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Wages to be in Dunedin Head station. Oamaru lines to christciuircii?™ Block system. Government brchargcd for° Post Office to mails 0 cerwi Book of instrucBook of Forms. Law of Carriers. wharves. When new systemtocome.nto Conclusion.

117. In order to prevent the embarrassment caused by men suddenly leaving important work on the raihvays, we recommend the plan in force in the Northern Island; namely, that not less than a fortnight's wages shall be always kept in arrear, Avhich shall be forfeited if the workman leaves Avithout giving the notice required by the conditions of his service to give. General Recommendations. 118. As soon as the system of railways in Canterbury and Otago is complete, •£ w jj| probably be found desirable that the Avhole should be worked under one management; and in such case Dunedin will probably be found the most convenient point at which to place the Head Station of the system. 119. In the meantime, so long as the Northern Otago lines are unconnected with Dunedin, we think they can be most conveniently Avorked from Christchurch, with which they Avill Aery shortly be in communication. 120. We strongly recommend that all stations should be connected by telegraph as soon as possible, and that the block system should be introduced as soon as the Manager considers it desirable to do so betAveen any stations on a line. 121. AVhenever any department of the Government other than the Department °f Bublic Works requires a special train, it should be charged at the ordinary rate for special trains. 122. Except on trains where the traffic is very small, the Guards ought not to be required to take charge of the mails, the care, receiving, and delivery of which interfere with their other duties, and frequently delay the trains. We think that on all main lines the Post Office should send an officer in charge of the mails. 123. A book should be prepared containing all by-laws, regulations, fares and freights, and all general instructions to persons employed on railways, and should be placed in the hands of every railway official. 124. EArery Manager should be supplied with a copy of all the forms used in the railway system, which should be bound in a book, and numbered and indorsed for reference. 125. Every Manager should be supplied with a copy of the most recent Avork of authority on the subject of the Law of Carriers. 126. All wharves should be worked, for the present, locally, under existing arrangements. When New System to come into Eorce. 127. Some time must necessarily elapse before the by-laAVs, rules, and regulations under « The Pul)lic w or k s Act, 1876," can be prepared, and the numerous books and forms printed. We are of opinion that it would be unwise to disturb exiscing arrangements until the Avhole new machinery is complete, and the books referred to in Section 123 above have been in the hands of all raihvay officials for some days before the neAV system comes into force. It is of the utmost importance that all concerned should be thoroughly conversant Avith their duties before that period, so that all changes in existing arrangements may be introduced without disturbance to the working of the lines, and Avith satisfaction to the public. We do not think this can be done before the 31st March next, and recommend that no change be made until after that date, except in the Stores, in which the systems of account and audit in force under the Inspector of Stores in the North, should be applied to the Southern Railways without delay. Concluding Remarks. 128. In conclusion, we desire to express our regret that the work intrusted to us has occupied a longer time than we anticipated. We thought it might have been completed at Christchurch; but it soon became evident that the Avhole subject could not be satisfactorily dealt with without a personal inspection of the Avorking of the Otago system. We were, therefore, reluctantly compelled to adjourn our meetings to Dunedin. W^e Arenture to hope, however, that the result of our inquiry will fully justify the time and labour bestoAved. The Commission has sat every Avorking day, and all day, since its first meeting. Every minutest

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