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Painstaking and Efficient Personnel.

The Department has been fortunate in the type of men engaged in the actual maintenance of the track and structures. The permanent way has been maintained to a standard which has evoked unstinted praise from visiting railway officers, while in case of slips and accidents, no matter how trying and unpleasant the working conditions may be, the maintenance men give of their best in work and organisation.

Probably the most spectacular feat accomplished by the maintenance staff was the repairing of the thirty-five miles of line between Otane and Napier after the earthquake, in February last. A work which to the ordinary observer would take weeks to accomplish was carried out by the maintenance staff working at highest pressure in less than three days, a feat which earned the heartfelt commendation and gratitude of the local residents and the special thanks of our General Manager.

As indicating the high standard of professional knowledge of the members of the maintenance staff, it might be mentioned that of the total of fifty-one members of the engineering staff, including juniors above the rank of cadet, no less than forty-one have passed the examination for admission as Associate Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers, while each of the remaining ten members has completed a portion of the examination.