THE RAILWAY RECIPTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 16

THE RAILWAY RECIPTS.

EXPECTED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE.

WELLINGTON, December 8.

The railway receipts for the 12 months ending 31st March are expected to considerably exceed those of previous years. Up to the 11th November the receipts from goods exceeded those during the corresponding period of 1898 by about £70,000, while passengers' fares show an "increase of about £18,000. The receipts from all sources amount to £95,000 more than those for the "corresponding period of last year. Traffic on the railways since the beginning of the financial year up to the present time was much heavier than during the same period of last year, 12 months ended March 31. The following are some of the increases : — Nearly 250,000 passengers, about 127,000 parcels, 11,000 tons timber, 181,000 sheep, 138,000 tons grain, 55,000 tons minerals, land 21,000 tons general merchandise. Receipts from goods are about £70,000, from passengers £18,000, and from all services £95,000 more than during' the same period last year. Four more powerful locomotives ordered by the Railway department have arrived, and three are expected by the Delphic, making 10 in all. The department hopes to have them all working on the southern lines by Christmas.

In order to stop any influx of labourers from other colonies, Mr O'Sullivan has decided that no workman shall be employed on the unemployed works who cannot produce an elector's right for New South Waleß^