JJ.-4.

36

[]?. T. MUIIISON.

67. Have you oven known any accident, either to a member of tlie public or to a member of the Railway service, arise from the practice of fitting together two pieces of draw-bar springs to form one spring?— No. 68. Where you use two pieces of a draw-bar spring to form one spring, what is the difference between using two pieces like that and using one complete spring I —Practically no difference, because we pick out pieces that join together so as to make a spring of the same length —that is, 7 in. 69. Is anything done bo tighten these two pieces up in any way I —They are always tightened up about § in. or in. 70. Do you get the same extent of resiliency as with one complete spring J —Practically the same. 71. It has been said that when you have two pieces of a draw-bar spring used in this way they form a solid mass of metal and have no resiliency at all ?—I cannot understand that. 72. Is it a correct statement? —No. 73. Does the practice of using two pieces of a draw-bar spring in this way increase the wear-and-tear ? —Not in the slightest. 74. Is there any tendency for that practice to damage the undergear in any way ?—No. 75. Would you tell the Commission, then, if you say that the draw-bar spring is not a matter of safety, why you do not adopt it in the case of carriages—that is, to use two pieces to form one spring ?—The two pieces are probably not quite so elastic as the one spring, and we always reckon to have the very best in the carriages, although I am quite sure nobody would notice any difference. 76. The draw-bar spring, then, affects comfort more than safety?— Yes. 77. Bur. you do not think a person travelling in the carriage would notice any difference?— No; but in the case of carriages we use the best. 78. Have you any carriages or wagons in Auckland without draw-bar springs? —No. 79. Do you know of any carriages or wagons which are used upon the New Zealand railways without draw-bar springs ?—The only ones 1 can think of are some coal-wagons used in Wellington on the wharf. 80. Are they perfectly safe to run I —Quite safe, but not very comfortable. 81. 1 suppose you have in Auckland a considerable quantity of rolling-stock which the members of the Commission could examine ?—Yes, there is always a quantity of rolling-stock here. 82. 1 suppose you always have a certain amount of rolling-stock in the shops at Newmarket? —Yes. 83. 1 apprehend that you can only speak of the condition of the stock in your own district during the time you have been up here? You have not been away from the district?—No, only casually. 84. You say, as far as this section is concerned, the condition of the rolling-stock has not in any way deteriorated?—l am quite confident that it has not. 85. 1 suppose a good deal of the stock is interchangeable —you may get Wellington stock here?— Yes; all the wagon stock is interchangeable, and some of the carriages are interchangeable. 86. Then you have seen a certain amount of rolling-stock from other parts of the North Island?— Yes, certainly; it is continually coming here. 87. Is that examined in any way?-—lt is just treated the same as our own. 88. Does your answer that the condition of the rolling-stock has not deteriorated apply equally to the stock that has come from other parts of the Island to Auckland as to the Auckland stock ?—Most certainly. 89. Have you had any suggestions made at all that accidents have arisen during the last three years through the defective or inefficient state of any of the rolling-stock?— No. 90. Do you yourself, as the result of your inspections in the yards or elsewhere, find it necessary at times to send carriages or wagons into the shops for repairs?— Very rarely. Of course, if I saw anything wrong I would write to the Car and Wagon Inspector. 91. Do you yourself, as a result of your inspection, ever find it necessary to send a car into the wagon-shops?— Very rarely; in fact, I do not remember ever having to do so. 92. I suppose the sending of wagons and cars into the shops is a matter, speaking generally, for the Car and Wagon Inspector ?—Yes. 93. Can train-examiners do that on their own responsibility?— Yes. 94. Are repairs done at places other than the shops at Newmarket in your section?— Yes; light repairs are done at Auckland and Frankton—those are the chief places; but the other places where train-examiners are stationed do a certain quantity of light repairs. 95. And if any repairs are required which they cannot do?—lt is sent to the shops. 96. Once a car or wagon has gone into the shops, by whom has it to be passed before it comes out again ?—By the Car and Wagon Inspector, not by me. 97. The work has to be done and the repairs effected to his satisfaction ?—Yes. 98. Does the work come under the notice also of the Workshops Manager or Foreman?— Yes. 99. Has the work to be inspected by both, or one?— They both inspect it in addition to the Car and Wagon Inspector. 100. Has there been any alteration in the design of underframes during the last three years that you can think off?—l cannot think of any alterations. 101. Reverting to the question of draw-bar springs, you have told us of a practice that has subsisted : is that a practice which lias arisen merely because draw-bar springs may be at times short, or is it a practice that has arisen for any other reason? —It has been used at several times, even when we have new springs, because it is equally efficient, and it is a matter of economy. 102. Would it be possible to have a wagon, or a carriage for that matter, running with broken draw-bar springs without the break being noticed ?—Yes.