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1899. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAY CHARGES: CONCESSIONS MADE, AND REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the sth July, 1898. Ordered, " That a return be laid before this House showing— (a) The articles upon which concessions have been made to the publio using the railways since 1890, and the revenue conceded upon the same ; (6) the articles upon which concessions have been made in the postal and telegraph service (including telephones), and the revenue conceded upon the same ; (c) the total revenue and expenditure of the railway and postal services in 1890, and the same in 1898 ; (d) the percentage of revenue to expenditure for both periods separately."—(Hon. Mr. Wabd.)

[For particulars relative to Postal and Telegraph Department vide F.-11, 1898.] (a.) LIST OF ARTICLES ON WHICH CONCESSIONS IN RAILWAY CHARGES HAVE BEEN MADE, 1890 TO 1898. Fbee school tickets issued to children up to sixteen years of age attending private schools for primary education. Return tickets at reduced rates granted to delegates to annual and biennial meetings of religious bodies and friendly societies. Tickets at reduced rates granted to members of rowing-clubs travelling together in parties. Season-ticket rates for three miles reduced. Commutation season tickets at reduced rates and for distances up to twenty miles introduced. Return tickets at single fares granted to school-boarders. Through tickets vid Wairarapa line issued at reduced rates from Wellington, Ngahauranga, Petone, and Lower Hutt to Napier, Hastings, Te Aute, Waipawa, and Waipukurau. Return tickets at reduced rates issued daily. News-runners allowed to take 56 lb. of newspapers for distribution along line free of charge. Teachers' season tickets made available for use on Saturdays and Mondays. Religious bodies and friendly societies' concession in fares made to apply to any meeting instead of to annual and biennial meetings only. Newspaper reporters' season tickets issued at maximum charge of £10 for either Island. Return tickets between Picton and Blenheim made available for return for one month, and all fares on section reduced. Fares between Kaiata and Brunner reduced. Fares between Inveroargill and Bluff reduced. Local fares on Duntroon-Hakateramea line abolished, and fares reduced. Tickets at reduced rates granted to members of rifle-clubs travelling together in parties. Second-class return fare between Auckland and Newmarket reduced. Through return fares vid Wairarapa line between Wellington, Ngahauranga, Petone, and Lower Hutt and Napier, Hastings, Te Aute, Waipawa, and Waipukurau reduced. Fares to and from Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and stations within two miles thereof, reduced. Fares between Pelichet Bay and Ravensbourne reduced. Fares on Westport Section reduced; local rate abolished. Fares on Greymouth Section reduced; local rate abolished. Commutation fifty-trip tickets made available for two months. Ordinary tickets : Single fares for one mile reduced. Return tickets for distances over 200 miles made available for two months. Workmen's twelve-trip tickets introduced at special low rates for distances up to twenty miles. Booking-fee for passengers joining train without first obtaining a ticket reduced to 6d. Fares between Cattle-yards, Dunedin, and Caversham reduced; distance between Dunedin and Cattle-yards to be deemed to be three miles. Season tickets at half-rates issued to students and scholars over nineteen years of age. I— D. 8.