XLV

P.—2

The following table gives particulars of work done on wagons during the year :—

Included in the above are twenty-eight wagons repaired for the Cape Foulwind line. At the close of the year there were under construction in the railway workshops 609 wagons, consisting of 137-bogie and 472 four-wheel wagons. Tarpaulins. —The tarpaulin stock on the Ist April, 1923, was 20,582, and on the 31st March, 1924, the number was 20,582. 1,652 new tarpaulins were made in the railway workshops, 1,600 to replace missing sheets, 40 for the Public Works Department, and 12 for a private line. 622 worn-out tarpaulins were condemned and written off, and replaceel with a similar number of new tarpaulins. The following table gives details of the work on tarpaulins for the year :—

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

General. —In addition to the engines, cars, brake-vans, and wagons repaired at the workshops, 38,255 engines, 64,553 cars, 11,525 brake-vans, and 84,129 wagons were repaired at out-depots in order to .keep vehicles out of service the shortest possible time. Axles. —During the year 4,872 car, van, and wagon axles were replaced with moelern steel axles. This number does not include axles for new rolling-stock. Westinghouse Brake. —The work of equipping the engines and rolling-stock on the; Westland Section with the Westinghouse brake will be completed early this year. Efficient arrangements are in force for the examination and upkeep of the Westinghouse brake. Train Running and Mileage. —There has been an increase; of 677,772 miles in train-mileage as compared with 1922-23. The engine-mileage has increaseei by 978,444 miles as compared with the previems ye»r. The following table shows particulars of the expenditure per train-mile : —

Description. p-{ .■*.-!. Rebuilt . Th ° o r v °e U r ghly R H-y Light painted . through new. , , , Repairs. Repairs. Shops. hauled. up. .. 30,660 89 62 1,462 12,665 16,382 4,382 16,754 agons

Description. Condemned Number passed Manufactured and replaced through Shops. new. with now Tarpaulins. Repaired. 'arpaulins 32,705 1,652 622 30,431

Description. vi it I o bo ""3 3JS p a IH i £ Ph « r>l l> e3 n I 03 % 3 oi I S 1 j 3 3 Ph '3 PQ Boiler-repairs. •3 I i«liii il I ■& |ss.|8 8e3 ,6* m 4 a s & a Hand-cranes Steam-cranes Stationary engines Pneumatic coaling31 35 27 II i 1 8 1 4 19 4 1 5 14 23 1 4 1 2 6 9 23 10 1 3 i i 8 7 19 2 6 i 1 10 cranes Pile-drivers 1

,923-24 ,922-23 Year. Train-mileage. 9,024,503 8,346,731 Engine-mileage. 12,450,796 11,472,352 Cost, in Locomotive Branoh. 50-35 61-00 Cost, in Pence, per Train-mile. i Pence, per Train-mile. Car and Wagon ~ . , Branch Total - 14-65 65-00 15-40 76-40 I