D.—2

XVI

APPENDIX E. REPORT ON CONDITION OP THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. Chief Engineer's Office (Working Eailways Department), Wellington, 18th May, 1898. Reef ton and Jackson Lines. —The lines are in fair running-order. The banks at Snowy Creek, where formerly breached by floods, have been raised. Most of the iron bridges have been tarred. A large flood threatened the approaches of the Teremakau Bridge, but the encroachment was checked, and permanent protection is being provided. Some additional flood-openings have been put in the line. Buildings throughout the line are in good order. Springfield Line. —This section is in satisfactory order. J. Heney Lowe, Chief Engineer. The General Manager, New Zealand Eailways.

Annual Eepoet of the Midland Eailway. Sik, — Locomotive Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 17th May, 1898. I have the honour to report upon the Midland Eailway for the year ending the 31st March 1898: - Locomotives. —The whole of the locomotives have been maintained in good order. During the year two locomotives were thoroughly overhauled, and six received light repairs. Carriages. —Carriages are in fair running order. Two of the Class A bogie-carriages received heavy repairs, and five received light repairs. Wagons. —The wagons are in fair order. Buildings. —These are all in good order. Tanks, Coal-sheds, &c. —These are in good order. The locomotive staff has been transferred from Stillwater to Greymouth, and repairs to rolling-stock are now effected at Greymouth. I have, &c, T. F. Bothebam, Locomotive Superintendent. The General Manager, New Zealand Eailways, Wellington.

Statement of Eevenue and Expendituee, New Zealand Midland Eailway, Year ending 31st March, 1898. Eevenue — £ s. d. £ g. d. Passengers ... ... ... ... 6,516 13 1 Parcels, &c. ... ... ... ... 535 12 5 Goods, Ac. ... ... ... ... 10,772 1 11 Percentages ... ... ... ... 1,557 4 3 19,381 11 8 Expenditure— Traffic 2,105 15 7 Locomotive ... ... ... ... 2,804 10 0 Maintenance ... ... ... ... 8,565 17 11 General charges ... ... ... 711 12 11 14,187 16 5 Net revenue ... ... ... £5,193 15 3 Expenditure per cent, of revenue ... 73-20 Accountant's Office, 17th May, 1898. A. C. Fife, Accountant.

APPENDIX F. Sic,— District Traffic Manager's Office, Auckland, 30th April, 1898. I have the honour to report on the working of the Auckland Section of the New Zealand Government railways for the financial year ending the 31st March, 1898. The traffic for the year shows an increase in every item, except horses and firewood, as compared with the traffic for the previous year; the increased revenue derived therefrom being £9,700. The passenger traffic shows a very large increase, principally in the issue of excursion tickets. The public greatly appreciate the holiday excursion fares of 2d. and Id. per mile, first and second class respectively, and as these fares become more widely known so is the issue much greater and more appreciated. The parcels traffic shows an increase in the number of parcels carried of over 6,500. This shows of itself that the new rates for the carriage of small parcels have been taken advantage of. The increases in carriages, dogs, and live-stock call for no special comment. Chaff shows an increase of 2,500 tons, and grain of nearly 400 tons. This increase is in grain and chaff sent from country stations, and it shows that the country settlers are doing their best to supply the local markets with the various requirements. Wool shows a satisfactory increase of 1,500 bales. . • Firewood shows a small decrease. The prices obtained are in many cases too low to warrant the cutting of the wood.