IN THE LOBBY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1000, 20 July 1883, Page 2

IN THE LOBBY.

[from our parliamentary correspondent.] 1 Wellington, To-day. Excellent progress was with the Estimates last night, the consideration of which always makes an epoch in the history of a session. Members now seem to be of opinion that the session will terminate six or seven weeks hence. Supply will be put up agan 10-night, but will be interrupted, probably, by one of Sir George Grey’s adverse motions. | Mr E. G. Wright has given notice to move, on Wednesday next, for a return showing by what process the General Manager of Railways arrived at the result given in his annual statement, viz , that —“The difference in revenue, due to the difference in rate between the grain rate of the Province of Canterbury and the current class E rate, estimated for the year’s traffic, would probably amount to L 90,000 ” ; whereas the tota: revenue for the year ending 31st March, 1883, for all classes of goods, including,grain, carried over the Hurunui-Bluff section is set down at L 403.420 ; and the quantity of grain carried during the same period was 343,398 tons, or less than' one-third of the total goods traffic, which was 1,130,410 tons. 41so showing whether since a reduction of about 25 per Cent, in the grain rate is estimated to reduce the revenue by L 90,000, the grain traffic at the old rate would have produced L 360.000 for the year'; and, if so, whether the balance of revenue from goods traffic on the Hurunui-Bluff section, viz., L 43,420, is a fair charge for the carriage of the balance of such goods traffic, viz., 787.012 ton's. Also Showing in wfi.at respect the grain rate for the Provino > of Canterbury differs frotn the grain rate for the res', of the polony, and why 1 __________