D.—2

Local Rates and Regulations. Whangarei Section. Stage system abolished. Rates for horses, Shetland and polo ponies, foals, mules, and asses, between Opau and Whangarei, inserted. Rates for carriages inserted. Napier-Taranaki Section. Rates for parcels booked between Palmerston and stations on Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's line, for conveyance between Palmerston and Longburn, inserted, and subsequently removed on opening of Government railway to Woodville. Rates for carriages and buggies conveyed between New Plymouth Breakwater and New Plymouth Station inserted. Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth Section. Regulation for computing charges on through luggage, parcels, horses, carriages, and dogs oonveyed over the Government Railway, via Rimutaka line, inserted.Picton Section. Rates for parcels booked through between Wellington and stations on the Picton Section, landed at or shipped from Picton, inserted. Hurunui-Bluff Section. Regulation re computing charges on parcels between Christchurch and Rangiora and Christchurch and Springston removed. Charge of 6d. for each crate or canvas bag supplied for protection of bicycles conveyed by rail, inserted. PART lII.—GOODS. Classified Rates. Rates for Class F, for distances over 30 miles, reduced. Regulations. Regulations inserted providing that, where the combined " local" or combined " local " and " classified " rates are less than the through classified rate between any two stations, the lower rate is to be charged. Grain and other Agricultural Produce : Regulation re loading and unloading charge amended. Hay, &o.: Rate for pressed chaff, hay, and straw, in quantities under a truck-load, amended. Regulation re loads of hydraulio pressed chaff inserted. Loose flax-straw, flax-tow, or dressed flax not to be accepted for carriage. Lime, Native Produce : Regulation amended. Wool, &c. : Regulation re charge on overweight bales amended. Live-stock: Regulation re calves, sheep, goats, and pigs, in crates, baskets, or sacks, amended. Rates and regulations for stud and show calves, sheep, goats, and pigs, secured in crates, inserted. Rates for small lots of goods of Classes N, P, and Q reduced. Seeds returning from Seed-cleaning Establishments : Regulation amended to include all seeds. Rates for two or more carts, drays, express wagons, or wagons, loaded together in one truck, inserted. Palmerston North and New Plymouth not to be deemed country stations for purpose of charging storage. Weighing : Rate for weighing potatoes reduced. Rate and regulations for carriage of food products for charitable institutions inserted. Miscellaneous: Clause re charge for sending a messenger in charge of a consignment of speoial goods removed. Regulation re free conveyance of goods for relief of sufferers by Hawke's Bay floods inserted and subsequently removed. Regulation re exhibits for New Plymouth Industrial Exhibition, December, 1897, inserted. Regulation re exhibits for Dunedin Industrial Exhibition, 1898, inserted. PART IV.—GOODS : LOCAL RATES. Whangarei Section. Stage system abolished, and ordinary rates and regulations adopted. Regulations for charging goods of Classes A, B, C, D, and H inserted. Rates for carts, drays, &c, inserted. Rates for goods of Classes P and Q, consigned from Ruatangata to Opau for shipment, amended. Rates for timber from Otonga, Hikurangi, and Mangahahuru to Opau, inserted. Rates for sawn timber from Whakapara to Opau inserted. Kaihu Section. Storage rate on timber, Dargaville booms, inserted. Rate for log timber from Maropiu and stations north, consigned to Kaihu Booms, inserted. Auckland Section. Lime and sulphur loaded at Auckland, previously carried to Auckland by rail, and fireclay consigned by rail to or from country stations, exempted from haulage-charge, Auckland to wharf. Regulation re haulage-charges for goods between Auckland Railway-station and Auckland Railway Wharf amended. Regulation for pumice, Firth's siding to Auckland, inserted. Rate reduced. Rate for native brown coal between Onehunga and Auckland inserted. Special rates for goods of Classes A, B, C, and D, between Auckland, Newmarket, or Onehunga ami Waihou, Waitoa, Murray's, and Morrinsville, removed. Rate for sulphur, Rotorua to Westfield or Auckland, removed. Rate and regulation for log timber from Helensvillo to Onehunga wharf inserted.

11—D. 2.

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