OTIRA TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19198, 3 January 1928, Page 4

OTIRA TUNNEL.

| RECORD TRAFFIC IN" 1927. I

419,996 TONS OF GOODS

i Every year since the Otira Tunnrl ' was opened for traffic on August 4th, : 1923, there has been a substantial increaso in the volume of goods carried by rail from the West Coast and the figures for the east-bound freight for . the twelve months now reach nearly I half a million tons. j In 1027 the total was 449/J9G tons, I as comapred with 421,906 tons in 1526, 1 o-54,867 tons in 1925, 302,044 tons in : 1924, and 88,171 tons m 1923 (four ! months and 27 days). The grand total ': is thus 1,616,984 tons. I The year just ended was probably | the bast experienced in the matter of ] freedom from interruption to tho line | and from prolonged and Eerious stop- ! pages in the principal mines. The Dobson mine, which was closed down as a result of the disastrous explosion, was reopened during the year, and is now producing considerable quantities of coal. West Coast sawmills, however, have not yet recovered from the serious timlier slump which caused so many to close down, but the prospects for the ensuing year are very much brighter. j The effect of shipping at Grey mouth :on the quantity of goods offering for transport by rail is closely watched by the Departmental officers, who state that the competition of electricity with coal is making itself apparent in a loss of freights. Approximately one-third of the total must be deducted to cover rolling stock when computing the actual weight of the goods carried. No figures aro available for the traffic from east to west, but it is known that the volume of goods is increasing steadily, and last year's total particularly just before Christmas, indicated that Christchurct merchants were establishing an improved connexion with the West Coast.

Prom August 4th, 192.'! until the end of that rear tho total weight of goods earned was 88,171 tons. Since then tho following have been the monthly and annual totals:—

19-24. 1903. 19i6. 19:17. Tone. Tons. Tons. Tons. Jan. .. 13,158 20,050 05,331 25,130 Feb. .. 21.536 20,411 20,15'5 32.726 March .. 22,781 28,959 30.029 33,907 April .. .19,3*5 28,026 28,274 32,475 May .. . 31.124 34,672 34.078 39,575 Juna ... 25,26t 34,860 37,629 :!9,253 July .. 27,203 39,2G2 43,44.5 44,200 Aujrust ~ 27,837 ■ 35,309 39,166 48,471 Sept. .. 25.797 29,259 41,268 40,380 October .. 25.155 27,134 40,953 35.505 Not. .. 25,723 28,134 Dec. .. 22,906 24,349 37,538 34,023

Totals .. 302,014 354.567 421,906 449,996