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APPENDIX G.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF MACHINERY.

The Chief Inspectob of Machineby to the Undeb-Seceetaby for Public Woeks. Sic, — Chief Inspector of Machinery's Office, Wellington, 16th Juno, 1893. I have the honour to submit my first annual report on the working of " The Inspection of Machinery Act, 1882," for the year ending 31st March, 1893. The number of boilers inspected during the year was 2,256. Of this number, 62 were found to be in a dangerous condition, and 253 others more or less defective. If more intelligence was displayed by those in charge of boilers and machinery, the advantages to the steam users would be considerable in the economy of fuel, greater efficiency of the machinery, reduced cost of repairs, and greater safety from accident. In these days of high and increasing working pressures the necessity for a superior class of attendants is becoming daily more evident. One hundred and forty-seven new boilers have been put to work during the year, 86 of which were imported and 61 made in the colony. On the 31sfc March there remained 580 boilers and 40 lifts, besides machinery, not inspected. It is therefore apparent further assistance is required. No accidents to life or limb in connection with boilers having occurred during the year is a proof of the great advantages and safety afforded by the compulsory inspection of boilers. Comparing the results in New Zealand with Great Britain, at the same percentage of boilers in use, there would be in New Zealand an average of seven explosions, causing the death of five persons and injuring twelve, per annum. The results obtained in New Zealand are creditable to the system, and also show the intelligence and skill displayed by the Inspectors in the performance of their duties.' I regret having to report accidents in connection with machinery, four of which proved fatal, and fifteen in which the injuries were more or less serious. In each fatal case, at the inquest, a verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attributable to any one. Flax-milling claims the greatest number of accidents. This class of work is of a dangerous nature, and special care is exercised by the Inspectors in having the machinery, as far as practicable, protected, without destroying its efficiency; yet, even when this is done, there is considerable risk, and when you sec the carelessness and indifference to danger displayed by those employed about this class of work the wonder is that there are so few accidents. None of the accidents reported were preventable by inspection, they having occurred through neglect, indifference, carelessness, or were purely accidental. I regret having to report that, on the 4th January, Mr. Alexander Crawford died after a few hours' illness. He was an Inspector in Otago for over seventeen years, was a valued officer, and highly respected. Mr. A. Morrison was appointed to fill the vacancy. I took an early opportunity, after my appointment as Chief Inspector, of visiting the various centres, and found the work very much in arrears ; also a want of uniformity in assessing working pressures and horse-power of boilers —the first important as regards safety, the latter also important, as the fees for inspection are regulated by the horse-power. Each Inspector was guided by his own opinion. The result was that when boilers were moved from one district to another the pressure and fees were raised or lowered without any apparent reason, thus affording a source of complaint to steam users. As uniformity of system is my aim, I hope the above anomalies will soon disappear. I recommended that assistance should be obtained to overtake the arrears of work. Temporary assistance was granted, but this was found to be insufficient. Then it was decided to appoint another Inspector. Mr. Carman was appointed, and commenced duties on the Ist April, 1893. With a view of having a more uniform system of dealing with boiler and machinery certificates, more especially as regards the fees, which were a source of trouble and occupied a considerable portion of the Inspector's time, it was decided to issue all boiler and machinery certificates from the head office, a clerk being appointed for that purpose—thus relieving the Inspectors from a large amount of clerical work in connection with certificates, and allowing them more time to devote to the practical part of their duties, and thereby enabling them to overtake a portion of the arrears of work. This system was initiated on the Ist January, and it is gratifying to know that so far it is working well, the amount of outstanding fees on the 31st March being reduced to a minimum. Further reductions of clerical work are under consideration, and, when this relief is afforded, and with the assistance of the newly-appointed Inspector, I hope by the end of the current year to have the arrears of work within reasonable limits. In concluding this my first annual report, I beg to bear testimony to the energy, perseverance, and skill shown by the Inspectors in the performance of their arduous and at times very difficult duties. Appended are tables showing: (1) Number and class of boilers inspected, and fees payable; (2) Different classes of machinery inspected, and motive power by which driven ; (3) Nature and extent of defects found on inspection ; (4) Notices given to repair defects in boilers ; (5) Notices given to fence dangerous parts of machinery; (6) Accidents which proved fatal to persons in connection with machinery; (7) Accidents to persons working machinery, but which were not fatal. I have, &c, W. M. Mowatt, The Under-Secretary, Public Works. Chief Inspector of Machinery. B—D. 1.