11

D.—2

Business in the Auckland Province is in a good state, and, after carefully considering the matter, I feel quite safe in estimating a fair increased traffic for the ensuing year over that of the year just ended. The train-services during the year have been generally satisfactory. The usual returns and reports have already been forwarded. I have, &c, A. Gbant, District Traffic Manager. The General Manager, New Zealand Railways, Wellington. Sic, — District Traffic Manager's Office, Wanganui, 15th May, 1900. I have the honour to report that the revenue from traffic forwarded from stations in this district for the year ended the 31st March, 1900, amounted to £148,190 2s. 3d. In comparison with the previous year this shows an increase of £9,525 16s. sd. The following table gives the increases under the various headings :— Number. Tons. Value. £'• b. a. Passengers ... ~. ... 24,364) 9 qqq 0 q Season tickets ... ... ... 163] ■" ,J6J U 9 Parcels, &c. ... ... ... 2,499 Luggage ... ... ... 204 10 3 Cattle... ... ... ... 3,092 ...» Sheep and pigs... ... ... 3,935 Wool ... ... 1,441 Firewood ... ... 1,064 Timber ... ... 2,861 4 qnn 19 R Gram ... ... ... ... 7,195 ' Merchandise ... ... ... ... 3,251 Coal ... ... 2,867 Other minerals... ... ... ... 880/ Eents ... ... ... 560 14 5 Miscellaneous ... ... ... 1,532 17 2 There was a decrease of £11 18s. 10d. in the parcels revenue, due to the adoption of the cheap goods scale for small quantities of 281b. and upwards. There was also a decrease of 117 tons of straw, chaff, &c. The cash banked shows an increase of £13,984 Bs. 9d. as compared with the previous year. The numbers of passengers, exclusive of season-ticket holders, booked at stations in this district were : — Number. Value of Fares. £ s, d. At ordinary fares ... ... ... ...470,506 51,836 15 7 At holiday-excursion fares ... ... 51,000 9,853 12 8 At school and factory fares ... ... ... 4,712 374 12 9 526,218 £62,065 1 0 Parcels forwarded numbered 52,464, an increase of 2,376 on the preceding year ; and parcels received numbered 59,421, an increase of 2,926. Advantage has not been taken by the public in this district of the system of checking luggage introduced in September last. Up to the 31st March only 409 checks had been issued. The tonnage of goods forwarded from all stations was 162,479 tons ; the tonnage received was 187,624 tons —increases of 14 and 18 per cent, respectively on the tonnage of the previous year. Owing to the recent reductions in rates the revenue derived did not increase in proportion. During the last three years the forwarded tonnage in this district has increased nearly 50 per cent. The supply of rolling-stock has not been equal to the demand. There have been no serious accidents or interruptions to the train-service. There is every indication that the coming year will be a prosperous one, and that the present rate of increase in the traffic will be maintained. I have, &c, H. Buxton, District Traffic Manager. The General Manager, New Zealand Eailways, Wellington.

S IB] District Traffic Manager's Office, Wellington, 22nd May, 1900. I feel much gratification in reporting for your information that the working of the Wellington-Napier district line of railway has resulted most satisfactorily for the financial year ending the 31st March, 1900, there being very substantial increases in all classes of traffic and sources of revenue as compared with any previous year.