LIII

D.—2

During the year 1,989 cars were passed through the workshops, of which number 1,163 received heavy repairs. Six day cars were converted to sleepers on the South Island main line and branches. Bail-cars. —There were five rail-cars on the line on the 31st March, 1929. Brake-vans.—On the 31st March, 1929, there were 480 brake-vans. Six bogie vans built in the Government railway workshops were added to the stock, and one postal car converted to brake-van. during the year. Eighteen old vans were written off and one converted to a sleeping-van. Altogether 615 vans were passed through the workshops, of which 299 received heavy repairs. Wagons.—On the 31st March, 1929, there were 26,823 wagons in stock. The additions during the year were six bogie and 49i. four-wheel wagons built in the Government railway workshops. Thirty-five wagons purchased from the Public Works Department, East Coast Railway, were also added to the stock, and three old vans were converted to wagons. Five wagons were sold and 443 were written off during the year. The carrying-capacity was increased by 2,066 tons. During the year 23,437 wagons were passed through the workshops, of which 11,675 received heavy repairs. There were on order at the end of the year sixty-five bogie and ninety four-wheel wagons. Tank-wagons.—During the year twelve rail tank-wagons were built for oil companies for the carriage of motor-spirit in bulk. Tarpaulins.—The tarpaulin stock on the 31st March, 1929, was 22,875. Five hundred new tarpaulins were manufactured in the railway workshops during the year, and 5,539 tarpaulins were replaced with a similar number of new sheets ; 22,253 sheets were repaired in the workshops. Axles.—During the year 487 car, van, and wagon axles were replaced with modern steel axles ; 549 axles were prepared for new rolling-stock. Train-lighting.—On the 31st March, 1929, there were 389 cars fitted with electric light. Engine Headlights. —The total number of locomotives fitted with electric headlights on the 31st March, 1929, was 209. SIGNAL AND ELECTRICAL. Mr. H. J. Wynne, A.M.1.C.E., Signal and Electrical Engineer, reports as follows Fixed Signals at Officered Stations. —Home signals have been provided at Birchfield and Fairdown. The total number of officered stations (including tablet stations) is 489, of which 321 are equipped with fixed signals, 9 are equipped with light signals as unattended crossing-loops, 121 are interlocked, and 38 are unequipped. Interlocking of Points and Signals.—lnterlocking with the tablet system has been installed at the following : Atlantic Union Oil Co.'s private siding (between Terrace End and Bunnythorpe) ; temporary service siding. Otokia ; Quarry siding, Hoteo ; Wayby Station ; Huarau Station ; Mareretu Station ; Te Hana Station ; Renown Colliery siding, near Rotowaro ; W. Cook and Son's siding, near Himatangi; Bickerstaffe Station ; Ranganui Station ; Service siding, between Willowbridge and Morven ; Ruatangata Springs Station ; Mair Station ; Otonga Station ; Patea Co-operative Freezing Co.'s private siding, Moturoa ; Southern Cross Glass Co.'s siding, Ashburton ; Vacuum Oil Co.'s siding, Waipukurau ; Public Works Department's siding, Kartigi Beach ; Atlantic Oil Co.'s siding, Masterton; Oakley Station ; Waikiekie Station. The total number of interlocking® is now 121, of which 19 are power interlocked; tramway crossings, 7 ; sidings and flag stations interlocked with tablet, 266 ; stations fitted with Woods locks, 328. Woods locks have been provided at Birchfield (4), Fairdown (2). One Woods lock has been removed at- Ranfurly. Automatic and Power Signalling.—Single-line automatic signalling has been brought into use between Greymouth and Elmer Lane engine-depot (51 chains). In connection with the above installation, an additional switch-locked siding has been installed at Greymouth. The total mileage now equipped with automatic signalling is—Double line, 37 miles 57 chains ; single line, 159 miles 62 chains. Automatic signalling between Mercer and Frankton is nearing completion and will be brought into operation shortly, and the automatic signalling on the Westfield Deviation between Auckland and Westfield is in hand. The total number of unattended crossing-loops equipped with automatic signalling is now thirty, and switch-locked sidings twenty-six. Paeroa Station has been converted from mechanical interlocking to power interlocking. Alterations to signalling and interlocking have been carried out at Thorndon, Mount Eden, Middleton, Greymouth, Otahuhu, and Swanson. Materials have been ordered for power signalling and interlocking for Auckland new station. Electric Tablet and Block Working. —The following work in connection with electric tablet has been carried out: Swanson, new tablet instruments installed to replace instruments destroyed by fire. The number of tablet instruments now in use is 883, at 371 stations. The total number of automatic exchangers in use is 333. The total mileage equipped with electric tablet is 1,709 miles of single line out of a total of 3,292. The total mileage equipped with lock-and-block is 16| miles of double line. The number of lock-a,ud-block instruments- in use is twenty-six, at twelve stations. The following tablet-locked sidings have been removed : W. Cook and Son's, near Foxton ; Te Kuha Junction ; Orari ballast-pit.