D.—2

XXXV

The Railways Fund has now been established for twenty-one years. Its revenue is derived from contributions of members, fines, and donations, interest on funds invested, and annual subsidy from the Government. The gross income from all sources from the inception of tho fund till the 31st March, 1924, was £2,578,503 ;'contributions, fines, and donations, £1,634,249; interest, £269,254; Government subsidy, £675,000. Disbursements : Life, allowances, £1,404,581; widows and children, £158,994 ; refunds of contributions, £330,419 ; compensation, £4,206 ; administrative charges, £8,476 : balance representing accumulated fund, £671,827. Train-services. During the year the train-services have been well maintained, and various additional services have been laid on, involving a substantial increase in the train-mileage. The following is a brief statement of some of the principal additions that have been made : — Tapanui Branch : Services Monday, Wednesday, and Friday increased ; additional mileage, 6,240 miles per annum. Extra trains laid on between Waitara and Lepperton in connection with the speeding-up of the Now Plymouth -Wellington mail-trains; additional mileage, 936 miles per annum. Now line between Napier and Eskdale was opened, and a train-service of two trains each way daily was commenced ; additional mileage, 14,976 miles per annum. Additional train provided leaving Lower Hutt at 7.30 a.m. for Wellington ; additional mileage, 2,496 miles per annum. Extra train between Penrose and Auckland on Friday evenings ; additional mileage, 624 miles per annum. Opening of line to Okaihau, and service extended to that station ; additional mileage, 6,864 miles per annum. 5.55 p.m. train on Sundays, Wellington to Lower Hutt, extended to Upper Hutt; additional mileage, 1,248 miles per annum. Services between Wellington and Upper Hutt were improved. An extra train leaving Wellington at 7.30 p.m. for Johnsonville and back was instituted ; additional mileage, 4,212 miles per annum. The train-services on the Cheviot, Little River, and Oxford Branches were, augmented for several months during the busy season. Two extra trains between Swanson and Auckland were added ; additional mileage, 3,744 miles per annum. To give an hourly service between Mount Eden and Henderson, extra trains were put, on and other trains adjusted ; additional mileage, 15,9.12 miles per annum. Extra trains —Penrose to Auckland at 7.13 a.m., Otahuhu to Auckland at 5 p.m., Auckland to Penrose (Saturdays) 11.53 a.m. —were put on. The Sunday service between Auckland and Papakura was amended. Additional mileage, 6,084 miles per annum. Extra train from Frankton to Auckland, leaving the former station at 7 a.m., was commenced, and the running of other trains adjusted ; additional mileage, 26,364 miles per annum. During the latter portion of the year experimental services were run on Sundays between Auckland and Hclensville, and also on the Onehunga Branch. Interruptions to Traffic. —There was a number of serious interruptions to traffic during the year, involving the Department in heavy expense and loss of traffic. On 21st April, owing to floods, all traffic on the Waihi Branch and between Te Aroha and Thames was suspended. On 23rd April, owing to floods, all morning trains from Dunedin on the north line and all traffic on the Waihomo Branch were cancelled. All the services from Dunedin to the south were also cancelled. Traffic was suspended on the Catlin's Branch from 23rd April until 2nd May, when traffic was resumed between Balclutha and Ratanui. The line as far as Tahakopa was not cleared until 18th May. On the Outram Branch traffic was suspended from 23rd April until 3rd May, and on the Lawrence Branch from 23rd to 29th April. On 23rd April traffic was also suspended between Clinton and Gore owing to flood-waters. Early in May there was a very heavy fall of rain in the North Canterbury district which very seriously affected the railway, doing very grave damage and completely disorganizing the trainservices. The, following is a summary statement of the principal incidents : — 7th May. —North line : All trains north of Rangiora were cancelled. Bth May. —No trains ran north of Kaiapoi. 9th May. —Running resumed northward to Rangiora. 10th May. —Services extended to Sefton. 14th May. —Line reopened to Waiau. 7th May. —Traffic suspended, Waiau-ua Bridge washed away. 14th May. —Bunning of trains resumed from Waipara to Spotswood. 21st July. —Waiau-ua Bridge, restored, and traffic to Parnassus resumed. 7th May. —Oxford and Eyroton Branches : Traffic suspended during the afternoon, and not resumed until 10th May. 7th May. —Southbridge Branch : Afternoon trains from Christchurch ran to Springston only, services through to Southbridge being resumed on 10th idem.