D.—2,

XLII

LOCOMOTIVE. Mr. G-. S. Lynde, A.M.LMech.E., M.1.L0c0.E., Chief Mechanical Engineer, reports as follows :— The plant, locomotives, tenders, carriages, brake-vans, wagons, machinery, and tools have been maintained in good working-order during the year. Locomotives. —On the 31st March, 1925, there were 662 engines. The additional stock during the year consisted of five electric engines, one battery engine, seven Class Ab (built by Messrs. A. and G. Price, Limited, of Thames), one Class Wab, and one Class Ws (built in the Government railway workshops). Seven old engines were written off stock, and one engine was sold. In the Government railway workshops 211 engines have been built to date, and twenty-four old locomotives have been rebuilt. Details of work on locomotives in the Government workshops during the year were as follows : Number passed through workshops, 814 ; built new, 2 ; erected new, 4 ; re-erected, 1 ; thoroughly overhauled, 142 ; heavy repairs, 96 ; light repairs, 569. There were on order at the close of the year forty-nine Class Ab (ten being built in the Government workshops, thirty-five being imported from the North British Locomotive Company, four being built by Messrs. A. and G. Price, Limited), and ten Class Ws engines being built in the Government workshops. The tractive power of locomotives was increased by 240,599 lb., equal to 2-38 per cent. Boilers. —Seventeen boilers were built, 153 received heavy repairs, and 277 light repairs. Forty-six new boilers were in hand at the close of the year. Carriages. —On the 31st March, 1925, there were 1,570 cars. Forty-seven cars were added during the year, including two taken over from Westport Harbour Board and one " Sentinel " steam rail-car. Two cars were sold, one car was written off, and one converted to a wagon. Details of car-work were as follows : Number passed through workshops, 2,972 ; built new, 44 ; erected, 1 ; converted, 9 ; thoroughly overhauled, 439 ; heavy repairs, 985; light repairs, 1,494. Fifty-five cars were under construction at the end of the year. Brake-vans. —-On the 31st March, 1925, there were 460 brake-vans in service. One vail was built, one sold, and one condemned and written off. Details of work done on brake-vans during the year were as follows : Number passed through workshops, 1,214 ; built new, 1 ; thoroughly overhauled, 126 ; heavy repairs, 312 ; light repairs, 775. Eight brake-vans were under construction at the end of the year. Wagons.—The wagon stock on the 31st March, 1925, was 26,028. There were 367 wagons built in the Government workshops, comprising 50 bogie and 317 four-wheel. One wagon was converted from a Class C car. Ten four-wheel wagons were written off, and sixty-four were sold. The carryingcapacity of wagons was increased by 3,603 tons. Details of work done on wagons were as follows : Number passed through workshops, 32,622 ; built new, 367 ; rebuilt, 36 ; converted, 18 ; thoroughly overhauled, 1,884 ; heavy repairs, 12,912 ; light repairs, 17,405. There were on order at the end of the year 108 bogie and 511 four-wheel wagons. Tarpaulins. —The tarpaulin stock on the 31st March, 1925, was 21,475. There were 553 new tarpaulins made in the Railway workshops, and 323 to replace missing sheets ; 340 tarpaulins shown the previous year as replacing missing sheets have now been added to stock; 598 worn-out tarpaulins were condemned and written off, and replaced with a similar number of new tarpaulins. The work done on tarpaulins during the year was as follows : Number passed through workshops, 37,484 ; manufactured new, 876 ; condemned and replaced, 598 ; repaired, 36,010. Axles.—-During the year 6,304 car, van, and wagon axles were replaced with modern steel axles. Train and Engine Mileage. —The train-mileage increased by 59,120, and the engine-mileage by 403,491 miles, as compared with 192-3-24. The following table shows particulars of expenditure per train-mile : —-

STORES. Mr. E. J. Guinness, Comptroller of Stores, reports as follows : — The value of the stores, material, and plant (purchased under Railway vote) on band at the 31st March, 1925, at the various stores, depots, and sawmills amounted to £988,009 6s. 10d., as against £815,665 18s. Id. on the 31st March, 1924. The value of the stores on hand on account of additions to open lines amounted to £123,988 17s. 9d., as against £149,902 7s. 10d., on the 31st March, 1924. The value of the stores on hand on account of Railway Improvement Authorization amounted to £10,816 6s. 10d., as against £9,172 19s. 2d. on the 31st March, 1924. The whole of the stock is in good order, has been systematically inspected, and is value for the amount stated.

Cost, in Ponea, per Train-mile. Year. Train-mileage. Engine-mileage. Locomotive Car and Wagon T , Branch. Branch, 0 a [ 1924-25 .. •• 9,083,623 12,854,287 50-67 15-19 65-86 1923-24 .. .. 9,024,503 12,450,796 50-35 14-65 65-00