17
84. The price of coal has been slightly cheaper than the previous year, averaging about $103.00 per ton. Fuel oil has averaged approximately the same as last year, about $145.23.
85. Stores purchased from local contractors have been on the whole dearer; copper, tin, brass, iron piping, Douglas fir all show increases of from 5% to 30%; mild steel has remained the same, whilst glass, paint, hardwood have been about 10% cheaper.
86. Total purchases from Government Stores have increased from $26,855.16 last year to $117,431.12 this year. This is mainly attributable to a three monthly trial period when all stores. were purchased from Government Stores. The experiment, as expected, was not a success chiefly because of the inordinate delay in obtaining debits and the consequent impossibility of assessing the cost of jobs performed by the Mechanical Engineer's Depart- ment.
87. A summary is given below of the main items received from Crown Agents and their approximate cost:-
Boring and Turning Machine
$ 49,500
Capstan Lathe
18,300
Drilling Machine
18,300
Dogspikes (49,055 nos.)
14,700
Fishplates (3,102 sets)
31,600
Fishbolts and Nuts (11,680 nos.)
11,600
Hung Hom Signalling Apparatus (part) .
22,000
Hulson grates and ashpans (6 sets)
34,000
Lathe 101" × 12′
24,300
Punching Machine
51,300
Rails (1,920 pieces)
369,200
Radial Drilling Machine
15,300
Screwing Machine
12,400
Shaping Machine
25,500
Superheater elements (7 sets)
26,500
Sleeper Fastenings (4,000 sets)
31,900
Switchboard (part)
1,800
Slotting Machine
44,000
Testing Machine
10,200
Toolroom Lathe
28,500
Turret Lathe
44,000
Well-wagon (50 ton)
17,000
Welding Plant
8,000