THE TRANSVAAL RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9739, 29 May 1897, Page 7

THE TRANSVAAL RAILWAY.

The Netherlands Kail way Company, whose exactions figure so largely in the grievances of the Outlanders in the Transvaal, has a share capital of £1,166,666 13s 4d, in 14,000 shares of 1000 guelders each, or £83 6s Bd, and its loans of all kinds amount to £6,067,583 6s Bd, making a total of very nearly £7,250,000 sterling; and a fresh loan of £1,100,000 has been contracted. Out of the total shares, numbering 14,000, the Government holds 5713. For 1895, the latest year for which we have the accounts, the total receipts amounted to £1,649,905 lis Bd, the working expenses amounted to £713,319 Oa Bd, and £155,413 7s 4d was placed to reserve. The working expenses and the addition to reserve amounted to £868,732 Bs, and there remaiued therefore for distribution £781,173 3s Bd. Some small deductions for redemption of debt and sinking fund being made, £360,851133 4d is stateto have been paid in guaranteed interest and guaranteed dividends, so that £341,282 2s 4d remained as net surplus after the fixed charges of all kinds had been met. Of this amount 85 per cent., being £322,327 13s 4d., went to the Go. vernment, 5 per cent, to the management and personnel, being £18,969 9s, and 10 per cent, went to the shareholders. Of this 10 per cent., £14,282 10a went to the Government, £20,717 10s went to the other shareholders, and £2920 was carried forward. "As the shareholders are guaranteed somewhat over 5£ percent., it follows," says the Statist, " that the Government, on account of guaranteed dividend, because of the 85 per c2nt. due to it from the surplus, and because of its 10 per cent, of the surplus as a shareholder, received altogether in the year £362,793.