D.—2.

The statistics of communication facilities are as follow: — Morse instruments .. .. .. ■ • • • 194 Telephones .. .. • ■ ■ • • • .. 2,553 Miles of wire .. .. ■ • • • • • 15,564 Miles of poles .. .. .. . ■ ■ • ■ • 3,052 Railway exchanges — Automatic .. .. .. •. • • • ■ 5 Manual .. .. . . ■ ■ • • • • 7 Public exchange connections .. . . . ■ ■ ■ 551 Level-crossing Alarms. Warning signals have been installed at the following level crossings : —■ Station. Milage. Type. Otorohanga (Ranfurly Street) .. .. 113 m. 70 ch. Flashing lights. Petone (Gear Co.'s Siding, Hutt Road) .. 6m. 37 ch. Flashing lights. The wig-wag warning signal at Waitara Road, 3 m. 25 ch., Waitara Branch, has been dismantled owing to the provision of an overbridge. A number of existing level-crossing alarms have been equipped with trickle-charged secondary batteries which have considerably reduced the use of more expensive primary batteries. The total number of level crossings now fitted with warning-devices is 123. Electrical Reticulation. During the year a number of motor installations were completed at various workshops and locomotive depots. The installation of electric lighting was completed at a number of stations buildings, yards, and workshops. At the close of the year a total of 2,194 dwellings and 335 railway-stations were electrically lighted and 13 station yards equipped with flood lighting. CONCLUSION. In formulating this report the Board has, in order mainly to facilitate comparisons, followed generally the form of previous railway statements. The Board has, in view of the present need for the strictest economy, felt compelled to compress the report into the smallest compass that would enable a reasonable measure of information to be afforded regarding the working of the Department during the financial year under review. It has been difficult, however, in the space available, to convey a wholly adequate impression of the activities of the Board and the Department during the year. The year's work has been one of great intensity. This was due not only to the difficult conditions prevailing, but also to circumstances that were inseparable from such a radical change in the form of the administration of the Department and to the large amount of work that was involved in carrying out certain of the statutory duties imposed upon the Board, the chief of which from the point of view of the year's work was the investigation and report that the Board was required to make regarding new lines. Many matters have been reviewed, the more important of which have been touched upon in the report. There are many other matters which have also been brought under the Board's notice, and final decisions have either been come to thereon or the matters are still under action. In conclusion, the Board desires to express its appreciation of the loyal support which it has had from the Executive and the staff of the Department during the year. The Board has been pleased to receive from the public many expressions of appreciation of the obliging and courteous attention of the members of ..the staff in their desire to give service of a standard that will ensure satisfaction to the public. It has been greatly impressed to find the quantity of data which is available in the Department's records on practically every subject that the Board has had occasion to bring under review. The Board is glad to be able to state that the Department's organization is such that the most authentic and up-to-date information on all matters that might affect the working of the Department is being diligently collated in a form that makes it readily available at short notice. The Board desires also to express its appreciation of much friendly and constructive criticism and co-operation from the press and the public generally. It is a cardinal feature of the Board's policy to keep an open mind on every subject with which it has to deal and to receive and endeavour to appraise at its full value every point of view that might be made available to the Board. It is therefore keenly sensible of the advantage of having every shade of opinion adequately represented to it. In witness thereof the official seal of the Government Railways Board was hereto [l.s.] affixed by resolution of the Board in the presence of— H. H. Sterling, Chairman ' James H. Gunson\ Geo. W. Reid Railways ■ M embers Board. Edward Newman Daniel Reese

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