Mr Wright's Return.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5022, 7 June 1884, Page 3

Mr Wright's Return.

[By Telegraph.] [from our special correspondent.] WELLINGTON, June 6. Several papers of interest were laid upon the table to-day. One of these is a summary of that extraordinary return asked for last session by Mr E. G. Wright, which was to show under separate and several headings the amounts received by the Eailway Department for the carriage of wool, timber, grain, merchandise, minerals, firewood, parcels, dogs, horses, cattle and sheep, which separate amounts made up a total of .£403,420, according to a certain tabular return attached to the Public Works Statement. The compilation of the return entailed a vast expenditure of labour, and considerable expense. No less than 3,000,000 of way bills had to be examined, and the cost of the compilation exceeded .£6OO. The papers necessary for the detailed statement filled two carts of the express waggon kind that may be seen in Cathedral square. It may be imagined that I shall not telegraph this return in. esetenso. However, the neat little, summary supplied thia afternoon by the new Minister of Public Works will perhaps satisfy your readers. It is as follows : — £ Wool ... 21,564 Timber 46,030 Grain 81,109 Merchandise 133,314 Minerals •... 58,850 Firewood ... ... ... 5,902 Cattle 4,356 Sheep and pigs 9,6^3 Dogs 621 Rents, commission, storage, demurrage, labour, haulage, &c. ... 37,531 Chaff 1,352 Other than these 101Total .£403,420