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Westport— Thrice weekly : Granity Creek-Millerton. Weekly : Upper Matakitaki-War wick Junction. The frequency of the following services was increased: — Auckland— Daily to twice daily : Frankton Junction-Hamilton. Twice to thrice weekly : Marsden Point-Euakaka-Waipu (summer months, 1897-98); Pahi-Paparoa ; Eotorua-Atiamuri-Wairakei-Taupo (during summer). Once to twice weekly : Coromandel-Opitonui-Whangapoua ; Kawakawa-Ohaeawai-Ngawha-Kaikohe; Eaglan-Te Mata ; Eamarama-Ararimu South; Whangarei-Maungatapere-Poroti. Christchurch— To thrice daily from Sumner: Christchurch-Sumner (now twice outward, thrice inward). Twice to thrice daily : On Christchurch-Lyttelton line, mails to and from Linwood, Opawa, Woolston, and Heathcote Valley; Christchurch-Sumner line, from Christchurch to Woolston and Sumner (from Sumner and Woolston, inward, twice daily). Thrice weekly to daily : Annat-Eussell's Flat; Eakaia-Barrhill. Once to twice weekly : Waiau-Kaikoura. Dunedin— Twice to thrice weekly : Abbotsford-Taieri Beach. Greymouth— Twice weekly to daily : Blackball-Ngahere. Invercargill— Twice to thrice weekly : Colac Bay-Eound Hill; Gore-East Chatton-Chatton-Otama. Once to twice weekly : Edendale-Seaward Downs ; Lumsden-Mossburn-Te Anau (Ist November-30th April, altering terms of contract); Mararoa-The Key (Ist November-30th April, altering terms of contract). Napier— Once to twice daily : Ormondville-Norsewood. Once to twice weekly : Taupo-Tokaanu (periodical, Ist November-30th April, in alteration of contract). Nelson— Twice to thrice weekly : Nelson-Wakapuaka (telegraph-office). Once to twice weekly : Collingwood-Bainham. New Plymouth— Thrice weekly to daily : New Plymouth-Bell Block. Twice to thrice weekly : New Plymouth-Waiongona. Wanganui— Twice to thrice weekly : Mangaonoho-Moawhango (extra service continued to end of year from 13th April). Wellington— Daily to twice daily : Shannon-Foxton. Twice to thrice daily : Bunnythorpe-Hiwinui. Westport— Thrice weekly to daily : Capleston-Cronadon ; Granity Creek-Millerton. The frequency of the following services was diminished : — Auckland— Thrice to twice weekly : Marsden Point-Euakaka-Waipu (during running of reduced steamer-service). Thames— Thames-Hikutaia-Marototo, from twice weekly throughout the year to once weekly (Ist April-15th November) and twice weekly (16th November-31st March). The following coach service was curtailed by railway extension : — Dunedin— Dunedin-Hyde-Clyde (and intermediate offices) and Hyde-Naseby (and intermediate offices) : railway extended from Hyde to Kokonga, whence coaches now start (18th October, 1897). The following services were abolished : — Auckland— Kaikohe-Oruoru ; Okupu-Whaugaparapara ; Ongaruhe-Nihoniho. Christchurch— Methven-Highbank. Dunedin— North Taieri Post-office-Eailway-station. Invercargill— Gore-Waikaka Valley-Waikaka-Wendon Valley (two separate services established instead). Napier— Dannevirke-Mangatoro Valley.

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