POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 16061, 16 October 1912, Page 9

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Correspondent.] - WELLINGTON, October 15. TEMPLETON RAILWAY SERVICE.

Mr Witty has received a letter x from the Minister of Railways stating that the extra trains between Clvristchurch and Templeton have been running at a considerable loss to the department. For the sixteen weeks ended September 1-1 the revenue from all sources by the the extra trains amounted to £lB7 3e 9d and the train mileage to 3049 miles. The total revenue was Is 2.73 d per mile, but of this the goods revenue was £143 16s sd, leaving only £43 7s 4d, or 3.43 d per mile tor passenger revenue. The goods traffic and part of the passenger traffic would in the ordinary course have gone by the ordinary trains. It is therefore apparent that the extra trains are being run at a heavy loss. In view of the unsatisfactory results achieved, and the fact that there is no probability of developing a larger business in the near future, the services will have to be discontinued at the end of November. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Forbes presented a petition today on behalf of Albert William Page, of Cheviot, praying that Parliament will enact that a transfer of a leasc-in-perpetuity should be made out to himself in respect of a section he purchased and paid for in 1906. The Ellcsmere Lands Drainage Amendment Bill has been reported from the Native Affairs Committee without further amendment. "No recommendation" is the report of the Public Petitions Committee in the prayer of Jnmes J. Wilson, of Christchurch, for compensation for injuries sustained while coaling H.M.S. Challenger on the Australasian squadron.

The Postmaster-General has informed Mr Dickie, who asked for an extension of tho telephone line from Waddington to Springfield, _ that authority has been given for a wire to be erected between Springfield and Sheffield and a telephone bureau to be opened at Springfield. This will provide pommufiication right through to Christchurch.