D.—2

Relaid.

The weights and kinds of rails now existing in the lines are as under, at date 31st March, 1899:—

Sleepers: The number of sleepers relaid and removed during the past eight years is as under:—

The column showing difference between those relaid and removed indicates the additional sleepers put in in newstandard tracks over the previous practice. The current year's requirements are estimated thus :— Ordinary renewals ... ... ... ••• ••• ••• 287,000 For relaying sixty-nine miles, at 484 ... ... ... ••• 33,396 For re-spacing, say, fifty-eight miles ... ... ... ... 25,604 Total ... 346,000 I estimate that the sleepers required for relaying during the next six years will be approximately according to subjoined table : —

XXI

Year. 401b. - Iron. 401b. Steel. 451b. Steel. 521b. Iron. 531b. Steel. j j 561b. ! 701b. ; 701b. Steel. { Iron, j Steel. 1 I Total. M. ch. 0 62;; 5 42 M. oh. 2 66 0 33 1 44 1 62 0 37 0 18 0 21 0 19 M. ch. M. ch. 0 27 0 35 M. ch. 32 49 29 21 44 22 30 46 36 6 31 15 3 68 5 63 M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. M. ch. 36 44 36 77 io 66 36 42 36 47 35 31 46 76 47 57 1891-92... 1892-93... 1893-94... 1894-95... 1895-96... 1896-97... 1897-98... 1898-99... 3 58 0 4 2 28 1 35 0 17 i" 26 034 1 28 41 32 39 68 0*2 0 "22 1 "50 Totals 14 6 7 60 1 60 0 62 213 50 82 48 0 24 1 50 322 40

Weight. Kind. Length. 721b. 701b. 701b. 641b. 561b. 561b. 531b. 521b. 521b. 451b. 401b. 401b. 301b. Iron Steel Iron Steel Iron Steel M. oh. 0 11 4 26 52 53 3 4 124 36 14 50 1,118 9 33 12 106 49 6 62 225 43 330 42 64 30 rr Iron Steel ff Iron rr Total ... 2,084 27* * The tc J mileage of the lines.

Difference d ie to Be-spacing. Year. Belaid. Removed. Number. Number per Mile of Track open for Traffic. .891-92 .892-93 .893-94 .894-95 895-96 .896-97 .897-98 898-99 139,257 145,045 177,502 194,971 214,474 243,398 286,343 331,301 139,912 132,569 155,827 170,681 188,291 210,588 243,479 282,326 12,476 21,675 24,290 26,183 32,810 42,864 48,975 6*6 11*1 12*2 13-0 16*3 20-8 23*5