MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18406, 12 June 1925, Page 8

MIDLAND RAILWAY.

EFFECT ON LYTTELTON SHIPPING. DECREASE IN TIMBER AND COAL. The rotiring chairman (Mr F. Horr'ell) of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, in his report to the annual mooting, of the Board yesterday mado the following reference to the effect of the completion of the Midland railway on tho shipping of Lyttelton:—

In my report twelvo months ago, I stated it was impossible for me then to. say what effect, the railway would have on our shipping, and while we must acknowledge the very great advantage derived by the opening of that line to the people of Canterbury and West Coast as a whole, our shipping returns show a docrease in certain items, 'especially in' coal and timber, ( as the following figures' indicate:—

showing a drop of 17,217 tons of coal and 5371 tons of timber, in 1923, and a further drop of 29,392 tons of coal and 27,786 tons of timber in 1924, or a total drop of 46,649 tons of coal and 33,157 tons (representing 10,568,500 super, feet) of timber in two years. On the other hand, we know that dairy and other produce and merchandise is shipped and unshipped at Lyttelton oil account of the West Coast, although our records do not allow us to assess the amount' closely. Eeforences were made to this state of things by some of the speakers. Mr H. Holland said that as residents of the Dominion they could not complain of the competition of the Midland railway> seeing that Cantorbury had so strongly urged the completion of the line. Mr M. J. Miller said that ho did not think that any member of the Board begrudged the loss of revenue through the competition of the West Coast rail: way. It showed that they were interested in the welfare of the wholo of Canterbury, and *hey were pleased to know that the railway was doing such good, work; also that-trade was coming the Board's way that practically compensated them for their loss. At a later stage the secrotary and engineer (Mr Cyrus Williams), said that thfc Midland line, if it averaged the amount of goods for that day for the whole year would be handling equal to 75 per cerft. of the amount handled by the Board at Lyttelton for the year.

OqaL Timber ' Tons. . •Tons. 1920 •..•■ 119,487 43,592 1921 ... 155,038 60,371 1922 .. 140,099 43,432 1923 .. 122,842 38,062 .1924 ., 93,452 10,276