13

D.—2

During the current year it is proposed to reduce the journey-time of several mixed trains between Clinton and Invercargill, Invercargill and Bluff, the morning train Invercargill to Orepuki, and the morning and evening trains on the Nightcaps Branch, and to so rearrange the services in the western district as to enable stock to be forwarded as far north as Dunedin in the one day. A new mixed train will be-put on between Winton and Invercargill on Saturdays, for the convenience of settlers. The Christchurch-Dunedin express will be accelerated by forty-five minutes each way, arriving Christchurch and Dunedin respectively at 8.15 p.m. instead of 9 p.m., and some of the local services will be improved. In the Auckland District it is proposed to entirely recast the time-table, and to provide a daily express between Auckland and Botorua, with connection with the King-country as far south as Ongarue, also with Cambridge, Te Aroha, Thames, and Te Awamutu. The local services will also be improved, and where possible the journey-time reduced. Appended is a statement showing the average late arrivals of trains at destination for the year ended the 31st March, 1902, and a comparison of the last nine months with the corresponding period of last year, records not being available for the whole of last year. It will be seen that there is a marked improvement, the averages for express and mail trains being 1-16 against 1-70; for long-distance mixed trains, 1-24 against 1-90; and for suburban trains, 055 against 0-90.

Return showing Average Late Arrivals of Trains at Destination.

The electric tablet working, which has been installed on the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth Section between Te Aro and Featherston and Hawera and Turakina, and on the Hurunui-Bluff Section between Waitati and Mosgiel, during the year, is working most satisfactorily, and it is most desirable that the system should be extended to other portions of the lines at as early a date as possible. In November last the Westinghouse brake was brought into operation on the mail trains, and more recently on the principal mixed trains between Wellington and Napier and Palmerston and New Plymouth, enabling the trains to be worked with greater safety and expedition. The express trains between Dunedin and Christchurch are now being equipped, and the brake will be brought into operation on the Ist July in connection with the reduction in the journey-time of those trains. In view of the continued growth of business on the Auckland Section, and the congestion of traffic on the single line of rails between Auckland and Penrose, it will be absolutely necessary to double the line to enable any improvement to be effected in the suburban train services. Great complaint is made by regular travellers of the frequent interruption to the ordinary services for race and other holiday traffic. The percentage of traffic expenditure to revenue is 1778, as compared with 1745 for the previous year, the increase being due to improvements and additions to the train services, the heavy additional excursion traffic at low fares, and the consequent increase of staff. The prospects for the ensuing year are satisfactory, and therS is every indication of a continued expansion of business. I have, &c, W. H. Gaw, Chief Traffic Manager. The General Manager, New Zealand Eailways, Wellington.

4i A ftg,S fcjs KUg ftgS 1-5 Ha .a . i .3 . .«f. .of. H>g ft g'S ! pm as ft«* ftog < r 02 ™ »«3 ■ T_l CQ 00 qj BjS Hjig H-Sg H-ggf §f« ftdg ft«s ftS* ftgg g|g Long-i 3-54 'jong-distance Fast 3-54 4-22 0-88 Passenger Trains. 085 0-47 I 0-42 0-77 'rains. 0-42 Year ending 31st March, | 301 I 1-96 1902 Year ending 31st March, 1901 .. 1-97 1-16 0 85 I 1-36 1-58 1-36 0-77 1-58 210 1-10 0-83 4-23 1-81 2-03 3-07 0-82 1-16 1-70 Li Long-distance 1 2-87 j 3-12 1-03 i tixed Trains. 1-02 Year ending 31st March, 3-06 2-07 1902 Year ending 31st March, 1901 2-87 0-90 0-79 0-79 1-02 0-79 1-27 0-94 1-36 3-04 1-24 2'04 1-88 142 1-43 1-50 1-43 1-50 2-79 l'70 234 2-08 1-90 Suburban Trains, Year ending 31et Maroh, | 1-13 0-85 1902 Year ending 31st March, 1901 0-85 1-59 1-60 0-69 .. 1-27 0-44 0-42 0-47 0-38 0-76 O67 0'84 0-91 0-56 0-55 ; 0-71 1-03 0'78 l>15 0-71 1-15 0-70 075 0'55 0-90