P.—2

XIV

Ballasting. —About 372,000 cubic yards of ballast has been used on the lines during the past year A crushing plant has been installed at Ohingaiti, and a portable crushing plant provided in the Christchurch district. Bridges, &c. —Bridge structures have been maintained in a safe condition. A number of timber bridges have been rebuilt in rolled-steel joists and steel girders. Contracts havo been let for the supply of steel girders for the reconstruction of two timber bridges in Auckland District, and for a new steel-girder bridge over the New North Road at Morningside (Auckland). New steel viaduct, Tongahoe (Wanganui district), has been completed, and that at Manawapou (Wanganui district) is in hand, but is likely to be delayed by the recent strikes in England. The work of renewing timber structures in steel has been continued, and, in view of the cost of md difficulty in procuring ironbark, must be largely extended. The necessary strengthening of bridges to allow of running the heaviest locomotives from Wellington to Paekakariki will be finished this financial year. Similar bridge-strengthening on the State Colleries Branch at Greymouth has been completed. Locomotive Water-services. — Considerable improvements in the shape of additional storage and improved pumping-appliances have been made at a number of stations. Fencing. —A large amount of new fencing has been erected in various places. Wharves. —Extension of wharf, Nelson, is completed. New ferro-concrete wharf at Picton is well advanced, and will be completed during the present financial year. Port Chalmers wharves have required heavy repairs. The heavy repairs to Greymouth wharves have been completed. Additions to Lake Wakatipu wharves to accommodate the new steamer are in j.rogress. Buildings. —Removal of maintenance-works depots from Wellington to Kaiwarra and from Christchurch to Addington to make room for station-yard extensions has been in hand. The cost of these works, and of the reconstruction of other buildings to new designs, is being charged to working-expenses. The Maintenance Branch store and workshop (known as "Chalmers Building") at Wellington, which was gutted by fire, has been restored and fitted up as a complete signal and electrical shop. Miscellaneous Works. —Additions and improvements were carried out during the year amounting to £23,024, which was charged to working-expenses. The principal works were : Additions and improvements at Newmarket, Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Waimiha, Ongarue, Kakahi, Rangataua, Hastings (part), Ormondville, Hukanui, Tokomaru, Picton, Christchurch, Addington (part), Waimate, Pleasant Point, Ranfurly (part), Pukerau. Waikiwi, and Centre Bush ; additions to water-services at Mercer (part), Huntly (part), Ongarue, and Palmerston North ; erection of verandahs at Te Awamutu.. Waitara Normanby, Waverley (part), Makotuku, St. Andrews, Woodlands, and Otira; new houses at Otekaike and Otira ; additions to houses at Kawakawa, Opua, Rakaia, Morven, Omihi, Whitecliffs, Waihola, and .Mussel Bay; erection of weighbridges at Palmerston North, Foxton (part), Granity r , and Westport (part); additions to stockyards at Hawera and Mangatera; Petone, drainage of workshops yard ; Westport, additional office accommodation ; Dunedin, trial well at engine-depot (part) ; Paeroa. removal of Stationmaster's house to new site ; removal of houses from Hukerenui to Opua and Whakapara ; shifting cottages from Broken River to Staircase (completion); Manakau, level crossing; fire appliances in Addington and Invercargill Workshops; Dannevirke, goods-offices; Auckland, W.c. accommodation in goods-yard; Greymouth, additions to workshops; Wellington, installation of Reichel fire-alarm ; Newmarket Workshops, additional ventilation ; Longburn- Palmerston, fencing ; social halls, Taihape (part), Wellington (completion), Wanganui, and Timaru (part); deviation of line near Mercer (part); Stoke, purchase of land for station-site and ballast-pit; goods-shed cranes, Te Awamutu and Ongarue ; Woodville, purchase of house for Inspector of Permanent-way; Napier, drivers' room and new office for Locomotive Foreman ; Invercargill, firebreak wall in goods-shed (part); Helensville, addition to engine-shed ; fencing line between Kawakawa—Taumarere (part); Paekakariki, additions to refreshment-rooms (part) ; Hillside workshops, additional lighting; Thorndon, additions to goods-shed ; Maitland, goods-shed (part); Paekakariki, new- engine-depot (part) ; Hillside, additions to tool-shop ; Ohaupo, purchase of house from Post and Telegraph Department; Dannevirke, purchase of land ; Auckland, extension of Pintsch-gas works. Additions to Open Lines. —The cost of these works, charged to capital, amounted to £144,716. The principal items were as follows: — Signalling, interlocking, block-working, &c. ; additions to station-buildings, station-yards, and sidings, Auckland (part), Quay Street, Auckland (part), Te Rapa (part). Mount Eden (part), Henderson, Motumaoho (part), Morrinsville (part), Te Kuiti (part), Eltham (part), Himatangi (part), Ikamatua, Pareora, Rangiora, Dunsandel (part), Oaniaru Darfield, Gore (part), and Perotti's. Miscellaneous. —Additions to water-services at East Town, Thorndon, and Bluff ; new houses at Te Rapa (part), Motumaoho (part), Stillwater, Poerua, Kaituna, Edievale, and Centre Bush (part) ; purchase of land at Wellington and Timaru ; additions to workshops at Whangarei (part) and Petone (completion) ; extension of platforms at Auckland and Invercargill; extension of verandahs at Palmerston North and Invercargill; additions to goods-sheds, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Waitara (part), and Timaru ; grade-improvements, Auckland-Mercer (part); Dunedin, completion of approaches to overbridge, Jetty Street; deviation, Ravensbourne (completion) ; Ashburton, overbridge ; fencing North Island Main Line (completion), Tinwald-Hinds (completion), and South of Waitaki Bridge ; Dunedin, engine-depot (part); Nelson, wharf-extension (completion); Picton, new wharf (part ; Dannevirke, subway ; Waimarino, engine-reversing triangle ; Kaiwarra, lighting station, __c.; Lake Wakatipu, extension of wharves (part); Culverden, erection of 55 ft. turntable (part); Auckland, purchase of Globe gas engine, &c. ; Wellington, culvert, Waterloo Quay ; weighbridges, North Island Main Line and branches; Mercer, installation of aerogen gas.