D.—2.

Particulars of the revenue train-mileage run in the various sections are as under : —

TRAIN SERVICES. The following table shows the average late arrivals of the express, mixed and suburban trains for the year: —

Average late arrival of Trains, Year ended 31st March, 1938.

These figures include delays arising from all causes, including slips, floods, washouts, engine and other mechanical failures, and traffic delays at stations. The average late running of trains for the year is slightly higher than last year. Slips, floods, washouts, and other line interruptions, which have been unusually severe during the past few years, were again prevalent during the year under review and accounted largely for the poorer timekeeping of trains as discolsed in the above analysis. On 16th May, 1937, flooding between Te Aroha and Paeroa necessitated the cancellation of services running between these points until 19th May. Flood-waters also rendered the roads in the locality impassable, thus preventing transhipment of passengers and luggage. The Outram Branch line was impassable owing to floods on 24th and 25th May, 1937. Serious flooding occurred in the North Auckland area on 30th June, 1937, and services north of Helensville and on the Kirikopuni and Kaikohe Branches were interrupted until 3rd July, when restricted working was resumed. Normal running was resumed on Monday, sth July. On 31st August, 1937, floods and washouts on the Napier-Putorino line interrupted train services, which were unable to resume normal running until 2nd September. Further flooding occurred on sth September and prevented the resumption of services until 7th September. The line between Napier and Putorino was again blocked by washouts and slips on 24th January, 1938, and remained closed for traffic until 2nd February. On 12th February, 1938, a severe electrical storm accompanied by a cloud-burst in the Wellsford district dislocated traffic until 14th February. On 21st March, 1938, a large slip came down between Greymouth and Kaiata covering the line for approximately 3 chains. Passengers, &c., were conveyed between Stillwater and Greymouth by road until 10 a.m. on 24th March, when normal services were resumed. The following is a resume of the more important alterations to the train services : — On 19th June, 1937, the new Wellington Station was opened for business, and after that date all trains for the Manawatu line were routed via the Tawa Flat Deviation. At the same time the Wellington-Johnsonville line was redesignated as a purely suburban route.

XXXI

Section. j 1937-38. 1936-37. Variation. Kaihu .. .. .. .. .. 13,632 13,392 + 240 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. 43,940 38,149 + 5,791 North Island Main Line and Branches .. .. 8,036,723 7,353,727 -j-682,996 South Island Main Line and Branches .. .. 4,530,610 4,313,028 +217,582 Westport .. .. .. .. .. 69,782 65,890 + 3,892 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 39,826 39,612 + 214 Picton .. .. .. .. .. 43,339 44,285 - 946 Totals .. .. .. .. 12,777,852 11,868,083 +909,769

Period ended Average Year ended ; i j i ~~ ~ v#»or i« 1st ; 29th 26th j 24th 21st 18th 16th 13th 11th j 8th 5th | 5th j 31st 1 May. I May. June. | July. August. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. j Jan. Feb. j March. | March. lUUie - Express and Mail Trains. 1938 .. .. | 5-28 6-99 I 5-67 I 8-51 1 7-73 j 5-79 I 3-58 , 3-20 3-11 112-15 9-37 i 9-70 1 6-17 I 6-71 1937 .. .. 8-32 ' 6-46 4-69 | 4-26 3-58 5-81 | 3-51 1 3-03 i 3-45 | 9-27 6-03 | 7-94 | 7-69 | 5-69 Long-distance Mixed Trains. 1938.. .. 8'74 I S-81 i 5-40 I 7-78 I 6-32 I 4-71 I 4-65 4-66 I 4-78 I 6-31 I 7-16 112-66 112-23 | 7-24 1937 .. .. 8-28 I 8-28 I 5-16 | 3-95 [ 3-80 ! 4-41 I 3-84 i 4-29 i 4-75 | 6-31 | 3-85 | 7-19 | 9-62 | 5-67 Suburban Trains. 1938 . .. 0-60 ! 0-77 1 1-54 | 1-43 0-99 I 0-67 | 0-55 1 0-69 0-48 L-01 0-85 I 1-00 I 0-83 I 0-87 1937.. .. 0-81 0-85 ! 0-58 0-90 0-78 ! 0-63 \ 0-42 | 0-59 0-53 0-81 0-50 | 0-71 ! 0-88 0-69