D.—2

17

Block Working (Electric Tablet). During the year eighty-two tablet instruments and 115 miles of line have been fitted and brought into operation, embracing the following sections : Waipukurau to Napier, Greymouth to Dunollie, Henderson to Kaukapakapa, Morrinsville to Putaruru. Waikumete, Pokako, Kakahi, Porewa, Hangatiki, Marakeke, Okahukara, Linton Ballast-pit, have also been installed as tablet stations. The equipment of the section Putaruru to Rotorua is in progress. Total mileage now equipped with tablet apparatus, 1,504 miles, single line. Electric tablet instruments now in use, 790, at 334 stations. The automatic tablet-exchanging apparatus has been installed at twenty-seven additional stations. The total now in use is 304. Lock and Block. The electric lock-and-block system for double-line working has been brought into operation between Abbotsford and Abbot's Creek. Mileage of line open for traffic : Double line, 39| miles ; single line, 2,820 miles, 50 chains. Total mileage now equipped with lock-and-block apparatus, 39| miles, double line. Electric lock-and-block instruments now in use, 76, at 35 stations. Telegraph and Telephone Facilities. Four hundred and ninety-three miles of wire and 199 miles of poles have been erected and brought into use, also various alterations and additions have been made to improve existing lines. One hundred and four telephones have been fixed and brought into operation, twenty-nine additional and twelve extension connections have been made with the public telephone exchanges, and two Morse connections and thirty-eight electric bells have been brought into use. A number of oldpattern telephones have been replaced by new and modern ones. Totals now in use : Morse sets, 232 ; telephones, 1,315 ; electric bells, 193 ; miles wire, 6,133 ; miles poles, 2,295. The work on the following lines is in progress : Frankton-Rotorua, Morse line ; Putaruru-Rotorua, telephone line ; Belgrove-Tadmor, telephone line. Greater facilities are still needed in some districts to meet the more pressing requirements. Electric Lighting and Power Working. Electric light has been installed in the signals at Gore, Lyttelton grain-shed, Kakahi Sawmill, Auckland new goods-shed, Hillside Workshops, and additional lighting at Petone and Addington Workshops and Dunedin engine-sheds. The installation of additional lighting at Mataura Station and lighting of new Railway Offices, Christchurch, is in hand. The expenditure on electric-block working, telegraph and telephone facilities, and electric lighting for the year was : — New works— £ s. d. Electric tablet-working .. .. .. .. .. 10,126 6 2 Electric lock and block .. .. .. .. .. 82 2 7 Telephone and telegraph lines .. .. .. .. 3,746 3 5 Electric light .. .. '.. .. .. .. 1,206 19 7 £15,161 11 9 Maintenance — £ s- d. Electric block-working and telegraph and telephone lines .. 9,806 9 4 Lines, &c, maintained by Post and Telegraph Department .. 2,917 0 6 Electric light .. *.. .. .. .. .. 2,039 8 4 £14,762 18 2 Public telephone-exchange connections .. .. .. .. £2,403 15 0 The electrical work in connection with the installation of a number of motors for driving machines at Hillside, Addington, and Petone has been carried out. Traffic. Mr. H. Buxton, Chief Traffic Manager, reports as follows : — Whangarei-Kawakawa Sectian. Revenue, £41,410 ; increase, £4,947. The principal increases were in passengers and timber. Chaff, grain, and merchandise also improved, but minerals decreased slightly.

3-D. 2.