NORTHERN RAILWAY RETURNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10111, 21 April 1896, Page 3

NORTHERN RAILWAY RETURNS

The New Zealand Railways traffic returns for the four weeks ended '.'9t.li February, 189(j, and for the corresponding four weeks, 1895, give the following figures concerning our most Northern railways

The lacts disclosed by the above returns are very encouraging; they show a steady growth on each section, but more especially on the Whangarei and Knilni sections. The lines, too, are returning a, good profit oil the cost of their construction, as well as serving the public interests of those using them. Mr. lkrstow, the manager in charge of the local line, has reason to be proud of the position held by the Kailm section; the cost of its construction was £51,138, a very much smaller outlay than either of the other sections (KawnUawa cost £90,337, and Whaugarei £115, and yet it is earning the most money. At Kawakawa ami Whaugarei minerals are the mainstay of the lines, whereas the Kaihu section is principally employee; in the hauling of timber. The excess of revenue over expenditure for the four weeks named of the present year amounted to £670 1-3 9d, made up as follows -.—Kawakawa section, £-10 19.: lOd: Whaugarei, £135 7s 3d ; and Kaihu, £494 5s Bd, nearly threetimes as much us the other two lines together. The extension of the Kaihu line to Waima has long been promised, and a vote of £870 sanctioned by the Cabinet several months ago. A good deal was also made last cession of Parliament of the vote of £2000 for the extension of this line; yet nothing, as far as we can see or learn, has yet been done to put the extension work in hand,-[Northern Wairoa Correspondent.]

All hough the weather has been colder during part of thin week, there lias been no frost worth mentioning oven at. night, two dograes having been the maximum registered by my thermometer. Therefore, hitherto, there has been no break in the extraordinary mildness of the season, which, moreover, has been equally remarkablo for its dryness. This is likely to be one of the oarli.es • sowing seasons on record. In most parts of the country more or less bariey and oats have been sown, while potato-growers havo put in a good deal of their early crop. There is always some risk of damage from frost with potatoes put in so early; but the enormous advantage in respect of price obtained by getting now tubers early in tin.' market is sufficient to induce growers to take the risk. There is no reason now why the sowing of all spring crops should not go on to its completion. The wheat and other crops sown in the autumn are looking remarkably well, and, probably owing to the. drynoss of the weather, they are net half so much in advance of their proper stages as might have been expected - [London Correspondent, February 22.]

Kawakawa suction. 1898. 1895. Passengers .. „ M.'i 477 Goods 1,277 tuns 7m tons Kevsnuf' £222 13 11 £ir>0 12 1 Expenditure .. .. £181 14 1 £103 14 (J WlIANGARKI SECTION. Passengers .. .. D.2S7 2,017 Goods 3,971 tons 2,41 5 tons Revenue £(*.2511 in £.170 17 5 Expenditure .. .. £490 4 7 £5019 1 Kaiiiu suction. Passengers ,. .. 2,S2:i 1,031 Goods 2.57(1 tons 1,9119 tons Rerennf' £09:1 13 0 £-182 19 0 Expenditure .. .. £198 710 £137 9 3