H.—j sa.

The following table shows the number and horse-power of these boilers, and the district to which they have gone : — .

Gas- and Water-driven Machinery, Lifts, and Machinery Inspections. Under this heading this year there were a total of 5,767 inspections made, as follows : 1,450 gasengines, 1,552 oil-engines, 2,583 lifts and motors (including- water and electric motors, &c), and 182 'around lift-wells has received special attention this year, and safety tests under working-conditions have been made of all lifts both for passengers and cargo before certificates were issued On some lifts, used for the carriage of. cargo only, the attendant has been permitted to travel if sufficient protection for his safety, both overhead and around him, has been made The electric lift is being generally installed in place of those worked by hydraulic power 111 all buildings of any height where the electric current is available. of these electric lifts are fitted up most elaborately and in the hands of careful attendants, are most economical. On all passenger-lifts, excepting those that work automatically, an attendant always rides on the lilt and controls its movements. Fencing of Machinery. The usual attention was given to the fencing of machinery in motion at all the works visited by the Inspectors during the year. The principal sources of danger were fly-wheels gearing belting and pulleys attached to machines on floors, and all received close attention. The fitting of fast and loose pulleys on machines has been insisted on wherever practicable. Eeturn No. 4 gives full particulars of the guarding done. Examination of Engine-drivers. There have not been so many candidates for these examinations during the past year Those who sat were taken up either at the set times as provided by regulation or on dates convenient to the candidates. Altogether 660 candidates sat, and out of this number 424 passed. The different grades and classes of examinations were as follows: Extra first-class engineers, first- and second-class stationary-engine drivers, locomotive and traction engine drivers, and windingengine drivers connected with coal and gold mines. Examinations have been conducted at the following places during tne year : Auckland, Blenheim * Christchurch,* Dunedin,* Greymouth,* Hamilton,* Havelock, Invercargill,* Kaikoura, Masterton ' Maungaturoto, Napier,* Nelson,* New Plymouth, Opotiki, Pahiatua, Palmerston North,* Reefton* Thames, Timaru,* Wanganui,* Wellington,* and Westport* Returns Nos. 7 to 13, inclusive, give the detailed lists of candidates who passed these examinations, together with the grades and classes of examination. ,_M[„ 1909 Amended regulations for the examination of engine-drivers camejinto>rce d on J the.lstfMay, 1909. Every candidate must now be a British subject. Applicants for locomotive>nd traction or winding certificates must also produce a medical fitness The syllabus for the first-class enginedriver's certificate was revised and extended, and definite rules set out for.the conduct of all exammatloll Reciprocal certificates were issued to applicants who held certificates from other States as follows : Victoria, 7 ; New South Wales, 6 ; Western Australia, 1; Tasmania, 3 ; and Queensland, 1 . total, 18. * Places at which examinations have been held more than once during the year.

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Loi -■al. I:up< irted. To: Horse- ,- , „ Number. power. >al. District. Auckland ... Auckland South Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington North ... Wellington Marlborough Nelson North Nelson South Westland Canterbury Canterbury South Otago Southland ... Number. 50 14 19 11 8 55 3 7 5 16 64 1 14 ' 36 power, j Number ' 910 31 188 14 197 12 132 j 5 184i 1 7 389-| i 53 54i I 2 48" 3 129 5 339 1 239 24 16 11 67 i 7 2961 i 12 3041 81 99+ 28 78" 31 21„ ! 16 95 15 165 108 10-1 5 23 10 123 10 li 17 1591 i 88 69i 12 45" 21 139 48 Horfcepower. 1,214$ 287| 275 1531 279* 554| 65 71 252 340i 398i 851 112 4351 Totals ... 303 3,190 187 l,334i 490 4,524i