Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1901. MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 September 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1901. MIDLAND RAILWAY.

The annual report of the Minister for Railways, which appears in another column of this issue, presents a very pleasing picture, telling unmistakably of increased trade and prosperity. Among the lines that show an increase are those included in the Westland Section, but only Grey-Brunner and Grey-Hokitika can be meant, the Midland, if we take Mr. Ward’s report for it, not showing to advantage. The paragraph dealing with this portion says:—“During the time the’Midland Railway has been worked by the Government as a trust, the net revenue per annum with a higher scale of charges than is now in operation, barely exceeded £5,000 in any one year. Up to the present the traffic has not increased to any appreciable extent, while the freight charges have been very materially reduced, and it may, therefore, be assumed that the net result of the working of the Midland Railway for the nine months they have been in the hands of the Government would not add more than £4,000 to the revenue of the Government railways. Special attention is directed to this matter in order to dispel any feeling that the inclusion of the earnings of the Midland lines have inflated the net revenue of the Government lines and largely affected the result of the year’s workings.” Although it is not mentioned, it may be taken for granted that ’ the Minister’s intention in drawing particular attention to the Midland railway earnings is in view of the claim of the deben-

ture holders, and to show that the return to the colony by reason of the expenditure is very small. Even upon such return the debenture holders are entitled to £150,000, and if we call to memory the fact that the earnings are upon an uncompleted line—three disjointed sections—it will be readily conceded that the £150,000 can be regarded as but a third of what the State should pay over to the unfortunated and deluded debenture holders.