NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 31, 28 July 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

The Gazette, of July 15, contains full particulars cf the Railways Working Account for the four weeks ending 29th May. The marked improvement shown in the percentage of receipts over expenditure, which has been successfully accompliehed through the vigorous reforms instituted by the present Minister for Public Works, has been fairly well maintained. It will be remembered that during the financial year ending on March 31st last, the gross receipts from working railways amounted to £575,588, the expenditure being £430,284 — i.e., the working expenses absorbed 747 6 per cent, of the earnings. The results of the first four weeks of the present financial year showed that the percentage of expenditure had been reduced to 55.69 ; in the seaond four weeks the percentage had risen 58"98. Some considerable portion of this improvement is doubtless due to the large profits usually made by the department during the grain season, but much of it is, we believe, directly attributable to the more economical management lately enforced. On North Island railways, the Auckland lines have been hitherto moat successful during the

first eight weeks of the current twelve months ; they show a percentage of 69'J-; Wanganui conies next, with 7530; and New Plymouth third, with a percentage of 81*74. It is somewhat strange that the receipts on the Wanganui railway, during the first eight weeks of 1879-80, amounted to £6313, whereas for the same period this year they were only £5494, Bhowing a decline cf £819. However, the great decline in the timber trade may account for it. On the New Plymouth sectKHi, oiv tke other fotnd, the receipts for the first eight weeks of the financial year were only £1028, but this year they have risen to £1571, showing an increase of £543. We shall look forward with interest to the publication of the next monthly returns, because, if the department can but succeed in restricting expenditure during the winter, the profits made in the summer and autumn, during the wool and grain seasons, will help greatly both to relieve the sti'ain on the public exchequer, and to lighten the burdens of the taxpayers.