D.—2

XIII

TRAFFIC. Mr. H. Buxton, Chief Traffic Manager, reports that the following are the leading features of the traffic in the various districts : Whangarei Section. Revenue, £52,840; decrease, £1,125. Passengers decreased, 4,758 ; LiVe-stock, 7,735 ; timber, 3,488 tons, and minerals 27,093 tons. General goods increased 4,776 tons. Bad weather and the scarcity of labour affected the timber business. The decrease in minerals was caused b}' the flooding of a coa.l-n.iinc for a portion of the year. Kailm Section. Revenue, £7,171 ; increase, £693. Passengers increased 788. Timber increased 2,004 tons, minerals 201 tons, anel general goods 542 tons. Fleiods considerably affected traffic in the previous year. Gisborne Section. Revenue, £28,207 ; increase, £236. Passengers decreased 13,822. Live-stock increased 9,815. Goods tonnage decreased (i,720 tons, chiefly in timber anel road-metal, owing to the scarcity of labour. North. Island Main Line and Brandies. Revenue, £2,669,365 ; decrease, £13,715. The- principal items of traffic were :— Passengers (number) .. .. .. 6,619,210; decrease, 1,816,965 Season tickets (number) .. .. .. 202,033; „ 2LOII Parcels (revenue) .. .. .. .. £145.709; increase, 5,045 Live-stock (number).. .. .. .. 3.615.139; „ 85,757 Goods (tons) .. .. .. .. 1,894,678; decrease, 33,941 The revenue per mile of railway decreased from £2,421 I Is. to £2,398 Is. (id., but per train-mile it increased from 10s. 3d. to 12s. 6jd, The variations of traffic in the individual districts were approximately as follows : - Auckland. Revenue, £972,402 ; increase-, £37,951. Passengers decreased 597,372, mainly at Auckland anel the suburban stations, owing to the reduced train service. Season tickets decreased 9,683. Parcels and luggage revenue increased £1,689. Cattle anel calves decreased 11,573, and pigs 7,092. Sheep increased 38,923. Timber decreased 7,152 tons, anel minerals either than coal 3,400 tons. General geiods increased 7,079 tons, and coal 37,174 terns. Scarcity eif labour and shipping affected the timber traffic. The increase of coal was from local mines. The season for produce was unfavourable. Ohakune. —Revenue, £318,139; decrease, £3,210. Passengers decreased 30,618, and seaseui tickets 113. Parcels and luggage revenue increased £1,353. Cattle and calves decreased 13,938, and pigs 654. Sheep increased 50,930. Timber decreased 14,597 tons. General goods increased 6,088 tons, and minerals (road-metal) 264 tons. Wanganui.- -- Revenue-, £478,535; increase, £4,304. Passengers decreased 173,509, and season tickets 534. Parcels and luggage revenue: increased £1,934. Cattle anel calves decreased 10,017, and pigs 2,006. Sheep increased 42,100. Timber increased 2,747 tons imports at New Plymouth Breakwater and Foxton. Genera] goods decreased 20,127 tons, and minerals 9,266 tons. Much of the general-goods traffic is dealt with at coastal port stations. The shortage of shipping reduced both the importation eif goods and the export of produce. Wellington.— Revenue, £899,989 ; decrease, £52,760. Passengers decreased 1,015,466, and season tickets 10,561. The- decrease is due to the reduction of suburban train services, and the decrease in military and sports traffic. Parcels and luggage: revenue increased £69. Cattle and calves increased 1,204, and sheep 971. Pigs decreased 3,621. Timber decreased 2,406 tons, general goods 20,625 tons, anel minerals 10,727 tons. The decrease in general goods is chiefly in produce waiting shipment, and in minerals a decreased importation of coal. Picton Section. Revenue, £31,283; increase, £1,139. Passengers decreased 14,466. Parcels revenue increased £50. Live-stock increased 5,373, anil genera] goods 8,166 tons. Timber decreased 163 tons, and minerals 1,310 tons. The increase in general goods was due to the increased export of chaff.