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1909. NEW ZEALAND.

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR 1908-9.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Inspection of Machinery Department to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, Inspection of Machinery Department, Wellington, 24th July, 1909. I do myself the honour to transmit herewith, for Your Excellency's information, the report of the Inspection of Machinery Department of the Dominion for the financial year ended the 31st March last. I have, &c, J. A. Millar, Minister in Charge of Inspection of Machinery Department. His Excellency the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., Governor of New Zealand. The Chief Inspector of Machinery to the Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Inspection of Machinery Department. Inspection of Machinery Department, g IR) — Customhouse Buildings, Wellington, 3rd May, 1909. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report on the operations of the Inspection of Machinery Department during the twelve months which ended on the 31st March, 1909. A good year's work has been accomplished, and, although more inspecting has been done this year than in any former year, there are still some portions of the country work in arrears. Most of the shipping-steamer-survey work, however, is completed. There is a great increase in the number of gas, oil, and electric motors inspected. Quite a number of new producer-gas plants have now been installed in the Dominion, and, as far as I can learn, are working well and with very economical results. The dangers to life by the inhaling of this poisonous producer-gas not being generally known, the Department issued a circular mounted on cardboard, setting out the dangers in the use of it, and pointing out clearly what should be done as first aid in the case of any one who had been overcome with the gas. As the gas has no smell, it is difficult to detect its presence in any building. The circular has been hung up in all the generating-rooms where the producer-gas is made for power purposes. Special rules dealing with spherical and dished end construction in the building of vertical boilers, digesters, steam-domes, &c, were issued to the Inspectors of Machinery. Several boilers of peculiar designs, mostly used on steam-wagons employed on public roads, have been dealt with. A large number of new electric lifts have been installed this year in buildings. For the first time in New Zealand perfectly automatic electrically controlled lifts have been introduced. So far only three of these are in use. By an ingenious arrangement of push-buttons at the different landings and on the lift-cage itself, any person can get to any landing in a building by simply pushing the correct button for that landing. These lifts require no attendant. Inspection of Machinery Act. The principal Act was amended last session. Some of the most important alterations made are the following: — The definitions of a " boiler " .and of " machinery " have been extended. It is now clearly defined who shall be in charge of an electric, hydraulic, or other lift, and under what conditions a lift may be exempted from being in charge of any one. The owner of any boiler which carries a higher pressure than that granted by the Inspector is now liable to a fine of £100, instead of £10 as formerly.

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