The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3841, 7 November 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1883.

The New South Wales Commissioner of Railways lias issued his annual report, from which we are enabled to extract some interesting particulars:—The report is dated SeptenVber 1 erf the present year. It coramences by stating that the amount of railway capital (loan) authorised at the close of the year 1881 was £26,702,661. No additional loan was authorised in 1882. The total amount of debentures issued at the close of 1882 was £15,G60,G00, leaving a balance of £11,042,061 still to be raised. The average interest is 4.26 per cent, equal to £1,139,214 on the total amount. The interest paid for 1882 on railway loans was £643,992. The net return from the railway working of that year was £764,228, showing a net profit, after meeting all demands for working expenses and interest upon capital, of £120,136. At the close of 1882 there had been expended on lines open for traffic £15,848,494, and on lines in course of construction £928,148—in all £16,776,642, of which amount the sum of £1,896,178 was expended in the year 1882, as follows:— Construction, £1,666,381; rollingstock and machinery, £219,546; trial surveys, £10,251. Of the money expended on lines open for traffic, £15,210,615 was from loans, and £633,001 from general revenue. The net returns for the year will pay at the rate of 6.36 per cent per annum for the period during which the lines were working. Of the sum £1,666,381 expended in 1882 for construction, the sum of £741,861 was expended on lines open for traffic, and the balance, £924,520, invested in unproductive lines in course of construction. The length of railway open during the year was—Southern and south-western lines, 529 miles ; western line, 308 ; northern line, 281 J. The lines in progress are as follows : —Wallerawang to Mudgeo, 85 miles: Nyngan to Bourke, 126 miles; Uralla to Tcntcrfield, 136 miles; Sydney to Illawarra, first section, 23 miles ; Homebush *to Waratah, first section, _ 29 miles; Goulburn to Cooma, first section, 391 miles; Murramburrah to Blayney, first soction, length not mentioned, but contract £184,270 Gs 8d ; Narrandera to Jerilderie, 65 miles. During the year tho quantity of land taken for railway purposes

was 5140 acres, of -which 077 acres wero private, and 4162 acres Crown land. Thai report .suggests the justice of people whose property is enhanced in value by means of the railways giving , laud for the construction of the same. During - the year no less than 155 vessels were employ oil bringing out railway material, the number of tons of material shipped being 41,318, value ,•£447,130. The report is supplemented by a report on the subject of the tramways of the colony. At the closo.of 1881 there were 9j miles of tramway open for traffic. During 1882 an additional 12| miles wero opened. The cost of constructing these* lines was £284,9.31, while the rolling stock, workshops, &c. cost £127,010, showing the total capital invested as £412,561. The revenue during the year from these trams was £120,202 an increase of £63,053 over the earnings of 1881. The return was 6*Bo per cent. In 1881 7,090,125 passenger fares wero collected, but during ISB2 the collection reached the large total of 15,209,100 fares, equal to 980,400 per average mile of line, while the earnings were equal to £8142 per average mile; results which exceed any published tramway transactions in any part of the world. The number of persoLS killed during the year was eight, the same number as was recorded in 1881; of those eightfourwero run over and three lost their lives through their own want of caution in attempting to enter or leave the cars when in motion, and one, a tram conductor, was killed by being knocked off the footboard by a passing dray. The rolling slock at the end of the year consisted of 41 motors, 81 cars, and five trucks, an increase of 17 motors, 34 cars, and Uve trucks over the previous year's supply. The report rejr fere to Mr Scott's visit to America, and the old world, and quotes the following opinion as expressed by that gentleman—"lain very certain that thoso who have experienced the conveniences of our tramway system would never be satisfied with either the speed or accommodation afforded by horse tramway," and adds that it is tho opinion of all those to whom he had spoken who have a knowledge of tramway working that it is a foregone conclusion that horse power will ultimately be entirely replaced by mechanical power. The Commissioner concludes his report by bearing his testimony to the zeal and competency displayed by the officers connected with tho tramways. It is to bo hoped that further reflection will show Municipal councillors the ill-ad-visedness of going to law with the Government on the question of title to tho Corporation offices. The Land Act of 1877, and the Public Reserves Act of 1881, most effectually settle all questions of titlo with respect of Government buildings. Tho Commissioner of Crown Lands has absoluto power to turn the Corporation out of its offices at any moment he pleases, and the Acts mentioned above are so clear on this point that, in law, the Corporation would not have a leg to stand upon. It is a .significant fact that the municipal solicitor, and Cr. Lee, who is a lawyer, and a headed one too, are agreed that it would bo folly to try conclusions with the Government on this question, while six at least of the other councillors—who are in no sense lawyers—are eager for litigation. It is thought by a majority of the Council that in going to law ejection from tho offices will be delayed pending tho sitting of tho Supreme Court. It is thought that a question of title can only be heard in tho Supremo Court. This is quite a mistaken idea, for there is no question of titlo involved. . One Justice of tho Peace can settle the business in a summary way, and tho Corporation would find itself in the street in tho course of a couple of hours. A better course —provided the offices are worth holding— would be for tho Mayor to call a public meeting, at which, in a series of temperately - worded resolutions, the Government might bo informed of tho sentiments and wishes of the people of this town. It might bo pointed out how this borough is the least endowed of any, perhaps, in tho colony; how its interests were overlooked at tho time of Abolition; how its present indebtedness precludes furtlnr borrowing ; and how impossible it is for the Corporation to find money for building purposes. There should not bo one word bearing on party politics uttered at the meeting, nor should there bo any angry expressions at tho treatment JJio borough lias received. Wo want a concession from the Government, and the Government being tho strongest of tho two it is no use presenting ourselves in a threatening attitude. Uncongenial as it may bo, we shall have to address tho Government as suppliants, and be civil withal. Wo might then got what we want, for tho Government would hardly ignore such an expression of public wishes. If the public service will not allow the Government to forego the use of the offices now occupied by the Town Clerk, a grant might bo made to enable tho Corporation to erect a suitable building.