D.— 2

14

The quantity of wool carried has increased by 6,902 tons. The road competition in this traffic still continues to decline, there being considerably less carted this year than last, several large clips having been sent by rail which in former years were carted by road. The carting in many localities has practically ceased, experience having shown that there was no economy in carting by road. The frozen-meat traffic has assumed large dimensions, the quantity shipped at Lyttelton and Timaru during the year being as under: —

In timber and coal traffic there is an increase of 4,123 tons and 2,941 tons respectively. The prospects for the current year are excellent, and it is not too much to expect that the heavy traffic of the year under notice will be maintained, if not exceeded. The additions made to the rolling-stock during the year have not more than kept pace with the growth of business, and the district is still suffering from the insufficiency of wagons and carriages referred to in my report for 1899. I have, &c, W. H. Gaw, District Traffic Manager. The General Manager, New Zealand Eailways, Wellington.

Sic, — Traffic Manager's Office, Dunedin, 11th May, 1900. I have the honour to report that the traffic forwarded from stations in this district during the year ended the 31st March, 1900, gave a revenue of £304,389 14s. Bd., against £269,939 11s. for 1899, being an increase of £34,450 3s. Bd. Passenger receipts show an increase of £7,671 Is. 7d., the number of passengers carried being 110,788 in excess of last year. The revenue derived from holiday-excursion fares was £6,500 more than last year, the average fare being 4s. 2-|d. In school and factory excursions there was a considerable falling-off, several excursions being relinquished in order that the funds might be devoted to patriotic purposes, while others were abandoned owing to bad weather. The issue of season tickets during the year increased by 2,162, mostly suburban. Tourist excursions yielded £231 more than last year. Parcels, horses, carriages, and dogs show an all-round increase. From goods traffic the revenue derived was £24,826 in excess of last year, the principal items of increase being : Grain, 50,687 tons ; merchandise, 23,212 tons ; coal, 14,246 tons ; cattle, 1,086 head ; sheep, 16,855 head. The rabbit-export trade is assuming large proportions, no less than 5,215 tons (about four million rabbits) having been carried during the year. The tonnage is no indication of the work entailed, as in most cases the trucks are only partly loaded. Dairy industries are flourishing, the tonnage of cheese and butter forwarded being 100 per cent, in advance of last year. The principal event of the year was the departure of the Fourth Contingent, in connection with which we carried over 30,000 passengers. Our carrying-capacity on the Port ChalmersDunedin line was restricted owing to the absence of suitable crossing-places, otherwise the traffic on this occasion would have been much heavier. The development of the goldfields by dredging has resulted in a large increase of population, and the traffic to Central Otago in machinery and general merchandise is increasing day by day. I would strongly urge the doubling of the line between Port Chalmers and Mosgiel, as the traffic is now too heavy for single-line working. Large additions should also be made to our rolling-stock, both goods and passenger, as the plant available is not nearly equal to the requirements of the business. A new station should be erected at Dunedin, and all main-line crossing-loops should be lengthened. Although the prosperity of the district during the past year has been phenomenal, I anticipate a further large increase of traffic during the current year. I have, &c, Thos. Arthur, District Traffic Manager. The General Manager, New Zealand Eailways, Wellington.

Sir,— District Traffic Manager's Office, Invercargill, 28th April, 1900. I have the honour to report that the traffic operations in the Invercargill district for the year ended the 31st ultimo produced a revenue amounting to £194,366 13s. 7d., as against

Packages Meat. I Quarters | Beef. Carcases Mutton. Weight. jyttelton 'imaru 7,051 6,061 | 1,343,501 393,875 Tons cwt. qr. 27,112 8 2 8,562 2 3 Totals 6,061 | 1,737,376 7,051 35,674 11 1