1).—2

IX

The following table gives particulars of repairs, &c., to boilers for the year ending 31st March, 1897:—

The following new work is in hand: Six new Class U passenger engines, one new Class Wa engine, the conversion of one Class F engine to Fb, and conversion of eight Class L engines to La. There are thirty-five new boilers in hand. Carriage Repairs and Rebuilding. —Five hundred and fifty-three cars passed through shops, twenty-two new cars, Class A, were built, and eleven four-wheel and four six-wheel old-type cars were entirely rebuilt to fourteen bogie cars, Class A. A patent compressed-oil-gas works has been erected and brought into operation at Dunedin, and twenty-five carriages have been fitted for the use of compressed gas. This light has proved very successful, and arrangements have been made to considerably extend its use. The following table gives particulars of repairs, &c, to carriages for the year ending the 31st March, 1897 :—

The following new work is in hand; The conversion of forty-five Class C and D cars to Class A. Brake-van Repairs and Rebuilding. —Two hundred and twenty-seven vans have passed through the shops. Three old-type four-wheel vans were rebuilt to bogie type. The following table gives particulars of repairs, &c, to brake-vans for the year ending 31st March, 1897:—

The following van-work is in hand : Three new bogie brake-vans, and conversion of eight oldtype of four-wheeled brake-vans to bogie-vans. Wagoii Repairs and Rebuilding. —Four thousand one hundred and thirty-six wagons have passed through shops. Fifteen Class J, ten Class X, 186 Class L, one Class O, one Class Q, ten Class R, sixteen Class U, five Class V, two Class W, and one Class Z were built and added to stock during the year. At the close of the year 1896 150 lowside wagons were disposed of to the Western Australian Government, and new stock of an improved type, and more suited to the requirements of the department, was put in hand. The difference in cost to the 31st March —£7,B3l —has been charged to the working-expenses of the department. The following table gives particulars of repairs, &C, to wagons for the year ending the 31st March, 1897 :— 2—l>. 2.

Year ending 31st March, 1897. II if t a '3 e '3 a H cS o> tam '3 S 03 .SP EC O & •A <s u *s« s ,2 a H •J. I g 2-2 ■83 S.I go, a o 5 i as S3 So i- <U CD -p A 2& ITS J3 o I e I 122 3 49 70 '27 21 9 1 45

Number. Class of Car. Number passed through shops ... 543 380 Class A, 46 Class B, 70 Class C, 47 Class D. Class A. Erected new ... Rebuilt Converted 22 14 11 Class D to 10 Class A, and 4 Class C to 4 Class A. 1 Class A, 5 Class B, 15 Class C, 11 Class D. 69 Class A, 15 Class B, 3 Class C, 2 Class D. 222 Class A, 26 Class B, 52 Class C, 30 Class D. Class A. 113 Class A, 17 Class B, 20 Class C, 9 Class D. 90 Class A, 15 Class B, 32 Class C, 14 Class D. Thoroughly overhauled... Heavy repairs Light repairs ... 32 89 334 Number fitted with standard draw-gear Wholly painted and varnished ... 45 159 Paint or varnish renewed 151

Description. OS CO If ICD a $ O Converted. i '3 a, > Cβ V a I bo 3 111 I 3 o -s || 2 S Prom To O j_i o > J3 O irake-vans... ... 227 ... 3 4-wheel 3 bogie 22 18 158 4 66 88