D.—2.

Two hundred and eight wagons were written off and 16 sold, leaving 28,401 in service at the end of the year. The number of wagons that passed through the workshops was 20,321, and of these, 15,158 received heavy repairs. Wagons of all types, totalling 3,459 in all, were on order and under construction at the close of the year ; of this number, 2,104 will be placed in service in the North Island, and 1,355 in the South Island. Tarpaulins. At the close of the year 24,138 tarpaulins were in service. Tarpaulins repaired in the workshops numbered 16,757, while 4,854 new tarpaulins were issued as replacements. Cranes. Five new cranes were placed in service during the year. Of these, 1 was constructed in the workshops, being a pneumatic coaling crane, while the remaining 4 were 2-ton petrol electric cranes imported from England. TRANSPORTATION BRANCH. The train-mileage for the year (exclusive of shunting and departmental mileage) was 13,072,615 as compared with 12,777,852 for the previous year, an increase of 294,763 train miles. The passenger miles run were 5,551,026 compared with 5,322,050, an increase of 228,976. The goods and mixed train miles were 7,521,589 compared with 7,455,802 for the previous year, an increase of 65,787. Particulars of the revenue train mileage run in the various sections are as under : —

TRAIN SERVICES. The following table shows the average late arrival of the express, mixed, and suburban trains for the year : —

Average Late Arrival of Trains, Year ended 31st March, 1939.

These figures include delays arising from all causes, including slips, floods, washouts, engine and other mechanical failures, and traffic delays at stations. Slips, floods, washouts, and other line interruptions were again severe during the year and reflected adversely upon the normal timekeeping of the train services, particulars of these interruptions being as under : — From 14th to 16th April, 1938, slips between Te Wera and Kiore blocked the line and dislocated the train services in this area. The Greymouth-Rewanui line was blocked by slips from 15th to 18th April inclusive. Serious flooding occurred in the Napier-Putorino area towards the end of April, 1938, and goods services on the East Coast line to Wairoa from Napier were cancelled until the line was restored and normal running resumed in December. The line between Hastings and Napier was impassable for four days in April, 1938, owing to flooding in this area. On 4th May a severe gale, accompanied by high tides, damaged the approaches to the railway bridge on the south side of Tauranga and also the track on the northern end, traffic, being interrupted until the following day.

XXXIII

Section. 1938-39. 1937-38. Variation. Kaihu .. .. .. .. .. 13,488 13,632 - 144 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. 59,624 43,940 + 15,684 North Island Main Line and Branches .. .. 8,361,257 8,036,723 +324,534 South Island Main Line and Branches .. .. 4,486,925 4,530,610 — 43,685 Westport .. .. .. .. .. 69,883 69,782 + 101 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 39,218' 39,826 - 608 Picton .. .. .. .. .. 42,220 43,339 - 1,119 Totals .. .. .. .. 13,072,615 12,777,852 +294,763

I Period ended Average Year ended p In May. May. June. July. August. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. | Jan. Feb. March. March. Minutes. 1 ' I 1 Express and Mail Trains. 1939 .. .. 113-38 111-05 I 7-01 I 6-03 I 6-14 I 7-08 I 4-58 I 4-35 | 3-00 I 7-99 I 7-38 I 5-79 I 4-83 I 6-81 1938 .. ..I 5-28 I 6-99 I 5-67 j 8-51 | 7-73 I 5-79 I 3-58 I 3-20 | 3-11 112-15 | 9-37 I 9-70 | 6-17 | 6-71 Long-distance Mixed Trains. 1939 .. .. [10-94 I 9-55 I 8-55 I 5-42 I 6-38 | 5-86 I 4-00 I 5-24 I 4-94 I 6-12 I 6-38 [ 8-26 I 8-62 I 0-94 1938 .. ..I 8-74 | 8-81 | 5-40 j 7-78 | 6-32 j 4-71 j 4-65 | 4-66 | 4-78 | 6-31 I 7-16 112-66 [12-23 j 7-24 Suburban Trains. 1939 .. ..I 1-24 | 1-09 j 1-14 I 2-04 j 0-93 I 0-82 I 0-41 I 0-42 | 0-35 I 0-52 I 0-71 I 0-62 I 0-74 I 0-85 1938 .. . . I 0-60 I 0-77 I 1-54 | 1-43 I 0-99 | 0-67 | 0-55 | 0-69 | 0-48 | 1-01 | 0-85 J 1-00 | 0-83 | 0-87