D.—l 2

1903. NEW ZEALAND.

WELLINGTON AND MANAWATU RAILWAY COMPANY (LIMITED) (AGREEMENT FOR INTERCHANGE OF TRAFFIC WITH).

Laid on the Table of the House in pursuance of Section 43 of " The Government Eailways Act, 1900."•

Memorandum of Agreement for the Interchange of Traffic between the New Zealand Government Railways and the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (Limited). 1. The term " Minister" means the Minister for Railways, or any Minister or person for the time being acting for him, appointed by "The Government Railways Act, 1900." The term "Company" means the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (Limited). 2. For the purpose of this agreement the commencement of the Company's line at Wellington shall be deemed to be at 33 ft., measured in a northerly direction, from the junction crossing connecting the Company's line and the Wellington-Woodville Railway near Pipitea Point; and in the Manawatu district the commencement of the Company's line shall be deemed to be at Longburn Railway-station, 9 ft. clear of the Government centre line. 3. Goods traffic, and horses and carriages booked through Passenger Department, may be interchanged at Wellington and Longburn; passenger, parcels, and coaching traffic not otherwise specified, only at Longburn. 4. The Stationmaster at Longburn and his assistant shall carry out the instructions of the Company's officers where such instructions relate to the control of the Company's trains, traffic, or property. The Minister shall recognise the Company's right to demand the removal from Longburn of any officer for neglect of duty or misconduct. The junction at Longburn shall be under the control of the Minister, who shall pay half the salary of a Stationmaster to be placed by the Minister at Longburn, and half other goods-traffic expenses. The other moiety to be paid by the Company. 5. Passengers will be booked through between such of the Company's stations and such stations on the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth Section as may be mutually arranged from time to time. The fares shall be computed at the Government scale of rates and charged on the continuous mileage for the through journey, and the allocation to the Company and the Government respectively shall be on a mileage basis. 6. Parcels, horses, carriages, dogs, and excess luggage will be booked through between all stations on the Company's line and all stations on the Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth Section. The charges will be computed at the Government scale of rates and based on the continuous mileage, and the allocation to the Company and the Government respectively shall be on a mileage basis. 7. The Government carriages and brake-vans composing the mail-train from New Plymouth may be run on the Company's line to Wellington, and similarly the Company's carriages and brake-vans composing the mail-train from Wellington may be run on the Government line to New Plymouth. 8. Except as provided in clause 24, the Government carriages and brake-vans shall not be used for local- traffic on the Company's line, nor shall the Company's carriages or brake-vans be used for local traffic on the Government line. 9. The Government shall find carriages and brake-vans for two mail-trains and the Company shall find carriages and brake-vans for one mail-train, all to be free of charge. 10. All locomotive-power for the haulage of mail-trains between Wellington and Longburn shall be provided by the Company. 11. For the purpose of interchanging goods traffic the Government trucks may be run on the Company's line, and the Company's trucks on the Government line. 12. Trucks returning to the parent line may be loaded with goods for the parent line.