniototo County, Tauranga County, and MacKenzie County.

TRAMWAYS. Auckland. —During the year under review the Auckland Transport Board constructed one new car, which was tested and put into service. Twenty-one cars were damaged as the result of accidents ; sixteen were repaired, inspected, and returned to service. One car was damaged beyond repair by fire, the superstructure was reconstructed on a stream-line basis. Four fatal accidents occurred, two of which were the outcome of passengers attempting to alight whilst cars were in motion, the other two resulted from tram-cars coming into collision with pedestrians. In all cases the Auckland Transport Board was absolved from all blame. New Plymouth. —Progress is being made with the bonding of rails by welding. Two miles of trolley wire and fittings have been renewed. A hot-water system was installed in the tramway-sheds for the convenience of employees. 4*

51

.. , . , ! Omni- Service Service 1 Passenger j rn + „, No. and Ihrtnct. buseg . Carg _ Coaches, j Trucks. Tota '' j 1. Whangarei .. .. .. .. 10 59 7 63 139 2. Auckland and Tauranga .. .. 204 157 20 21 402 4. Gisborne and Napier . . . . . . 64 142 8 32 246 5. Stratford and Taumarunui . . .. 17 89 2 26 134 6. Wellington 115 136 7 19 277 7. Nelson and Westland .. . . .. 22 109 .. 36 167 8. Ckristchurch .. ,. .. .. 51* 44 9 j 12 116 9. Dunedin .. .. . . .. 48 89 4 13 154 10. Invercargill .. . . .. .. 22 74 3 j 8 107 Totals .. .. .. 553 899 60 ! 230 1 1,742 I ; I I * Includes 11 electric trackless trams.