D.—2

XIV

Level-crossing Automatic Alarm-bells. Thirteen level crossings have been equipped with automatic' warning-bells at the following places : 160 miles 57 chains, near Ongarue ; 264 miles 20 chains, near Taihape,; 202 miles 56 chains, and 202 miles 18 chains, near Hawera ; 151 miles 63 chains, near Westmero ; 2 miles 47 chains, 2 miles 29 chains, and 1 mile 68 chains, near Wanganui; 146 miles 10 chains, near East Town ; 1.10 miles 56 chains, near Napier ; High Street, Rangiora ; 182 miles 41 chains, near Hillgrove ; 227 miles 39 chains, near Upper Port Chalmers. The present number of level crossings fitted with warning-bells is 58. Auto-flag visual warning-signals (Wig-Wag) have been installed at the following level crossings to work in conjunction with the warning-bells which were in use : 2 miles 25 chains, near Kingsland ; Queen Street, Levin ; Main South Road, Temuka ; 227 miles 39 chains, near Upper Port Chalmers. Expenditure. Particulars of expenditure for the Signal Branch for the year ending 31st March, 1922, are as follows :— New works — £ s. d. Signalling and interlocking .. .. .. .. 21,633 3 0 Electric-tablet working .. .. .. .. .. 450 6 3 Telegraph and telephone facilities .. .. .. .. 14,430 10 1 Electric light .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,471 7 9 Electric motors, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 12,528 3 3 Level-crossing alarms .. .. .. .. .. 2,172 7 6 Automatic signalling .. .. .. .. .. 33,052 2 10 £87,738 0 8 Maintenance — £ s. d. Signalling and interlocking .. - .. .. .. 28,886 3 6 Signals at level crossings .. .. . . . . . . 1,470 911 Telegraph and telephones .. .. .. .. 11,543 11 4 Lines, &c., maintained by Post and Telegraph Department .. 1,558 5 6 Electric block and tablet working .. .. .. .. 15,941 1 2 Electric light .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,099 17 3 Electric power . . . . .. .. . . .. 859 7 6 Electric motors, cranes, fire-alarms, &c. .. .. .. 2,424 0 7 £72,782 16 9 LOCOMOTIVE. Mr. E. E. Gillon, Chief Mechanical Engineer, reports as follows : — The plant, locomotives, tenders, carriages, brakevans, wagons, machinery, and tools have been maintained in good working-order during the year. Locomotives. —On the Ist April, 1921, there were 608 engines in service, and on the 31st March, 1922, there were 637 engines. One second-hand tank engine was sold and written off stock. Thirty new engines were added to stock, all being Pacific type simple-superheated tender engines, Class An, three of which were built in the Government railway workshops, the balance, twenty-seven, being portion of the contract with the North British Locomotive Company (Limited), of Glasgow. In the Government railway workshops to date 194 engines have been built, and twenty-four old locomotives have been rebuilt. During the year 641 locomotives passed through the workshops, the details of work done being as follows : —

Included in the above are two engines for private lines and two engines for Public Works Department. In addition to the eng'nes repaired in the railway workshops, six engines were thoroughly overhauled by Messrs. A. and G. Price (Limited), Thames.

Number and Type. Particulars. Number passed through shops Built new Erected new Re-erected Thoroughly overhauled Heavy repairs Light repair's Painted * .. Paint touched up Fourcylinder Balanced- Tender Tank Foil Single Compound Engines. Engines. Engines. Fairlies. Tender Engines. 55 268 305 7 6 3 27 6 32 ' 62 60 4 1 7 52 66 2 T 16 124 173 1 4 29 52 69 5 2 19 167 78 2 4 7 6 Total. 641 3 27 6 159 128 318 157 270 4 2 1 5 2 1 T 4 2 4