33

D.—2a

sufficient accommodation in this shop a certain number of light repairs is undertaken outside. The shop holds only twelve engines even when the centre road is occupied. It was observed that parts taken from locomotives under repair are temporarily stored under benches and in all sorts of places, the reason given for this being the inadequate space available. It was also noted that repairs to the heavier type of boilers have to be undertaken in the erecting-shop owing to there being no proper boiler-shop. The machine-shop is electrically driven, and undertakes all work in connection with repairs to locomotives and steam and hand cranes. A considerable amount of work is also performed for the Permanent-way and the Public Works Department. There would appear to be ample accommodation in this shop ; but a large number of machines are of obsolete type, and should be replaced by modern machinery. It is understood that a certain proportion of up-to-date machines is on order, but not sufficient to meet requirements. The lean-to used as a boiler-shop is provided with an old-fashioned overhead travelling hand-crane capable of lifting only the lightest of boilers. As has already been stated, some of the boiler repairs have to be undertaken in the eiecting-shop, and, in addition to this, a certain amount is dealt with in the open. There is very little machinery in this shop, and what there is should be replaced by something more up-to-date. A modern punching and shearing maching is on order. The blachsmiths' shop appeared to satisfactorily meet present requirements. An up-to-date bolt-making machine is in course of erection. The moulding-shop, while meeting present needs, will require to be provided with an electric crane to replace the existing hand-crane, which is far too slow for the work to be performed. The present number of moulding-machines is inadequate. The tarpaulin-shop has ample accommodation. This also applies to the paint-shop. The woodworking-machine shop is very crowded and badly laid out, but it is not possible of extension owing to the site, which is situated on the side of a gully, being limited in extent. The machinery is fairly up-to-date. The carriage and wagon repair shop is also very congested, both new work and repairs having to be undertaken on the same line. There are five roads, one being reserved for Westinghouse-brake overhaul. No extension of the existing shop is possible owing to the position of the site, as previously explained. A certain amount of the work is undertaken in the open. The workshop yard accommodation is totally inadequate, all the lines converging into a bottle-neck at the entrance gate, and the shunting, therefore, is necessarily expensive. This shop is situated about a quarter of a mile away from the main shops, and all blacksmiths' work, casting, and machine work have to be conveyed by rail between the two. The arrangement is for two deliveries each way daily, but, having regard to the fact that the vehicles containing the materials have to pass through the busy and congested yard, serious delay necessarily takes place. Addington Works. —The accommodation in the Addington shops is inadequate, and, owing to this, certain boiler repairs have to be undertaken in the erectingshop. This shop consists of three roads, but the centre road, which should be used as a run-out, has to be utilized for repair work, thus causing a certain amount of delay. There is insufficient room between the roads for the work to be satisfactorily performed. The shop is fitted with two electric overhead cranes, each of 20-ton capacity. In the machine-shop it was observed that the greater part of the machinery is considerably out-of-date, and should be replaced with modern tools. The general lay-out of the shop is not satisfactory, and, when modern tools are provided, it should be remodelled. The foundry, where steel, iron, and brass castings are manufactured, is very congested. In this foundry the whole of the steel castings required by the railways throughout the Dominion are turned out. The moulding-machines appear to be suitable, and it is understood that further machines are on order. The boiler-shop is totally inadequate to deal with the work required, and, as stated, a certain amount has to be undertaken in the erecting-shop. There are