H.—2

5 (continued). "And the annual gross earnings of the said lines of railway and the line between Belgrove and Motupiko during the period between that date and the date when the same became legally vested in Us." Answer. Springfield to Patterson's Creek. £ s. d. (Exhibit No. 2.) 26th May, 1895, to 31st March, 1896 ... 47 18 3 Ist April, 1896, to „ 1897 ... 52 5 7 1897, to „ 1898 ... 29 16 7 „ „ 1898, to „ 1899 ... 133 18 0 „ „ 1899, to „ 1900 ... 191 17 7 „ „ 1900, to 21st July, 1900 ... 84 6 8 Stillwater to Reefton and Brunnerton to Jackson's. £ s. d. (Exhibit No. 2.) 26th May, 1895, to 31st March, 1896 ... 13,157 3 6 Ist April, 1896, to „ 1897 ... 17,716 3 1 1897, to „ 1898 ... 19,351 15 1 „ „ 1898, to „ 1899 ... 20,004 10 9 1899, to „ 1900 ... 21,161 1 3 „ „ 1900, to 21st July, 1900 ... 6,756 12 6 Belgrove to Motupiko. £ s. d. (Exhibit No. 2.) Ist March, 1899, to 31st March, 1899 ... 65 12 11 Ist April, 1899, to „ 1900 ... 895 7 8 1900, to 21st July, 1900 ... 255 0 0 The net result of these amounts, after deducting working-expenses, should be increased by the amounts debited to working-expenses and fairly chargeable to capital, thus : — £ s. d. (Exhibit No. 2.) Reefton line—Protective works ... 2,287 6 0 „ „ Rolling-stock and signals... 2,713 15 4 „ Belgrove line—Rolling-stock and signals 1,287 8 0 „ Springfield line—Protective works ... 127 11 4 (Exhibit No. 70.) „ Improvements ... 915 3 1 Total ... ... ... ... £7,331 3 9 6. " What part of such annual gross earnings may fairly be estimated to have arisen from the carriage of goods and passengers in connection with the construction of the said lines of railway, or of the portions of railway beyond the limits of the same." Answer. Prior to Seizure :— Springfield to Patterson's Creek. Nil. Belgrove to Norris's Gully. Nil. Stillwater to Reefton and Brunnerton to Jackson's. £ s. d. (Exhibit No. 96.) January, 1890, to June, 1890 ... 807 8 1 June, 1890, to „ 1891 ... 2,527 6 2 1891, to „ 1892 ... 1,204 16 8 1892, to „ 1893 ... 1,153 17 6 „ „ 1893, to „ 1894 ... 1,121 3 0 There was also an amount of £2,252 (Exhibit No. 93) during above periods credited to revenue for engine and wagon hire due to construction-works; also an amount of £931 for labour and cranage charged against railway contractors; also an amount of

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