OUR RAILWAYS

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 225, 28 September 1897, Page 2

OUR RAILWAYS

DEPARTMENTAL REPORT,

INCREASE IN TRADE AND

REVENUE,

A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR.

(By TelegTaph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON ,this day. The annual railway report prepared by the Hon. A. J. Cadman for presentation to the House affords | gratifying evidence of the prosper- ! ous condition of producing and'other industries, and also proves that Ministerial management has been efficient and economical. The number of miles of railway open for ..traffic during the year 1896-97 was 2018, an increase of" four over the previous year. The gross revenue was £1,286,158, an increase of £103,117. The total expenditure was £789,054, increase £37,686. The excess of revenue over expenditure was £497,104. The railways gave a return on their capital cost of £3 3/10 per cent, the capital cost being stated at £15,577,392, which compares well with the previous year's return of £2 ; 16/ per cent. Additions made to lines and structures during the year cost £92,624, while £11,405 were expended on improvements and minor additions to train services. Receipts per train i mile increased from 7/lf to 7/6|. The j number of passengers carried was j four and a half millions, an increase |of 276,961 over the previous year. The increase in season tickets issued was 6,836, and in the number of parcels carried was 34,31-4. Holiday excursion traffic, of which a special feature was made, yielded revenue to the amount of £64,639, being a considerable increase over the former year. In the goods department a total of 2,461,127 tons wa.s carried, an increase of 285.184 tons over the preceding year, while the increased revenue from this source was £ 78,543. I The number of sheep carried increas|ed by 444,189, but cattle decreased 8 ! per cent. The grossexpenditure was 61.35 of revenue, against 63.51 in the previous year. The number of miles I run by trains wa.s 3,409.218, an mii crease" of 101,992 train miles.

The report states that the condition of the lines is steadily improving but that the age of the lines, and the larger traffic to be carried over them, will necessitate very heavy renewals for some years to come. There are 116 miles of line in the North Island and 252 miles in the South Island requiring to be re-laid with heavier rails. The increased age of wooden bridges also necessitates larger expenditure year by year. By judicious capital expenditure on main lines, so as to admit of using more powerful e.ng-ines, better results may be anticipated.

Head office expenditure remains about stationary. £64.717 were expended on additions and improvement p to open lines. Orders were givea for building- four powerful locomotives, 32 long bogie passenger carriag-es, 2 vans, 6 horse boxes, 5

cattle trucks, 10 covered goods waggons, 185 high-side waggons, 2 frozen moat trucks, 25 ballast hopper waggons. L"p to March 31, £32,516 were expended on this work; 17 cars and 05 waggons wore completed, and the balance were in course of construction. Considerable sums were spent in gas for lighting cars, and £3860 for materials for rolling stock under construction. £24,789 were expended during the year for additions to sidings, accommodation station build-ing-s, dwellings, platforms, signals, sheep and cattle yards. The following are the RESULTS OF WORKING the Midland Railway: — Revenue for the year was £17,769, as compared with period from 27th May, 1595, to 31st March, 1896, £13,205. The expenditure was £ 14,883, as com pared with the period from 27th May, 1595, to 31st March, 1896, £8,831.

The rate of expenditure to receipts this year is 83.77, as against 66.8S last year. The very heavy expen* diture as against last year has been incurred on account of arrears of work in maintenance of "the lines, flood damages, painting, iron ' bridges. The expenditure for maintenance is not likely to fall for some time to come, as a good deal of work has to be overtaken. The estimated revenue for the current year is £1,275,000, and expenditure £820,000. Many of the alterations made in fares during the year were experimntal. The Government has decided to reduce all classified rates for frozen meat, lime, firewood, chaff, and numerous other articles, as from the Ist October next. The report justly remarks that the Xew Zealand record for safe railway working is unequalled. Great difficulty has been experienced in meeting public demands, on account of deficiency of rolling- stock, and very general complaints have been made by passengers and traders. With the remarkable growth in passenger and goods traffic now taking place, and which from all apparance is likely to continue a considerable sum will have to be spent on additional locomotives, carriages, waggons, and safety appliances. At present the successful carrying out of trade is seriously interfered with owing to want of funds necessary. During the current year steps must be taken to provide additional locomotives, cars and waggons, gas lamps for the remainder of the cars in Southern sectio, as well as gas plant and lamps for Auckland, Wellington, and Napier-Tara-naki districts. The work of improving the lines and bridges, adding to the accommodation of stations, and safety appliances is to be proceeded with as rapidly as possible, but these works cannot possibly be paid for out of working expenses, which during the current year will be seriously taxed on account of extra expenditure, which has been and must be incurred in repairing flood damages in Wanganui and Napier districts. Parliament will therefore be asked to vote a sum of £200,000 to be expended on capital account to these objects. It is also necessary to make provision to prevent crowding on platforms, and improvements in the method of leasing refreshment rooms, and the passenger service between Dunedin and Invercargill. Also a tri-weekly instead of a bi-weekly train service between Wellington and New Plymouth. Considerable works in connection with additional accommodation at stations, extra locomotives, and rolling ■ stock must be at once provided in anticipation of the opening of the Government line to Woodville in January next. The report was laid on the table of the House this afternoon.