D.—2

6

The new locomotives, together with boiler renewals, increased the total tractive power by 144,079 lb., equal to 3'Bl per cent.; the new engines building and boilers under construction will, when completed, still further augment the tractive power. In the New Zealand Government Eailway Workshops to date 50 locomotive engines have been built, and, in addition, 24 old locomotives have been rebuilt to more powerful types. Four hundred and fifty-three locomotives passed through the workshops during the year, details as follows :—

Included in above return are 4 engines for Public Works Department. The following locomotives are under construction in Government Eailway Workshops—viz., 6 large tender engines of the four-cylinder " balanced compound" type, 1 large tender engine, and 6 Class Wp tank engines, making a total of 13 engines. During the year Messrs. A. and G. Price, of Thames, completed their contract to build: 10 Class Wp locomotives. This contract was completed well within the specified time, the engines being in every respect up to specification. Boilers. —The work on boiler repairs, renewals, and new boilers has made satisfactory progress. Thirteen new boilers were made. The following statement shows the details of the work done during the year : —

Twenty new locomotive boilers are under construction, comprising 7 Class A, 1 Class D, 1 Class J, 5 Class E, and 6 Class Wf. Carriages. —The car-stock on the Ist April, 1905, comprised 864 cars; the stock on the 31st March, 1906, was 906 cars. Forty-two new ft. bogie cars were built and added to stock. The additional cars have increased the seating-accommodation by 7-04 per cent. During the year good progress has been made in equipping cars with lavatory-accommodation, cushion seats in second-class compartments, platform gates, and gangways. The following table gives details of repairs, &c, to cars for the year : —■

Ninety-one new bogie cars are under construction.

Number and Type. Particulars. Four- . cylinder < Arttiu- " balanced Tender lated c °™" Tank compound" Engines, P<> Mra « Engines. Tender _, Ta . nk Engines. Engines. Fail ■lies. Total. Fell Engines. Single. Double. Number passed through shops Built new Ee-ereoted after shipment ... Thoroughly overhauled Heavy repairs Light repairs Painted and varnished Touched up and revarnished 1 1 195 19 88 88 41 72 2 1 224 3 3 20 87 111 26 46 5 "5 24 1 12 11 4 9 2 1 1 453 5 3 40 193 212 76 128 i i 1 "3 1

Description. If Ji u 0B CD q 43 id o ffl CO M i> 8 H w BO ii <D a » CO o .2 "a B3 H aj cS ""3. Si if 3 no ! □0 PQ ■ loilers 194 13 91 90 53 27 7 53

Particulars. Nu) Bogie. Number and Type of Cars. imber and Type o£ Cars. Six-wheel. Pour-wheel. Total. Number passed through shops ... Built new Thoroughly overhauled Heavy repairs Light repairs.. Painted and varnished... Touched up and revarnished 1,393 42 34 275 1,042 279 443 62 6 56 12 9 17 4 4 9 4 4 i 1,472 42 38 285 1,107 295 456