WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY COMPANY. WELLINGTON, April 5.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 15

WELLINGTON-MANAWATU RAILWAY COMPANY. WELLINGTON, April 5.

In moving the adoption of the report at the annual meeting of the WellingtonManawatu Railway Company, Mr T. G. Macarthy, the chairman of the company, sajd that the results compared unfavourably with the last five year's, but that was owing to the policy of the Government, ■who had adopted discriminating rates, which unjustly diverted traffic from their line. Considering that to do.. this the Government carried goods and passengers 50 miles without charge, and then by the costly Rimutaka line, serious inconvenience wjs frequently caused to the public, and the operation was more likely to result in loss than in profit to the colony. The Manawatu Company had materially reduced the rates, and had carried more passengers and goods than last year. The balance from the railway account was £6544, and from land sales £1964, which enabled them to pay a dividend of 5 per cent., absorbing £8500. The chairman alluded again to the enormous amount of taxation paid by the company, which up to date was £76,178, while the sum paid in dividends was only £72,250 The report and balance sheet were passed, and a dividend of 5 per • cent, declared. Messrs Smith and Izard, the retiring directors, were re-elected. The chairman, in answer to questions, said that there was no further information as to the likelihood of the Government buying the line, nor did the directors think they should . approach Ministers in the matter. They must wait a little longer. If was suggested that, extra local trains should be run to make up for the lose of trade and meet the wishes of the settlers. Tho chairman said he would be pleased to go into details with the settlers interested.

Nimmo and Biaxß jell " Jadoo/' -the magic plant grower, and which should be used t>y all growers of flowers and plants, whether in ]*ots or in the open border. Thousand? of tons of " Jadoo are U6ed every year for growing plants, and when better known notbiag eLse will b« usei. — A«lvi.