D.—2

10

Mileage. —The total mileage open for traffic on 31st March, 1901, was 2,211 miles 4 chains. The following lines having been added during the year : — Whangarei Section— M. oh. Waiotu to Hukerenui ... ... ... ... .. ... 124 Auckland Section — Makarau to Tahekeroa ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 Hurunui-Bluff Section — Banfurly to Wedderburn ... ... ... ... ... 834 Invercargill to old Junction-points, Seaward Bush Branch .. ... 73 Midland Bailway— M. eh. Belgrove-Motupiko ... ... ... ... ... 944 Stillwater-Beefton ... ... ... ... ... 37 13 Brunner-Jackson ... ... ... ... ... 31 34 Jackson-Otira... ... ... - ... ... ... 11 23 Springfield-Otarama ... ... ... .... ... 457 ■ 94 11 Total ... ... ... ... ... 107 68 Private Sidings. —The number of private sidings on 31st March, 1901, was 271, with a total annual rental of £4,512. Sixteen rights were granted during the year. Leases. —The number of leases current on 31st March, 1901, was 1,741, with a total annual rental of £15,897. Two hundred and seventy-five new leases were issued during the year. Staff. —The working staff was 2,560,- and office staff 90, making a total of 2,650. I append the usual returns. I have, &c, John Coom, M.lnst.C.E., Chief Engineer. The General Manager, New Zealand Bailways. ANNUAL SIGNAL REPORT. Sib, — Wellington, Ist June, 1901. I have the honour to submit the following report on the signals, interlocking and blockworking, also the telegraph and telephone facilities of the New Zealand Government railways for the year ending the 31st March, 1901. Fixed Signals. During the past year a number of the existing signals have been interlocked, and twenty-five stations have been equipped with signals interlocked in such a manner that it is not possible to lower two conflicting signals at the same time. There are now 100 stations with fixed semaphore signals, and 140 stations remain to be similarly equipped. Considerable delay has occurred from the want of material, but as more efficient arrangements have now been made for procuring the same, rapid progress should be made with the work. Expenditure for the year on new work in connection with this branch was as follows :— £ s. d. Auckland District ... ... ... ... ... ... 399 0 0 Wanganui District ... ... ... ... ... 542 0 0 Wellington District ... ... ... 452 0 0 Christchurch District ... ... ... ... ... 263 0 0 Dunedin District ... ... ... ... ... ... 750 18 2 Invercargill District ... ... ... ... ... 101 0 0 Westland District ) ion n n Westport District } - "• — ibU U U Total ... ... ... ... £2,687 18 2 Interlocking of Points and Signals. Addington. —The partial interlocking of the points and signals at this station to safeguard the express trains running through, was completed and brought into operation in November last. Wellington. —The signalling and interlocking of this yard was completed and brought into operation. This is the first complete installation in New Zealand, and is of the most improved and up-to-date form. Westport. —The material for signalling and interlocking this station has been prepared, and the erection of the work will be at once proceeded with. Hurunui-Bluff Section. —The preparation of the material for six stations on the HurunuiBluff Section has been commenced. The fitting-up and erection of signalling- and interlocking-gear requires skilled men who have been trained to this kind of work, and owing to the difficulty in obtaining such men considerable delay has, up to the present, been caused in carrying on the work. To place the work on a more satisfactory basis and enable better progress to be made, workshops are being erected in Wellington, the services of a skilled foreman have been obtained, and a number of men are now being specially trained to the work. The expenditure for the year on new work was £1,914. Block-working. After considering the various systems of block-working in use on the railways in Great Britain, and making exhaustive inquiries into the systems in force in the Australian Colonies, it