Railway Freights.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6541, 9 May 1889, Page 4

Railway Freights.

• I DEPUTATIONS TO MR M'KERROW. [PICB PbSSS ABBUCIATION.] AUCKLAND, Mat 8. Mr J. M'Kerrow, Chief Commissioner of Railways, was interviewed to-day by the ' merchants, who, on behalf of various Waikato Companies, asked that the freights on coal from Waikato to Auckland Bhould be reduced. They pointed out that in a great many instances it was possible to j obtain Newcastle coal at a much cheaper rate than it was possible to get the local I coal. The present freight for coal is 7s Gd I per ton from Huntly, and the deputation asked to have this reduced to about 5s 6d, when they were sure that the output would bo doubled. They suggested a freight of id per ton per mile from the mines to Mercer, and Id per ton per mile from Mercer to Auckland. The consumption of j coal in the city is from 80,000 to 100,000 ! tons a year, so that the poß&ibilities for the local mines were very great. Mr M'Kerrow promised that the matter would receive ' every consideration. j A deputation of members of tbe Auck- ' land Dairy Association asked for a reduction of the rates for the carriage of milk on the railway, and were promised that the Commissioners would consider the question. I Mr M'Kerrow was interviewed by a number of persons interested in the dairying industry. They requested that a cool | truck might be provided for the carriage .of butter by rail. Mr M'Kerrow thought | it would be quite an easy matter to have a cool truck constructed. The matter . . would be considered by the Commissioners, for other places as well as Auckland, as the dairy industry was going to be one of the most important iv New Zealand. He had been giving considerable attention to it on that account. The deputation also explained that they wished to take advantage of the export rate on butter, which they could not now do, as, though nine-tenths of their 1 butter was exported, they had first to L bring it to town, to properly sort and. pack I it; and on this account had to pay the t local rate. The Commissioner said these matters would receive attention.

i ' On Christmas Day last the corner-stone i { of the firat Protestant church ever built on I the soil of Guatemala was laid.