THE GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1250, 13 February 1896, Page 39

THE GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS.

LARGE INCREASE OF TRAFFIC.

A comparative statement of the traffic oit the Government railways up to 4th January, that -s to say for the first three quarters of the financial year, has been prepared forpublication in the Gazette, and it shovrs & substantial increase in both goods and passenger traffic. For instance, during the period indicated 206,776 more passengers Avere carried than during the corresponding" period of the previous year, and 5700 more season tickets Avere issued. In the goods department the returns shoAV that 219,072: more sheep AA-ere carried as compared with the like period of the preceding year, while the tonnage of chaff, timber, merchandise mid minerals is also substantially in excess. Firewood and grain, however, do not come up to the previous year’s figures. Still there is on all goods an aggregate increase of 23,555 tons. Turning to the revenue account the receipts for the three quarters amount to £859,395 as against i;549,770 for the corresponding period of 1894, ’ while the expenditure foots up to £062-jSSO as compared with £559,875. The percentage of expenditure to revenue for the three quartern of the financial year is therefore 65*46 as against 65*89 for the preceding corresponding period, an appreciable decrease. Taking into consideration the numerous concessions which have been made in passenger fares and sheep rates, and also in rates for goods generally, result »ust b« accounted highly satisfactory.