THE RAILWAY RETUNS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1983, 17 December 1889, Page 4

THE RAILWAY RETUNS.

The New Zealand aailway revenue for the eight months ended 3Jth November amounted to £600,000, which is about £40,000 more than that received during the corresponding period of last year. This amount represents, of course, the gross receipts, of which the working expenses absorbed 66 per cent Last year, in the corresponding period, the expenditure absorbed 68 per cent of the revenue. Two millions of passengers were conveyed during the eight months, or about 100,000 more than last year. There were proportionate increases in the quantity of goods and in the number of live stock conveved. !he total length of railway now open is 1809 miles, as against 1777 miles last month, and the cost of construction has been in round figures millions; to this Las to be added nearly another million and a half, the cost of lines yet in progress unfinished or unopened, making the total sum invested in railways complete or incomplete fifteen millions. The net profits of tho railways during the current year have; so far, been at the rate of per cent on the cost of construction, but the best times have yet to come. Tho exhibition traffic had hardly commenced by the end of November, and all tho Christmas, Now Tear, and other summer holiday traffic will be included m the returns tor the remaining four months yet unexpired of the current financial year, so the prospects are remarkably good.