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APPENDIX L.

ANNUAL REPORT ON WORKING RAILWAYS. The General Manager, New Zealand Railways, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— I have the honour to report to you on the working railways for the year ending the 31st March, 1883. Whangarei. —The line was extended to the new Railway Wharf, 1 mile 65 chains, on the 30th November, 1882, and is completed. The traffic has thus had an opportunity of developing. The ratio of the expenses to the revenue is 85-64< per cent., against 127-89 during the previous year. The line and stock are in good order. Auckland. —This section has improved in all respects. During the past year the ratio of expenses to revenue is 6638, against 68"34 for the previous year. Many difficulties still stand in the way of smooth working : steps are being taken to remove them. Heavier locomotives are expected to arrive shortly. The removal of the shops to Newmarket is begun. More wagons have been put on the line, and more are under erection. Carriage iron-work is under order from England, and the timber-work is being prepared in New Zealand. Some steps have been taken to give better station accommodation at Auckland and at several of the country stations. Until all these improvements are available we shall have difficulty in working. The want of shop room has been much felt in dealing with the stock. The want of yard and office room in the chief station has been a source of trouble; partial improvements have been effected, removing some of the more serious defects. The line has been well maintained, and the stock as well as the room and appliances at disposal allow. The time-tables have been lengthened, as the large number of stations, defective siding room, the light locomotives, and the steep grades made it difficult to keep time. Matters have been improved by this means, and will be more so when better arrangements are available. The Kaipara branch, has been improved and ballasted, with great advantage. The maintenance of fencing arrears is being overtaken. The Resident Engineer reports that generally the road has been improved throughout. There has been an increase in the traffic work of about 18 per cent,, and there is a material reduction in the cost of working it, but the revenue has not increased in proportion to the traffic. Napier. —This line suffered severely from the effects of flood in June, which interrupted the traffic for some days, and caused a heavy outlay in repairs. The ratio of expenses to revenue for the year is 60'26'per cent., as compared with 5387 during the previous year. This defect is due to the cost of floods, increase of wages, lowered rates, and the increased age of the stock and line, and also to the fact that the increasing traffic has required additional train service, which, while we cannot work satisfactorily without it, has had rather scanty employment. The line has been brought into an efficient condition since the floods. The stock has been well maintained. The operation of the causes previously mentioned has caused an increase in the cost of working the traffic as compared with the previous year. The chief items of additional expenses have been in the cost of maintenance of the road and the wagon stock, and in extra train service. Additional carriage and wagon stock is under order for this line. Many of the stations have been improved. Wellington. —The results on this section show great improvement. The ratio of expenses to revenue for the year is 73-25 per cent., against 7491 during the previous year. There have been bo serious casualties during the year. The traffic has increased largely, but the revenue has not increased proportionately. The traffic in sheep has grown very largely, owing to the activity of the meat-preserving and refrigerating Companies. The cost of working the traffic is lower. The road and structures have been maintained in good order. Three and a half miles of 40-lb. rails have been relaid with 53-lb. steel. The stock is in good order. Some complaints have been made about the roughness of trains in travelling: this line has seven miles of curves under 10 chains radius, the greater part of which are 5-chain curves; and on such a line, and working with mixed trains in severe grades, easy running is not readily obtained. It is proposed to put some bogie carriages on the line, which will make an improvement. The change in the Petone Station, involving two stoppages, has made the suburban journeys somewhat more tedious. The increased amount of expenditure is chiefly due to increased traffic, and to the renewals of the stock and road being heavier from increased age and wear. Additional carriage and wagon stock is under order. Wanganui. —This sectioniias suffered from the floods of June, 1882. Three spans of the Rangitikei Bridge were washed away, interrupting traffic for more than two months. The passenger and parcels traffic was carried on by ferry during the construction of a temporary bridge. Special train services have been arranged for working until the completion of the permanent structure. This accident has involved a heavy additional expenditure, and a large diminution in the