EXPANSION OF OUR RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

Lake County Press, Issue 979, 12 September 1901, Page 7

EXPANSION OF OUR RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

Mr (Jaw. as manager of the Otago sec- , lion of the railways, reported thus on the I working of the Otago section during the 'year ended March 31 last: The traffic, both goods and passenger, still continues to increase rapidly, the increase for the vear amounting to £333,254 ! 5s 3d, as against £304,389 14s 8d for last year, being an increase of £28,864 10s 7d. Notwithstanding that the passenger traffic for the year ended 31st March. 1900, had increased by £7,671 Is 7d over the previous year, there is a still larger increase j lo record lor the year under notice, the i traffic having increased by 68.260 passengers and 4.645 season tickets, the additional revenue therefrom being £8,150 4s. Holiday excursion traffic shows a decrease. This, however, is only in the number carried, the passengers being less to the extent of 10.825 than in 1900, the revenue having increased by £1.326 Is 3d. indicating in reality a considerable development in our ordinary holiday traffic. The apparent decrease in our business is explained by the fact of large numbers travelling to Port Chalmers in connection with the departure of the Fourth Xew Zealand Contingent for South Africa in 1900, and there being no similar event during last year. The school and factory excursion traffic was considerably less than last year, the decrease being in a great measure attributable to the Queen's death, in consequence of which a large number of such excursions were abandoned. The number of parcels booked amounted to 133,655, the increase over the previous year being 6.858 parcels. The check system for passengers' luggage, which was inaugurated nearly two years ago, does not make satisfactory progress, the public not having taken advantage of the means now at their disposal for ensuring the safe transit of their "ugtfnge. The revenue from goods traffic 'ia- increased by £17,579 6s 7d over the previous year, the principal increases being in chaff (1.052 tons), wool (268 tons), firewood (303 tons), timber (3.269 tons), grain (13.352 tons), coal (17.077 tons), and other minerals (7,651 tons). The traffic in rabbits for export has increased by 754 tons, the quantity carried being 5,969 tons, and that for the previous year 5,215 tons. As showing the rapid'growth of this traffic, the following statement is appended: Tons cwt qr 1897 463 17 3 1898 2,347 18 3 1899 3,089 12 0 1900 5,215 4 1 1901 5,969 1 2 Dairy factory products show a considerable increase, the following being the quantities carried for the years ended 31st March, 1901 and 1900: -■-- 1901. 1900. Tons cwt qr Tons cwt qr Cheese ... 550 7 3 643 15 1 Butter ... 979 13 2 617 12 3 Gallons. Gallons. Cream 60,502 37,452 Milk 71,270 34,014 The traffic in Xew Zealand-grown fruit has made considerable progress, 996 tons being carried for the year, as against 676 tons for the previous year, evidently indicating a growth in the fruit-growing industry. The traffic in dredging material for Central Otago has assumed large dimensions, greatly in excess of the facilities available for carting from railway stations at destination, the conveyance of such traffic having to be temporarily stopped at intervals during the year to permit of the carriers overtaking the work. For the ensuing year the prospects are satisfactory, and there is every indication of ii further expansion of business. Extrenie pressure on our rolling stock still continues, both in waggon and carriage stock, and the traffic is suffering in consequence. The locomotive stock is also inadequate to suitably cope with the expanding traffic, and should he largely increased.