I.—9c

1894. NEW ZEALAND.

Brought up Session 1894, and ordered to be printed.

No. 210.—Petition of Samuel Vaile, of Auckland. Petitioner states that he is the inventor of the " stage " system of railway administration. He asks that temporary powers be given him to apply the said system to a section of the New Zealand railways. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the time is inopportune to give a trial to the system proposed by Mr. Vaile. That the Committee strongly recommend that the system have a trial in regard to certain perishable products being carried at rates somewhat similar to the stage rates advocated by Mr. Vaile. (This proposal should be satisfactory to Mr. Vaile, seeing that, if only to a limited extent, what he has so long and earnestly advocated is to be brought to a practical test.) That the position of the colony and the working of the railways has not so materially altered since Mr. Vaile was last examined before a Select Committee of the House of Eepresentatives as would warrant the Committee in incurring the expense of asking Mr. Vaile to personally attend the Committee to give evidence. 26th July, 1894.

No. 144. —Petition of Eichaed Cabe, of Papakura, Auckland. Petitioneb states that he was a platelayer on the Auckland-Waikato Eailway, and so continued until 10th April, 1891; that, whilst at work, his eye was injured by a spark, and he, after great suffering, lost the sight of it; that he was subsequently dismissed on the grounds of over-age, but really because the work was too heavy for him; that the Commissioners gave him a bonus of six months' pay. He prays for further relief. I am directed to report that the Committee strongly recommend that the Eailway Commissioners should provide some light employment for the petitioner. Ist August, 1894.

No. 264.—Petition of J. Logan Campbell and 239 Others. Petitioners ask that a trial be given to Mr. S. Vaile's " stage " system of railway management. I am directed to report that, as the matter has been already dealt with on the petition of Mr. Vaile, the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist August, 1894.

No. 196.—Petition of John Heney Gay, of Oamaru. Petitionbb prays that the railway charges be reduced on Oamaru stone. I am directed to report that the Committee finds that at present the stone quarries at Oamaru and Mount Somers are prevented by the railway charges from having so large an output as might be expected. It is of opinion that a substantial reduction in the present rates would encourage the use of building-stone, and suggests that the rates for all distances of over fifty miles should be lowered by, say, one-third on the present tariff; and that where the cranes are worked by the owner of the quarry no charge for cranage should be made. The Committee desires this report to apply to all quarries in the colony. 22nd August, 1894.

BAIL WAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF, NOT INCLUDED IN FORMER PAPERS). Me. G. W. RUSSELL, CHAIRMAN.