RAILWAY MATTERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3005, 17 October 1891, Page 2

RAILWAY MATTERS.

MR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL IN AVAIKATO.

Thk secretary of the Waikato Farmers' Club at Cambridge received a telegram from Mr Hudson, tin District Traffic Manager, nn Thursday morning, stating that Mr Maxwell would arrive in Cambridge by that day's train and would be happy to meet the farmers and discuss any matters pertaining to the railway, of which they had to complain. Fortunately the chairman of the Club happened to he in the town, and he and Mr J.imes Forrest waited upon Mr Maxwell nt the station, soon after the arrival of the train.

After being introduced to the Commissioner by 'Mr Hudson, Mr Fisher said ho was sorry the deputation was of such a meagro dimension for them were many farmers who would have liked to to have discussed certain matters with Mr Maxwell, but tho notice was rather short and consequently there had not been tiiro to warn them of thfi visit; however, ho had jotted down a few items that wore of importance to the fanning community, which he would, with Mr Maxwell's permission, say a few words about.—Mr Maxwell said ho should bo happy to discuss tho matters and. as far as he was able, give any information about them.

KXTBNSION'S AT CAMURIDOR STATION". — Mr Fisher : The first matter I wish to refer to is the inadequate size of the cattle yard at. this station. The matter has been discussed with Mr Hudson on a former occasion and he is thoroughly acquainted with the farmers'views regarding it. —Mr Hudson : That is so ! Mr Coombe has drawn up an estimate of what is required and it has been foiwardcd to Wellington, but there has not been time for a reply to have been received.—Mr Maxwell : What is wanted?—Mr Fi-hov: Tiiere is .only one yard for sheep nr.rj cittl.i, which is very inconvenient. Wβ wish another one.—Mr Hudson : It is a very reasonable request and will doubtless bo granted.

Thk Minimum ov Manures.—Mr Fisher: Some little time since we received information that the minimum load of manures had been reduced from two tons to 30cwt, and for this wo were thankful ; but we were subsequently informed that this reduction did not apply to miii'ires loaded at a piivato siding. Is this correct? If so, it virtually means no reduction to us, as the works from which Waikato firmer* R"t their main suuply, has a private sidine.—Mr Maxwell : You havo not been correctly informed. Tho.ro was a little difficulty, but that has been put right. Of course, wo do not expect to put a truck in to take 30swt alone ; but the minimum for one individual is that weight.—Mr Fisher : That means that an order lor 30cwt would lnvu to wait until more was being sent in the same, direction.—Mr Mixwell : Exactly.—Mr Hudson : L know the works to which Mr Fisher refers, and I have fixed up matters to tin , , satisfaction of the manager, which, I presume, is tantamount to satisfying the farmers.—Mr Fisher: Yes.—Mr Hudson: I have arraneed that, nnrt of n. truck load may be discharged at Hamilton or Franktnii, and the remainder be taken on to Cambridge, Te, Awamutu. or whorever it is wanted.— Mr Fisher: Thank--.

Fkkight on Siikki'.—Mr Fisher : Wo consider the charge on truck loads of shoep is excessive when compared with trucks of cattle. We admit the trucks cost more to build, but the wear and tear is not ne-irly so groat and the weight is not so much to pull, which more thon recoups for the extra expenditure. I am told that evon the engine drivers prefer to have trucks of sheep to cattle, as they can got up a greater speed and are not subject to delays as they are when the cat.t.le are beine righted in the trucks.—Mr Maxwell : This opens up a large question. We carry about 1,000,000 sheep a year, and a reduction moans a Rood lot of money. Wβ have had applications for reduction on the carriage of coal, grain, butter, and other dairy produce, in addition to what you now ask for—in fact, everybody wants reductions. Wβ havo not been ablo to make many reductions, for the revenue would not stand it. ; and I am afraid there is no immediate prospect of granting your request, as the revenue is already short this year,—Mr Fisher : Would it not lead to increased traffic?—Mr Maxwell: What should we {rain ?—Mr Fisher: No .sheep would lie driven. At the present time somo go by road ; I do not mean fnt ones, but store stock.—Mr Maxwell: What, dons it cost you to send sheep from Cambridge to Auckland ?—Mi- Fisher: About Is each.— Mr Maxwell: And look what you get for them. In tlin Wellington district we carry all the sheep, aiv-l sho-ili, therefore, not get any more if wo mide a reduction —(several other ;similar instances were ulso quoted)—anil some people pay as much as 2s per head for carriage; but th.it, of coarse, is for a Ion;* journny. We cannot make the reduction in one part without doing it in another, mid we 111 v,; to look at it as affecting all New Zealand. Yonr application will be considered in a general way alone: with the others, when yonr remarks will have due weight.

Catti.k Thucks.--Mr FMier : (In behalf of the fanners I bog to thank you for putfcinsr on an increased number of "converted" c-ittle trucks. They are much more convenient than the old sort, and are duly appreciated by us.—Mr Hudson : Thuy are equal to a 12 per cent, reduction ou the carriage.—Mr Fisher :We can put an extra beast in them, which comes to nbont that. — Mr Maxwell : There will be 20 of them on tho line shortly.—Mr Fisher : Wo are pleased to know that. I have now come to the end of my list, and will make way for Mr Forrest.

Limb.—Mr Forrest: I wish to say a few words about lime for agricultural purposes. It will be largely used in this district when kilns are erected in the King Country— that is, of course, if the carriage is reduced tn a price that will admit of its being used with nrofit to the farmers—but in the meantime I want to know if you cannot reduce the freight on small quantities so that those who wish to experiment with it can do so without paying an extortionate price. Some time ago I got two bags up from Auckland, and the lime cost ino Ss, but tho carriage of it came to nearly as much —(is Gd.—Mr Maxwell : That was si very small lot.—Mr Forrest: Granted : but there are many small farmers and others with orchards who wish to experiment with it, and they only want small lots. —Mr Maxwell : I should have thought the properties of limo were too well known to need any experiments.—Mr Hudson : The carriage of a ton of lime from Auckland is Ss—that is per truck load of four tons. Why not get it from NgaruawahiaV—Mr Forrest: It has to bo brought about 20 miles to Ngaruawnhia, and that makns it as bad as Retting it from Auckland. The King Country will be tho place, but the laud there i- not vet bought from the Maoris.—Mr Maxwell : Th". freight from Nsuni.iwahia, to Cambridge is only o< Id per ton per truck —Mr Forrest : Four ton lots would >(iut out "mall farmers.—Mr Maxwell : Why ivt two or threo farmers club toother '!— Mr Forrest: It does not work well. Cinnot you reducu tlm minimum to one tun '< That wmld iiir-et the case.—Mr Maxwell : I am afraid not, but I will duly put the matter beforo my colleagues when 1 return. Lime is earned on our lowest scale; the charges have already been twice reduced, ami, 1 think you must admit, ara reasonable. After a few common-place rormrks the interview terminated, and Messrs Fisher and Fnrrest departed, wonderiris* how it w.is they had nover previously hoird of the reasonable charges for tho carriage of lime per the truck load, and also wondering if they should ever understaud tho " fearfully and wonderfully made" freights of tho Railway Department.