NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

Western Star, Issue 854, 21 June 1884, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

The annual report of tho General Manager of New Zealand Railways Las been laid on Ihe table, deferring to the Hnrunui-Bluff section, he says that the passenger traffic has remained nearly stationary owing to special circumstances. The.,goods traffic has increased largely. After giving details he remarks : “ Tho diminished timber traffic is no doubt duo to s’acKness in the building trade; While the traffic in the low rate goods, grain, minerals and sheep has increased largely, that in the goods at the higher rates, with the exception of wool, has fallen off, and with diminished rates the revenue has not tended to keep pace .with traffic. Thus, while the live stock has increased from 302,000 to 466.000 head, and the tonnage goods have increased from 1,130,000 to 1.199.000 tons, the revenue for these items has ' only increased from £403,000 to £416,000. Three causes have tended to make the passenger ' traffic for the year look unfavorable with 1 that, of the previous year. First, two Easters fell in the preceding year, and none during 1883-84; secondly, the Christchurch Exhibition largely swelled the passenger traffic in the former year; thirdly, the weather has been unfavorable for holiday traffic in the latter yearr-KEhe greater part of .the diminution in passenger revenue is traceable to these causes, and the rest to lower fares. Having regard to these special disadvantages, the progress of the passenger traffic must he considered satisfactory. Fourteen miles of line have been opened during

the year ; 12 miles of sidings have been laid. The line - is improved by the relaying with-heayy-rails when repairing, and :by the large amount of ballasting which has been done during the last four-years. Forty-nine milea of rails have been relaid, against 36 miles on the previous year. Only 293 t miles out of 863 are now laid with . rails below the standards, taken at ’ 531 b for the' main line and 401 b for the branches. The consumption of sleepers has risen since 1879-80 from 50,000 to 100,000. The bridging is heayy arid expensive to maintain, being chiefly of timber. In the Christchurch district there is 8 miles 76 chains of bridging; in the Dunedin district there is 3 ' miles 69 chains; in the Invercargill district there is 1 mile 43 chnins a total of 14 miles 27 chains. The cost of maintaining this will increase annually. During the [year 60 miles of live fences have been planted, and 20 miles of ground have been prepared; 06 acres of plantations of trees have been made, and 50 acres of ground have been prepared. Extensive additions have been made to station accommodation and appliances- at Invercargill, Addington, Parflehiv Chaneys, Yalette, Maheno, Palmerston, Burkes, Burnside, Henley, Ma.tanra, Winton, Bluff, (Tore, ‘Waipahi, Stirling, Milburn, Waikouaiti, and’ Edendale. Numerous cranes,, weighbridges, and improvements to water services have been added. The expenditure by the maintenance department has been : . For maintenance,’ £159,47? ; Public Works Department, £31,104 ; general public, £6914 ; —total, £i97,495. Six new private sidings have been granted and 99 leased. The revenue from leases now amounts to £5352 per annum. In the locomotive department five new tender-engines have been to added the stock. The stock of waggons has been increased by 402, the carriage stock by 13, and the tarpaulins by 458. The expenditure on waggon renewals has been heavy. Brown coal has been chiefly used, giving good economical results, r The workshop accommodation has been largely improved, and is now, with some exceptions, fairly ' equal to the present requirement. The engine-shed accommodation is insufficient for the stock. This is a serious defect. Additional water and coal accommodation is needed. Advocates of local industries will read wffh gratification the following paragraph in Mr Maxwell’s report: “ The experience gained in building carriages in the Colony tends to show that the Department can now turn out nearly the whole of the work at a cheaper rate than it can be imported at.' We, however, still have to import wheels and axles.”—Wellington correspondent;“ Otago Daily Times.”