REPORT OF THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 738, 10 March 1877, Page 3

REPORT OF THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

The report of the Commissioners appointed lo examine into the management and working of the Auckland Railway has been completed, signed by the Commissioners (Messrs R. Wood, W. Swanson, and J. S Macfarlane), and sent in to the Government. As the Commissioners were acting under a Royal commission, issued by the Governor, the report, says the • Herald' of yesterday, will have to be transmitted to his Excellency the Governor before being made public, but-we believe the following will be found to be a pretty fair summary of its proposals On what we hold to be the vital question of the position of the station, the Commissioners are unable to make any recommendation for a really effective change, such as would tend to increase the passenger traffic, and accommodate public in the epper parts of the city and suburbs. They suggest, however, that a portion of the harbour should be filled np between Point Britomart and the Wharf, along which the line should be brought, so that the station might be placed more by the Queen-street end of the Wharf. It is also proposed that there should be a radical change in thechargefor special trains, so that every facility should be given to parties getting up excursions or picnics. < The Commissioners had the details of the cost of trains before them* and found that special traius might be run with profit at much lower charges than those hitherto charged. It was recommended that a considerable change should be made on the return ticket system, that cheap trains should be run on the Saturdays, and also trains on the Sundays; that facilities should be for hiring a truck or trucks, or carriages. It is also recommended that a change should be made in the system of charging for small parcels, and that small articles shonld be sent to any station at a uniform rate. The report deals at some length with the point that none of the officials have the least interest in increasing the traffic, but- on the contrary, arid we believe it is proposed that they should be increased slowly up to the point of paying interest, and rapidly after that. A suggestion is also, made that tickets for any place on the line should be sold in shops in town, and at stores in the country. It is also suggested that the fares to certain stations should be lowered; that sheep and cattle should be brought to town for sale, and if not sold sent to the starting point for one fare, and that the present system of charging should be altered. It is proposed also that such charges should be made as would encourage the flax industry, and we may say the same respecting road metal. There is indeed every motive to make the railway serviceable in this respect, as good roads will act as feeders to the line. The Commissioners have gone into all the details connected with the working of the line, and we believe, it their recommendations are carried out, the receipts of the railway would be greatly increased, and the line itself would be much more serviceable than it is at present in promoting the settlement of the country.