THE RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue II, 8 June 1880, Page 2

THE RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

• The returns for the month ending 31st March are published. They show that on the Patea-Manawatu section there was in almost every item a decrease of traffic, as compared with the corresponding four weeks of the previous year, excepting in the carriage of live stock, which shows a general improvement. The following particulars will be read with interest : —

It is gratifying to notice that despite the heavy depression which was lelt in these districts during the month of March, the returns for the local lino compare moat favourably as regards receipts and profits with any other of the lines. Oi course the short (8 miles) line from Greymouth to the Brunaer district leads in the

raat';rr ofyrjiifc, lha pcu* G3n t age Oi oxyenliti.u'y to receipts being only 47-11 ; iio \i in ovi'e? of merit comes the Napiev Hug — K> oiUs^ iv length — the per oentage being 05-Q) ; whilst Auckland— lo7 miles in length — follows closely with 66*20 ; the Waugauui-^oxton line beinpf fouvfch iv order of merit with 71-72 per 'cent. Considering ,-ili:i.-. ;..\o lo^U line is 05 milo-5 in ioii^&h, and has not the advantages dorved from traffic from a largo city like Auckland, it shows up remarkably well. - • •- i The returns show a rather melancholy state of affairs as regards some of the lines : for instance, that at Westport, which is worked at a constant and steady loss. Since the beginning of the financial period that line has earned £2,377, whilst th« working expenses have am»*nted to £2,879, showing an actual loss of about £500, without considering interest on construction. For the month of March, .the Picton line was also worked at a loss, the receipts being £27-7, and the expenditure £302. The other lines are paying fairly, the average per centage of expenditure to receipts being 74*76. Turning, however to the branch lines in Canterbury and Otago, we see evidence of a most deplorable waste of puUic money in the construction of useless lines.' The Eyreton branch, 21 miles in length, was worked at a loss during the 12 weeks ending March 81, for while the receipts were £742, the expenditure was £791. The Ngapaia branch, 15 miles in length, spent £1,133 in earning £916 ; and the Lawrence branch receipts were £1,948, whilst the working expenses amounted to £2008. But the most ; outrageous examples of jobbery are found in the Shag Point branch, and the Walton Park branch. The latter line earned £154 in three months ending March 81, but the working expenses reached £326.. The Shag Point branch is, however, the perfection of a useless line. This branch is 2 miles long, and during three months earned the munificent sum of £49, whilst the working expenses reached the sum of £133. _____

WAKOANUI SECTION. Mch 1880 Moh 1879 PASSENGERS,' — tfo NO. Ist diiss .. .. 2,710 2,917 2nd class . . . . 7.797 9,399 Total .. .. 10,507 12,316 Gooes,— Tons. Tons. Wool .. .. 2G 40 Timber. ' .... 035 1 430 Grain .. .. 122 219 Merchandise . . . . 451 963 Minerals .. .. 25 62 Firewood .. .. 520 67G Total .. .. 2,079 8,896 Live Stock,— No. No. Parcels, Dogs, &o. .. 788 ; Horses and Cattle ..52 3 Sheep, Pigs, &o. .. 172 632 Total .. .. I,ol* 635 Receipts,— £ s. d. £ s. d Passengers, Parcles, &q. „, 1330 7 1 1784 19 7 Goods.live stock, rents, &0... 1223 15 1 1437 2 3 , Total ... £2559 2 2 £3222 110