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The Inspector of Machinery, Wellington District, to the Assistant-Seceetary, Marine Department. Sib, — Office of Inspector of Machinery, Wellington, 13th June, 1888. I have the honour to forward for your information my annual report on the boilers and machinery in the Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson North, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Nelson South, and Westland Districts. The number of boilers inspected during the above period was 606. Of this number, 53 are new, 23 of them having been made in the colony and 30 imported. Although there has been an increase in the number of new boilers, very little increase has taken place in the number of boilers at work, each district having its quota of idle ones. The flax industry, extending as it is, will no doubt employ a good number of those that are at present laid up. I am glad to be able to record the absence of accidents to life or limb from boilers or machinery during the year. I have, however, to report accidents to three boilers owing to carelessness or want of knowledge on the part of the attendant. Owing to a portion of Mr. Mowatt's time having been employed in Auckland, after which he was unfortunately laid up with a fever, it was found necessary to get the assistance of Mr. Blackwood, 131 boilers having been inspected by him and 191 by Mr. Mowatt. Appended are returns showing the class, number, and horse-power, together with the fees payable for inspections, in each district; the number of notices given to fence dangerous parts of machinery ; the number of notices given to repair boilers ; the descriptions and number of machines inspected; also returns of accidents to boilers. I have, &c, H. A. McGeegoe, The Assistant-Secretary, Marine Department. Inspector of Machinery.

Return showing the Number of Land Boilers inspected during the Financial Year ended the 31st March, 1888.

Return of Notices given to repair Boilers during the Financial Year ended the 31st March, 1888.

Number of Portabh Boilers. Number if Stationary Boilers. To ;al. Name of District. Under 5 h.p. 5 to 10 h.p. Over 10 h.p. Under 5 h.p. 5 to 10 h.p. Over 10 h.p. Boilers. Fees. Vellington* larlboroughf felson North 'aranakij ... Eawke's Bay§ felson South Vestland ... 13 4 1 1 5 43 11 22 10 88 6 5 28 2 7 3 8 12 4 28 8 21 8 17 17 20 47 6 14 13 19 7 6 72 14 10 10 19 17 10 231 45 75 45 106 59 45 £ 499 89 145 93 197 120 77 Totals 24 135 64 119 112 152 606 1,220 * Twe: t Five J Fou: § Ten inty-nine boilers over 1C 3 boilers over 10 h.p. an ir boilers over 10 h.p. at . boilers over 10 h.p. are ) h.p. are in e included i ■e included included i: icluded in thirteen maximum fees in two maximum fees, in two maximum fees, n five maximum fees.

District, and Date of Notice. Description of Boiler. Nature of Eepairs. WELLINGTON — 1887. May 28 June 3 June 11 Dee. 6 Dec. 16 Portable ... Multitubular Cylindrical shell Multitubular Vertical ... Two new girder-stays top of fire-box. A new safety-valve and lever. Three new longitudinal stays. Two extra longitudinal stays. Plates to be fitted round mudhole-openings, tubes to be expanded and two new ones fitted. [ahlbokough— Aug. 20 Aug. 24 elson North [awke's Bay— 1888. Mar. 15 Mar. 16 Lancashire Cornish ... Vertical ... A blistered plate to be taken out and a new piece fitted. Three new plates in the bottom. A new lum-leg fitted. Portable ... Portable ... Three new screw-stays in fire-box. The lower part of the fire-door-opening to be re-rivetted and tubes expanded. Tube-ends in fire-box expanded, and fitted wdth verrels. Tube-ends in fire-box expanded, and fitted with verrels. Mar. 16 Mar. 22 Portable ... Portable ...