D.—2

25

B—D. -2

RETURN No. 23. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of Mileage of Railways Open for Traffic and under Maintenance on 31st March, 1897.

Section. Mileage open for Traffic on 31st March. 1896. Additional Lengths opened during Year. Reduced Mileage equivalent to Maintenance for whole Period. Length closed during Year. Net Addition to Mileage open for Traffic. Net Addition to Mileage under Maintenance. Total Mileage open for Traffic on 31st March, Equivalent Total Mileage maintained during Financial Year ended 31st March, 1897. Line opened. Date of Opening. Length opened. Line. Length. M. oh. M. ch. M. c-h. M. ch. M. eh. M. ch. M. ch. M. cli. Kawakawa 7 39 7 39 7 39 Whangarei H 58 Waro-Whakapara ... gth November, 1896 3 16 I 20 17 74 >5 78 Kaihu 16 52 Kaihu Extension... ... 21st October, 1896 o 48 o 21 17 20 16 73 Auckland 309 79 ... 1 " 3°9 79 309 79 Napier-Tarnnaki ... 332 34 332 34 332 34 Wellington 94 20 Tahora-Owaka ... ... 22nd June, 1896... 94 20 94 20 Hurunui- Bluff 1,127 25* I 11 O 71 1,128 36 1,128 16 Ditto, Private Lines — Shag Point Branch 2 10 2 10 2 10 Nightcaps Branch 2 24 2 24 2 24 Grey mouth 32 6 32 6 32 6 Westport 30 17 30 17 30 17 Nelson 23 5 23 5 23 5 Pieton 20 42 20 42 20 42 Total 2,013 11 4 75 2 32 2,018 6 2,015 43 Forest Hill Tramway 10 o 10 O * Does not include liversdale-Switzers (2 miles).