85

E.—3

-AJPIPEiNTDIX IF.

ANNUAL REPORT OP THE CHIEP INSPECTOR OP MACHINERY, The Chief Inspectob to the Ministee for Public Wobks. Office of the Chief Inspector of Machinery, Sib,— Wellington, 16th July, 1875. I have the honor to submit the following report on the working of "The Inspection of Machinery Act, 1874 :"— At the request of the Superintendents of the Provinces of Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago and Nelson, the Act was, by Proclamations dated 6th November, and 10th March, brought into force in these provinces ; Hawke's Bay being now the only province in which the Act is not in operation. Each of these provinces has been constituted a district, with the exception of Nelson, which, for convenience of working, has been divided into two. Four Inspectors were appointed in January, one of whom resigned in March, and another has been appointed in his place. The Inspectors stationed at Auckland and Dunedin work the Auckland and Otago Districts respectively; the Inspector stationed at Wellington works the Wellington, Taranaki, Marlborough, and Nelson North Districts ; and the Inspector stationed at Christchurch works the Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson South Districts. As the appointment of Inspectors was only made in January last, the whole of the boilers and machinery liable to inspection have not yet been visited. The machinery is so scattered over the country, that a great deal of time is occupied in inspecting it. When the next inspections take place, the Inspectors will be better acquainted with the localities where machinery is situated, and so will be able to execute their work in a more expeditious manner than at present. I forward herewith returns showing the number of boilers and different kinds of machinery inspected, the amount of fees collected, and the cost of working the Act. A considerable number of the boilers inspected were found to be in a defective, and some in a highly dangerous state, and orders were given by the Inspectors to have them repaired, and also to have any dangerous machinery fenced. It is to be remarked that all such orders have, almost without exception, been readily complied with by the owners. The only boiler accident which this office has cognizance of, as having taken place since the bringing into operation of the Act, is one that occurred in Auckland. The following are the particulars of the case : —On the 23rd of March, at 10.30 a.m., a small round, flat-ended boiler, fired externally, about 9 feet long and 20 inches in diameter, used in connection with a firewood-cutting establishment, exploded. The back end was blown out, having parted in the neck of the angle iron. The explosion is believed to have been caused by excessive pressure. Fortunately no one was injured, although the boiler passed through a stable, a bedroom in which were a woman and child, and then crossed a main street, traversing altogether a distance of about 250 feet. Numerous instances having occurred in which signs of weakness appeared round the man-holes and similar openings in boilers, instructions have been given to the Inspectors not to pass any new boilers without their having a strengthening ring fixed round these openings. Certain defects having been discovered in the Act, more particularly in there being no penalty provided for carrying a greater pressure than that allowed by the Inspector, an Amending Bill has, in accordance with your instructions, been prepared for submission to Parliament. I have, &c, J. Nancaebow, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Chief Inspector.

Enclosure No. 1. RETURN showing the NUMBER of INSOECTED during the Financial Year ended 30th June, 1875, (Six Months only.)

No. OF Bo: 'OETABLE -EES. No. op S AEY Bi ItationDILEES. Name or Disteict. CO a 3 H O H 10 H.P. and under. Over 10 H.P. 10 H.P. and under. Over 10 H.P. l uck land Vellington larlborough ... !anterhury Vestland felson South ... )tago... 16 13 14 34 4 2 77 5 4 B 4 2 3 12 43 30 1 39 9 1 35 68 21 15 18 7 3 30 132 68 33 95 22 9 154 Totals... 160 158 162 33 513