£>.—2

XXII

Table showing Sleepers required for Ordinary Repairs and Re-spacing for the Years named.

The following table shows the charges made to the Maintenance Account for the past eight years (as per Eailway Accountant's returns) :— Y ea J- . . . Amount. Year. Amount. 1891-92 £245,163 1895-96 ... ... £282,593 1892-93 ... ... 262,600 1896-97 301,981 1893-94 268,451 1897-98 327,987 1894-95 ... ... 272,718 1898-99 ... ... 357,189 The estimated expenditure for the Maintenance Branch for the current year and forecast for ensuing years are as under : —■

The amounts set down for reconstruction are the estimated value of rails and labour for relaying, additional sleepers for re-spacing, and reconstruction of bridge structures, based upon present mileage of line, rates of wages, and prices of material, and it will be found that the cost of track renewals will increase and that of bridge reconstruction will decrease during the years included in the forecast. Provision is included for an anticipated increase of traffic, but it is assumed that the present maximum engine-axle load will be maintained. It will be wise to take advantage of an expanding revenue to provide for the inevitable increasing cost of reconstruction of the lines. Private Sidings.—Seven new private sidings were granted during the year, and the number on the register at the 31st March, 1899, was 252, with an aggregate rental of £4,162. Leases.—New leases registered during the year were 311; the number of leases in force 1 497 having an aggregate rental of £13,749. Staff— The working staff employed during the year was 2,210, with an office staff of seventy-five. This is my last annual report, by reason of my retirement. It occasions me many regrets to leave the Eailway service, in which I have so many friendships as well as interests, "which have grown strong during twenty-seven years. I wish to express my esteem and regard for the whole staff of officers and employes. Harmony and good-feeling characterizes the working of the various branches of the service in their relation to each other. I shall continue to take a great interest in the progress of New Zealand railways. I append the usual returns. I have, &c, J. Henev Lowe, The General Manager, New Zealand Eailways. Wopking Eailwa y s '

APPENDIX D. ANNUAL SIGNAL REPORT. a rt * « rt xt -z , , ~ , Wellington, Ist April, 1899. As the traffic on the New Zealand railways developed in weight and speed it became increasingly apparent that some measure of modern railway signalling should be gradually introduced. To this end about a year ago a branch of the Engineering Department was formed to construct and supervise interlocking and block signalling, together with the other signalling appliances suitable to the New Zealand lines. s s

Respacing. Year. Ordinary Renewals. Per Mile of Track. (Present Mileage.) Total Number of Sleepers required. Extra for relaying New Standard. Respacing without Relaying. 1899-1900 1900-1901 1901-1902 1902-1903 1903-1904 1904-1905 287,000 303,000 319,000 335,000 351,000 350,000 33,396 37,752 41,140 43,560 45,980 47,432 25,604 18,248 12,860 7,440 3,020 2,568 28*3 26-9 25*9 24*5 23-5 24*0 346,000 359,000 373,000 386,000 400,000 400,000

Year. Reconst Amount. Reconstruction. truct tion. Rate per Mile. Ordinary Mail itenance. Total. Amount. Rate per Mile. Amount. Rate per Mile. 899-1900 ... 900-1901 ... 901-1902 ... 902-1903 ... 903-1904 ... 904-1905 ... £ 101,810 100,000 97,500 95,000 92,500 90,000 £ 49 48 47 46 44 43 £ 294,309 295,000 309,500 303,000 305,500 300,000 £ 141 142 148 145 147 144 £ 396,119 395,000 407,000 398,000 398,000 390,000 £ 190 190 195 191 191 187