WAR MATERIAL FOR RUSSIA AND TURKEY. RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 739, 13 March 1877, Page 6 (Supplement)

WAR MATERIAL FOR RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Both Russia and Turkey have for some time past been sending large orders for small arms and cartridges to America. A supply of Colt's rifle machinery has been sent to Russia, and is turning .out large numbers of rifles for the use of the Russian army. The number already manufactured m Russia by machinery, purchased by General Gorloff from Colt's Rifle Company is' estimated at 3,000,000. Russia has also during the past year imported from another American firm 100,000 pistols. There has likewise be g perfected m America, Avhat is now called the Russian cartridge, 20,000, 000 of Avhich have been made m Bridge Port, Connecticut. Cartridge machinery has also been sent from America to Russia, and 400,000 cartridges are being manufactured daily at. St. 'Petersburg "and Mxjgcp^^The Turkish Gtiyernment. has teiltered-.imff*V contract with- the Rhode 1 '.j§ys.d Company for the suprjy "mUmiMlenry rifles, of Avhicfla 250,000 haW - r-sH,^ eJMW pipped ; 100,%0/ l my(f >i -^ r

; TpJicoininission appointed to enquire into the management and working of the Auckland and -Morctoßujlway,met at the Onohuhga Statiojn Wodnesdayi-ttfeteaiicoiriplaiiits, Present: Messrs' Reader Wilson Wo6d (cttatraian^Wi SWanson, and J. S. Macfarlano, Commisioriers^V&Mj^jJLnK B. Passmoro, Engineer of Constructed Railways,' and Mv A. V. McDonald, Managerof the' Auckland and ■ Morcev Railway were also m attendance "■;•■■■.';. The first witness called was Mr William Stevenson, of Onehunga, who complained of the excessive charges for freight between Onehunga and Mercer, and Onehunga and Auckland. Some time u\(O he had sent «ut from Auckland four trucks of coal. One of these was not moro than three-fourths full. The total quantity was 23 tons, while he was charged for 2(5 tons ± cwts. He complained to the authorities, but could not get the mistake -rectified until he applied to' Messrs Stono Bros,, merchants, of Auckland; and obtained the invoice. Thus considerable time was wasted. On another occasion a quantity of goods consigned to him was left m the trucks all night, and m the morning it was found that a quantity of salt, sugar, etc., had been destroyed. He mado a claim for the amount of sugar spoilt, viz., £1, and Mr McDonald told him th 6 money would be allowed to him, but although he has made repeated application, he had not yet received it. As a storekeeper, he often sent small parcels along the line. A package the size of his hat was' charged as a quarter of a ton. Thus he was obliged to find other means to send the goods, and nis customers were greatly inconvenienced, m consequence. Captain Cunningham had desired him to state that some time ago he. was bringing sheep down, when one got his leg broken. He desired to haVe it conveyed to the Newmarket slaughterhouse,' and applied to the railway station, when he was told.mat it could not be conveyed to the Newmarket station for less than 3s Cd. He also complained of the exorbitant charges mado for conveying timber from one station to another. Mr J. W. Waller, Onehunga, said that the charges made on all goods which- he sent from Onehunga were cxtretnly high. For instance, a truck load of timber to Mercer was charged £5: and to Auckland £1. Besides this, they had to load and discharge their own trucks, so that the railway authorities were only asked to draw it. He often missed timber, from the trucks, and on one occasion complained to the manager, but they would not pay for it, and denied that it was lost. He instituted a search, and found the timber near Penrose Junction, where it had fallen off the trucks. He often endeavoured to obtain receipts for his goods, but could not do so. When the railway was opened, he used it to a very large extent for the, conveyance .of; timber, and his freight bills came to about £80 per month. ,Now,. he was compelled to send his goods by means of drays. There was no shelter at Onehunga for passengers luggage, which w,as often dam: aged and destroyed by the rain. . In answer to a question put by Mr Swanson, Mr Waller said the railway charges for timber was 2s 9d; it used to be 2s sd. Settlers m the Waikato preferred to use the white pine, m preference to sending to Auckland for kauri. If the charges for freight to the Waikato were lessened, he would use the line extensively. Mr Bycroft, miller, Onehunga, complained of the high and unequal charges for bran, which was is for a ton of 2000 lbs. Flour was charged 3s per ton of 2000 lbs. They could import grain by way of Manukan at 3s for 2240 lbs. .He thought the charges for l conveyance of bran were extraordinary. An Auckland miller could get his wheat much cheaper than m Onehunga. Biscuits were charged at is per ton of 2000 lbs, the cases Jweiffhed a«. uarter of a ton. If he received an order from the country for a tin of biscuits, he was unable to sond it by rail, as the expense for freight would be considerable. For a small tin of biscuits he was charged the, same amount as a quarter of a ton. He frequently had goods destroyed and damaged by being left m trucks m wet weather. The tarpaulins were insufficient, and did hot properly cover, the trucks. A tradesmrn sent man order for 2 cwt of flour, and the sum charged for the carriage of tliis to Pokeno wns is. When he required a truck to convey goods to some country station, he had t3 give 24 hours' clear notice. Thus their customers were often put to great inconvenience by not rectiving their goods when required. Ho used the line to a large extent. The railway officials were always considerate and courteous m the discharge of thetr duties. He thought that the Onehunga Station Master should have discretionary powers conferred upon him, so that m all cases of emergency he would be able to save valuable time. Mr Arthur Pittar complained of the arrangement of the time table. The first train left Onehunga at 8.25, arriving m Auckland about 9 o'clocJc. TJig next train did not leave until 10.15. and arrived at Auckland at about 10 minutes before 11 a.m. The afternoon trains were run at extremely unreasonable hours. One left Onehungs at 3.25 p.m., and another at 520 p.m. Business men find it quite impossible to use the present timetable of the railway. Mr Pittar suggested a number of alterations, which would make the line more popular for passenger traffic Mr Swanson read a letter from Mr Burton, Hay and Corn Merchant, Great North Road, who complained of the exhorbitant rates charged for the carriage of chaff, etc.