D.-2

XVI

Stationary Engines and Cranes. —The repairs and renewals during the year were as follows :—

Axles. —During the year 198 car, van, and wagon axles were replaced with modern steel axles : this number, however, does not include axles for new rolling-stock. The steel axles increase the carrying-capacity of each wagon by 2 tons. Westinghouse Brake. —The work of equipping engines and rolling-stock on the Whangarei Section with the automatic quick-acting Westinghouse air-brake was completed during the year. The work on the Westland Section has been taken in hand. Efficient arrangements are in force for the examination and upkeep of the Westinghouse brake. All new engines and rolling-stock built for sections upon which the air-brake is in operation are equipped with it before being put into service. G air-lighting. —The oil-gas manufactured at the live, separate Pintsch-gas works during the year amounted to 11,248,470 cubic feet, and cost to manufacture 2s. 2'3ld. per 100 cubic feet, the reduction in cost of production being due to improvements in the plant and the use of a better gas-producing oil. On sections not provided with Pintsch gas all cars are lighted with acetylene gas. Motor-cars. —The motor-cars in use on the Culvordon-Hanmer service have been kept in good and efficient working-order'. Pail Motor-cars. —The Westinghouse petrol-electric rail motor-oar put into service last year has been kept in efficient working-order and employed on suburban services. An addition to this form of traction lias been made by importing a Thomas transmission-rail motor-car. The erection of this car is now in hand in the railway workshops. Steamers. —The Railway Department's steamers on Lake Wakatipu service have been maintained in good working-order, Renewals and Replacements. —During the year eight second-hand tank engines, two cars, and twelve wagons were sold, and thirty-one worn-out wagons were broken up and written off; also 566 worn-out tarpaulins were condemned and written off. To replace the engines and rollingstock sold or written off one heavy tank engine, three bogie carriages, two bogie brake-vans, and thirty-eight wagons were built, and 774 tarpaulins were made. Of this number of tarpaulins, 208 were to replace tarpaulins destroyed by the fire at Fast Town Workshops on the 18th February, 1915. To replace the remaining engines and wagons sold or written off new stock is under construction. In accordance with the practice of the Department, the cost of replacing engines and rolling-stock sold or worn-out and written off is debited to working-expenses. Train Running and Mileage. —This year there has been a decrease in train-mileage amounting to 26,898 miles as compared with 1914-15. This has been due to the increased use of larger engines, which take heavier loads and thereby cut down the number of special trains and doubleheaded trains. As more of these heavy engines are built and put into service further reduction in train-mileage is to be expected. There has been an increase in engine-mileage of 62,901 miles as compared with 1914-15. The increase is partly due to the larger number of work-trains supplied. The following table shows particulars of the expenditure per train-mile : —

As the increased cost per train-mile is only 0'09d., it must be considered, when all the circumstances are taken into account, as a very satisfactory year's working.

Description. ™- CD i § I to .£3 c3 c3 CO ci-, r* - I) sf K j 9 >> §1 * r5_" W _ 17 ! 6 18 I 6 30 ... 5 3 2 1 DQ >H '3 S< Oi 3 03 . .w .2? , -3 § rr | Ph , EH 11 3 ! 3 12 3 6 2 1 ... 2 ... 2 1 | ... j ... CO H '3 p, 03 > a Boile: CO u '3 & i 03 Ph ' 110 3 ;-reps 03 3_-L. EH a > 03 5 s. rH ,irs. o Q 03 * 'S.S «s CO Sm J3 -— 3 EH S ggri lr O 03 5 •a & w land-cranes iteam-cranes Stationary engines ... 'ile-drivers and hoisting-engines 'neumatic cranes ... '-9 22 1 2 i 3 10

I Cost, in Pence, per Train-mile. Year. Train-mileage. Engine-mileage. r Locomotive Car arid Wagon Branch. Branoh. I Total. 1915-16 1914-15 9,356,522 9,383,420 12,719,488 12,646,587 24-55 24-42 ! I i 5-80 5-84 30-35 30-26 I i