THE COST OF THE RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 86, 28 June 1881, Page 2

THE COST OF THE RAILWAYS.

A return which was moved for by Mr Montgomery last session has been laid on 'the* table of the House, and printed, showing the cost of construction of the different railway lines, and the estimated value of the rolling- stock in use on each section. As the figures will prove interesting to our readers, we reprint the totals.and in order to make the table more complete we have ascertained and ap« pended the profits («.«., the amount of receipts over working expenses) on the different lines for the year ended 81st March, 1881 : — Profit on year end'd Line. Co»t. March, 'SI. Foxtou-Kai Iwi ... £567,202 £12,110

The ahove figures are of an interesting character. Whatever effect the railways may have had on the settlement of the country, the returns quoted prove to a demonstration that many of the lines have proved gigantic failures as investments of colonial revenue. If it is rememhered that no reserve account exists to provide for depreciation of value or renewal of permanent way or rolling stock, it will be seen still more plainly that New Zealand railways are in no sense so far reproductive works.

Wellington - Featherafcon 535.130 4,406 New Plymouth sectioa 227,989 1,290 Helensrille - Kiverhead 89,317 853 Auckland section ... 826,243 19,255 Napier-Kopua 360.366 11,445 Ohriatchnrch section... 1,596,294 134,308 Timaru-Oamaru ... 754,473 34 211 Danertin Bection ... 1,340,068 61.731 luvercargill section ... 773,946 25.263 Nelson.F.»xhill ... 133,179 2.272 Brunner-Greymouth ... 138,260 ) r ao± Grey Harbor Works... 59,996 \ °'°-* Picton-Blenhiem ... 154,207 ■ 981 Wesfcporfc-Ngakawrau... 186,042 215