D.—B

1894. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAY SLEEPERS: NUMBER OF SLEEPERS ON HAND ON THE 31st AUGUST, 1894; LOCALITIES WHERE STACKED; ALSO PARTICULARS AS TO CONTRACTS FOR, AND COST.

Returns to Orders of the House of Representatives, dated the 6th and 11th September, 1894. Ordered (Sept. 11), " That a return be prepared by the Railway Department, and laid before this House, showing —(1) The number of sleepers on hand on the 31st August, 1894 ; and (2) the localities and numbers where same are stacked."—(Mr. G. J. Smith.) Ordered (Sept. 6), " That a return be prepared by the Railway Department, and laid before this House, showing— (1) The number of sleepers purchased, ordered, or contracted for in each class of timber; (2) the price paid for sleepers ; (3) the locality where they were obtained ; (4) the cost of freight paid per sleeper, and the number shipped to different ports—all during the financial year ending 31st March, 1894."—(Mr. Mills.)

Return showing Number of Sleepers in charge of Storekeepers on 18th August, 1894, the Localities where stacked, and Number in each Locality.

Note. —Return is made up to end of last accounting period, viz., 18th August, as particulars are not available to end of month, as required by order of the House. 17th September, 1894. E. G. Pieoher, Secretary.

Locality where stacked. dumber 01 Sleepers on Hand. Locality where stacked. dumber oJ Sleepers on Hand. .uckland Section — Auckland Waikato line Kaipara line 9,137 4,679 2,318 Hurunui-Bluff— continued. Christchurch Section— continued. Rakaia, Ashburton, and Springburn Rangitata 8,775 2,369 fapier-Taranaki Section — Wanganui-New Plymouth District Napier-Palmerston District 3-, 622 4,497 Dunedin Section— Oamaru Dunedin 92 10,898 /ellington-Eketahuna Section— Wellington and Hutt District .. Mangamahoe 3,054 230 Invercargill Section — Lawrence Invercargill .. .. Thornbury Lumsden 100 5,975 361 204 turunui-Bluff— Christchurch Section— Christchurch and Lyttelton Oxford District 6,742 22,004 Picton Section— Pic ton Railway 2,198 Westport Section— Westport 2,701