11

D.—2

The following extensions have been opened during the year ending 31st March, 1895 :— M. eh. Ruatangata to Waro 8 06 Tarukenga to Rotorua 8 56 Middlemarch to Hyde 16 20 Glenomaru Tunnel, Catlin's River Branch 0 33 Mokotua to Gorge Road, Seaward Bush Branch 6 62 Mokihinui Coal Company's line taken over 3 69 Total .. 44 06 Following are the comparisons of the traffic, revenue, and expenses for the past fifteen years :—

And also of the traffic in local products for the past ten years:—

Passengers have decreased in number 67,123, and in revenue £18,237 This I attribute to the low price ruling for produce, which has no doubt caused less money to be available for spending on travelling. The decrease in numbers would have been larger but for the new departure instituted on the 17th January, 1895, for school excursions. No less than 41,466 school-children and 23,673 adults have been carried up to 31st March, 1895. Season-tickets have increased in number 11,397, and in revenue £1,367, attributable to the popularity of commutation tickets and the introduction of workmen's twelve-trip tickets. The goods traffic has decreased by 5,367 tons, and £3,135 revenue, which is accounted for by a falling-off in grain of 22,635 tons, due to diminished acreage under crop, and in minerals of 6,621 tons, principally due to the reduced output of the West Coast coal-mines. Merchandise, timber, firewood, and wool all show increases. Cattle give a small increase of 413 head, and sheep the large increase of 163,487 A reduction in the sheep rates, made on 4th February, 1895, has led to a substantial increase in the number carried. During the two months ending 31st March, 1895, 476,096 have been carried, as compared with 427,168 for the corresponding period, of the previous year, an increase of 48,928. The rolling-stock has been severely taxed to meet the increasing sheep traffic, and it will be necessary to augment the existing supply of sheep-trucks, more especially on the Wellington and Napier-Taranaki Sections. Turning to the Expenditure Account, it will be observed that the increasing age of the lines and structures has led to an additional expenditure in the cost of maintenance, the increase in this department amounting to £4,267 for the year This item of expenditure may reasonably be expected to increase for some years to come, until the lines are more generally relaid with 531b. steel rails, and the bridges rebuilt with more durable materials. When this important work has been accomplished the present cost of maintenance will be materially reduced more powerful engines can be employed, enabling heavier trains to be run, and thus reduce the cost of working.

Year. oq I CD 3 0 © Ph 6 0 •3 a 00 K H 00 44 P . 00 A ® oj SO s> H oofi 05 C6 a a o Eh t3 as. grc-S £ 05 O £ £ Q PH O W « CO fl Op O EQ Q M 3 CO OJ Ph OX to o CO 1880-81 1881-82 1882-83 1883-84 1884-85 1885-86 1886-87 1887-88 1888-89 1889-90 1890-91 1891-92 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95 1 2771 1 319, 1 358' 1 396 1 477 1,613 1 727 1 758 1 777 1 809 1 842 1,869 1 886 1 948 1,993 £ 836,454 892,026 953 347 961 304 1,045 712 1,047 419 998 768 994,843 997,615 1,095,570 1 121 701 1 115 432 1 181 522 1 172,793 1 150,851 £ 521 957 523,099 592 821 655 990 690,020 690,340 699,072 687 328 647 045 682 787 700,703 706 517 732,142 735,359 732 160 62-40 58 64 62-18 68-24 65-99 65-91 69-99 6909 64-86 62-32 62-47 63-34 61-97 62-70 63-62 1 377 783 1 437 714 1 564 793 1 700,040 1 749,856 1,823 767 1 747 754 1 735 762 1 920,431 2,073,955 2,086,011 2,066 791 2,193 330 2,060,645 2,048,391 No. 286,865 316,611 341 186 359 896 347 425 349 428 372 397 399 109 399 056 405,838 413,074 430 216 460,3S3 486,787 479,683 No. 300 704 343 751 477,075 686,287 729,528 858,662 942,017 940 209 919 392 1 068,575 1 348,364 1 153 501 1 393 457 1 433 679 1,604 103 No. 2,849,561 2 911,477 3 283,378 3,272,644 3,232,886 3,362 266 3 426,403 3,451 850 3 132 803 3,376,459 3 433 629 3 555 764 3 759,044 3 972,701 3,905,578 No. 6,499 7 207 8,621 9,036 8 999 10,717 11 821 11 518 11 817 12,311 13,881 16,341 16,504 17 220 28 623

Year. Wool. Timber. Grain. Minerals. Horses and Cattle. Sheep and Pigs. 1885-86 1886-87 1887-88 1888-89 1889-90 1890-91 1891-92 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95 Tons. 74,778 82 963 84 147 78,203 91,214 87,701 85,888 96,842 101 340 103,328 Tons. 202,572 175 581 158 024 160,399 172 814 153,078 170 521 168,910 183,192 198,578 Tons. 413,847 345,254 358,021 447 027 498,199 528 683 442 277 523,637 411,191 388,556 Tons. 669,081 719,579 700 140 786 690 797,117 828 079 873,899 884 031 864 538 857 917 No. 46,152 46,600 42 067 37,804 41,058 44,999 47,618 46,590 51 573 52 075 No. 822,028 904,582 907,443 889,966 1,036,875 1,313,155 1,117,253 1 359 860 1 394,456 1 563 213