PAPERS RELATING TO THE

D.—No. 6b

40

Assuming that at least as many persons would travel by the line between Christchurch and the North as now pass over White's Bridge, and allowing half the number (or 4,830) passing over the Lyttelton and Christchurch Eailway to travel only from Kaiapoi, there would remain 1,000 persons per month from stations beyond Kaiapoi. We should have the return from passenger traffic monthly — Christchurch and Kaiapoi, £542, reckoning at the average rate per mile ou the Lyttelton and Christchurch Line. Beyond Kaiapoi, £120, reckoning at the average rate per mile on the Great South Eailway ; or total passenger traffic, £662 per month. Taking the merchandise traffic in the same manner we should hay Kaiapoi and Christchurch ... ... ... ... ... £1,200 Beyond Kaiapoi ... ... ... ... ... ... 740 Total goods traffic ... ... ... ... ... £1,940 Though the proportion of grain traffic might be less, as shown by the acreage of lands under crop, the returns from this source are but small, and would be balanced by the increase in the cost of timber carriage. In the month of February the returns were at the rate of £-14,000 per annum, whereas the actual return will exceed £48,000. Taking, however, the above figures as a fair estimate, we should have the total income= (£662 + £1,940) 12=£31,224, from which working expenses being deducted at 75 per cent, and 2 per cent, sinking fund, the net profit would be £7,181 per annum, or 6 per cent, upon a capital of £119,700. The length of the line proper being taken at nineteen miles, the cost would bo made up as follows: — 21 miles, forming surface, at £400 per mile ... ... ... ... £8,400 40 miles fencing, at £75 per mile ... ... ... ... ... 3,000 21 miles single line, 75 lb. rails, £8 10s per ton ... ... ... 21,030 Fish-plates, bolts, &c, 240 tons, £15 per ton ... ... ... 3,600 21 miles, laying permanent way ... ... ... ... ... 3,600 Culverts ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,000 Ballasting ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 14,000 Eoad crossings on the level ... ... ... ... ... 3,000 Sleepers ... ... ... ... . ... ... ... 10,900 Bridges, at £10 per foot run ... ... ... ... ... 15,000 Stations '... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7,000 Total works ... ... ... ... ... £90,530 Eolling stock ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15,000 Contingencies and engineering, including commission ... ... 15,000 Land ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10,000 Total ... ... .., ... ... £130,530 I have, &c, T. Selbt Tancued.

Enclosure 2 in No. 37. RAILWAYS.—Traffic Returus, January 1868 to April 1870. —Comparative Statement. LYTTELTON AND CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY.

Passengers. Goods. Totals. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1868. 1869. 1870. anuary February ilarch ... Lpril ... >Iay ... fane ... fuly ... August Sept. ... )ctober ?ov. ... £ s. a. 1183 0 0 698 3 5 877 9 7 813 0 8 727 16 2 573 1 6 194 5 5 j 785 3 10 ! 607 13 8 ! 592 7 1 775 6 1 736 14 2 £ s. a. 956 15 7 671 9 3| 903 8 6 1138 1 11 862 12 0 533 9 11 477 15 3 570 9 2 489 0 4 507 16 0 671 11 4 622 14 4 £ s. a. 1185 6 2 I 572 15 9 913 1 1 714 16 9 664 18 1 £ s. d. 1 £ s. d. 1500 6 5 1466 8 0 1221 12 9 1595 9 ll| 1932 6 3 2168 13 6 1967 8 6 1555 14 5 1668 10 10 3029 18 10' 1609 9 9 2573 2 2 828 19 0: 1767 8 0 1290 14 1 1653 4 3 1662 10 6: 1309 16 3 1603 0 8 1 1920 3 7 3677 12 3! 1920 3 1 1383 9 1 1627 2 8 £ s. a. 1686 12 7 ! 1690 8 0 >128 12 10, 2726 11 11 '3122 i 0 £ s. a. 2683 6 5 1919 16 2 ; 2809 15 10, : 2780 9 2l 2396 7 0 2182 11 3 1023 4 5! I 2075 17 11 I 2270 4 2 2195 7 9 2452 18 4 2120 3 8 £ s. a. 2423 3 7 2266 19 2 3072 2 0 2693 16 4| 3892 10 10 3106 12 1 2245 3 3 2223 13 5 1798 16 7 2427 19 7 2591 14 5 2249 17 0 £ s. a. 2871 18 S 2263 3 S 5041 13 11 3441 8 8 3787 2 1 Dec. I ... 1 1 I 30992 8 3 Totals 8564 1 7 ,8405 3 7 18346 0 122587 4 8 26910 1 8 I I