D.—2.

1885. NEW ZEALAND.

DEFECTIVE RAILWAY AXLES. (CORRESPONDENCE AND MEMORANDA RELATIVE TO)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Memorandum by the Storekeeper, Public Works Department, to the Engineee-in-Chief. Re Shipment of Eighty Pairs Wheels and Axles, ex " Invercargill." Public Works Office, Wellington, 12th March, 1884. I have to report that one of these has been discharged from the ship, broken in the axle. The captain of the vessel informs me that it was found broken in the ship's hold, before removal therefrom, and he cannot say how it was done. An examination of the fracture shows that there were flaws on each side of the axle, one a half-inch and the other about a quarter-inch in depth. The iron itself is of very inferior quality, and has the appearance of coarse white pig-iron, instead of " the best clean scrap," as specified. I would suggest that this pair be sent Home by the " Invercargill" to the Agent-Gcneial, and returned to the manufacturers (the Staffordshire Wheel and Axle Company), with a request that another pair be sent out by direct steamer to replace them. I would remark that there are no external indications on the axle to show that it has had any blow or fall, or anything that would be evidence as to how it was broken; and, as the iron is so very inferior, it is a question for you to decide if a percentage of the whole shipment should not be tested. before being sent away from Wellington to the different lines. The Engineer-in-Chief. P. Pdtnam.

No. 2. The Inspecting Engineer to the Hon. the Minister for Public Woeks. Public Works Office, Wellington, 12ih March, 1884. It is recommended that the broken pair of wheels and axles be returned to the manufacturers, as proposed by the Storekeeper. From an examination of the fracture it appears to be almost certain that the broken axle has not been submitted to the tests specified in the English specification, and I recommend that the whole consignment be thus tested at the Petone workshops before its distribution. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. C. B. Knoeit.

Minute by the Minister for Public Works, Act accordingly—E. Mitchelson.—l3/3/84.

No. 3. The Engineee-in-Chief to the Inspecting Engineer. Re testing Axles made by the Staffordshire Wheel and Axle Company, Public Works Office, Wellington, 27th May, 1884. If these are tested in the way proposed, it will not be safe to use them for rolling stock, as you will observe that the Home specification provides that two extra axles shall be provided by the contractors for testing purposes, and it is clear that the axles bo tested were not to be used as part of the contract quantity. Please, therefore, to test one axle only, and, in choosing it, Mr. Putnam will shew you a pair of wheels and axle, in which one of the wheel bosses is cracked ; this is the one I should test. A claim could then be made on the contractors to supply two new axles, supposing the one tested proves to be good ; if it breaks short, some further tests must be made. Mr. Knorpp. John Blackett.

l—D. 2.