RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1904, Page 6

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

Tho traffic returns of the railways for the four-weekly period ending 23rd July, give the following returns of revenue and expenditure : — Revenue : £155,419, to which the North Island contributed £64,773 (including £40,705 from the WoHiuglon-Napier-Now Plymouth section of 466 miles, and £21,423 from the Auckland section of 374 miles) ; tho Soutlf Island's contribution wna £90.645 (including £74,122 from tho Hurunui-Blufl section). Expenditure £110,327, of which the North Island absorbed ±545,905 and the South Island £64,422. Tho colony's railway revenue is £4861 in exoew of that for the corresponding period of last year, and the expenditure is £362 in excess. Tho percentage of expenditure to revenuo averaged over a period of- 114 days, with tho percentage as for a similar period last year, appended in parentheses, is: For tho colony, 65.54 (65.65) ; for tho North Island, 6*7.11 (70.04); for tho South Island, 64.50 (62.98).. Takipg tho same comparative periods, passenger traffic, and most items of other traffic, carried on the railways, show confiidcrab'o increases, the total passenger fare* showing an increase of 165,115. But sheen carried decreased by 258,659, wool by 3327 tons, grain by 38,443 tons. For tho four weeks ending 23rd July, Iho receipts on the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth section wero £40,705, against £37,229 for the corresponding period lnct year.

The ceremony of laying tho foundation stono of the Victoria College University buildings in Salamanca-road is to bo presided ovor by Lord Plunkct to-morrow afternoon. Tho ceremony is to begin at 2.30 o'clock, and in connection with it addresses uro to b« delivered by his Kxcollency Iho Governor, tho Chief Justice and Chancellor of tho Now Zealand University (Sir Robert Stout), and others. Graduates aro to appear in their academical iobe«, nnd wtudonls of tho Collogo will take part in the ceremony. Tho public aro cordially invited to attend tho ceremony A cable message received from Sydney late this afternoon records the death of tho Roy. Geo. Lane, ex-President of tho Methodist General Conference. Mr. J. M. Wilaon, tho American lecturer, will doliver a lecture in Ilia Majesty's Theatre on Sunday evening oa "Fear, l'orcc, and Freedom. " Mr. Wilson roporta that his recent meetings hold in Uhristohurch wero very largely attended, the Opera ilouso boing filled to ingShopkeepers— especially Newtown shopkeopora—will be interested in some remarks on the question of "broken timo" made by tho Inspector of Factories and published in tho Labour Report. He rogret« to report tho introduction of tho system of broken time, and adds: — "Tho shops in Newtown are kept open every night, except tho halfholiday night, and, tho • assistants are in attendance till 9 o'clock. I hnv© frequently questioned them as to bho ttmo of starting, and their answers are to the effect that tboy are working within their legal hours. Nevertheless it is to bo 'regretted that Hie practice has come into vogue, and there is no power in the existing Act to cope with it. Overtime has increased this year in spito of my efforts to keep it down ; 305 persons (women and juniors) havo worked 4882 hours, as against 247 persons working 3010 hours last year. S Tho now demands made by tho Furniture Makers' Union will bo considered by the employers this ovening. Messrs. Harooart and Co. will hold a snlo of household furniluro, including grand upright piano, otc, at thoir rooms, 48, Lambton-quay. on Wednesday noxt, tho 31st insl., at 2 p.m. Mr. S. G. Rosa, jowoller and ongravor, 7a, Willis-stroot, has just received a largo stock of silvor platocl ware, which ho is soiling at "bargain pricos." Moil's city walking boots at "bargain nricos" in several stylus aro offoTQjj by Messrs. R-. Hannah and Co., Cuba-street. To-night Indies aUoiiding tho poi'fonnanco of tho "Messjah" at the Opera Houso will bo ablo to' viow tho windows of Tho New Houso, whero an electric light display will bo made of spring novoltics. ' Tho 00-operativo Stores, 4b, Cuba-street, havo a notioo iv anothor column of interest to housekeepers.