1).—4

5

One Westinghouse-brake Engineer : Six Car and Wagon Inspectors; eight Workshop Foremen; one Foreman Carpenter; one Foreman Painter; two Depot Chargemen; one Westinghouse-brake Inspector; one leading painter; two Westinghouse-brake fitters; nine lifters; and twenty-one trainexaminers. Messrs. Veitch and Wilford, members of Parliament, appeared at the invitation of the Commission. Thirty-six witnesses were called by counsel representing the New Zealand Government Railways. Thirty-four witneses were called by the Commission. Examination of Rolling-stock. The Commission examined approximately— 500 vehicles at Auckland, on the sth and 7th of February : 100 vehicles at Helensville and way stations, on the Bth of February : 200 vehicles at Frankton Junction, on the 9th of February : 20 vehicles at M"arton Junction, on the 10th of February : 80 vehicles at Wanganui, on the 10th and 14th of February : 160 vehicles at Palmerston North, on the 15th of February : 100 vehicles at Napier, on the 16th of February : 230 vehicles at Wellington, on the 21st of February : 25 vehicles at Petone, on the 22nd of February : 55 vehicles at Picton, on the 23rd of February : 70 vehicles at Blenheim, on the 24th of February : 65 vehicles at Nelson, on the 24th of February : 6 vehicles at Glenhope, on the 25th of February : 160 vehicles at Westport, on the 26th of February : 15 vehicles at Reef ton, on the 27th of February : 300 vehicles at Greymouth, on the 28th of February : 330 vehicles at Lyttelton, on the 27th of February : 540 vehicles at Christchurch, on the 28th of February and 12th of IVlarch : 460 vehicles at Dunedin, on the 3rd of March : 520 vehicles at Invercargill, on the sth and 6th of March : 70 vehicles at Bluff, on the sth of March : 200 vehicles at Timaru, on the Bth of March : 70 vehicles at Addington, on the 12th of March : The total number of vehicles examined was— Wagons : 3,762, or 17-45 per cent, of the whole wagon-stock of the New Zealand Government railways. Carriages : 429, or 29-55 per cent, of the whole carriage-stock of the New Zealand Government railways. Brake-vans : 84, or 19-09 per cent, of the whole brake-van stock of the New Zealand Government railways. Total: 4,275, or 18-23 per cent, of the whole rolling-stock of the New Zealand Government railways. Inspection of Repairing and Lifting Facilities. The Commission inspected the repairing and lifting facilities existing at Newmarket, on the 6th of February; Auckland, on the 7th of February; Frankton Junction, on the 9th of February; East Town, on the 13th of February; Wanganui, on the 14th of February; Palmerston North, on the 15th of February; Napier, on the 16th of February; Wellington, on the 21st of February; Petone, on the 22nd of February; Picton, on the 23rd of February; Nelson, on the 24th of February; Westport, on the 26th of February; Greymouth, on the 28th of February; Hillside, on the 3rd of March; Invercargill, on the 6th of March; Dunedin, on the 7th of March; Christchurch, on the 12th of March; Addington, on the 14th of March.