D.—4

50

Rangiora-Oxford and Kaiapoi-Bennett's. (Distance, 54 miles.) The operating revenue and expenditure for these branches for the last four years was: —

The operating revenue and expenditure for the whole of the branch lines for last year was as follows : Branch revenue, £8,814 ; feeder value, £1,392 ; total revenue, £10,206 ; working-expenses, £19,884 ; interest, £7,128 : total loss, £16,806. These two branch lines are roughly parallel to one another, and at no point between Kaiapoi and Bennett's, and between Rangiora and Bennett's, are they more than approximately six miles apart. The Rangiora -Oxford line should be able to serve the whole district, although if Eyreton Branch were closed there would be some loss in revenue. There would be a saving of about £3,343 in maintenance and a total saving of £4,480 if working on the latter branch was discontinued. There is a flour-mill at Wetherall, on the Eyreton Branch, which could be served from Kaiapoi. The passenger traffic is light on the Rangiora-Oxford line, and does not justify the continuance of passenger-trains. The goods traffic to be catered for by the running of goods-trains from Christchurch to Oxford ; this will permit of the locomotive depot at the latter station being closed and the staff transferred. For year ended 31st March, 1930, the revenue obtained from goods forwarded from stations between Rangiora and Bennett's amounted to approximately £4,900, and from stations between Eyreton and Bennett's amounted to approximately £6,000. The additional revenue received from the latter branch is accounted for by the fact that a large quantity of goods which could have been forwarded via Rangiora was, for the convenience of settlers, forwarded from Horrelville instead of from Cust. Your Commission therefore recommends that the Eyreton Branch line be closed, unless the guarantee against loss offered by the settlers is satisfactorily arranged. Cheviot Branch : Waiparo-Parnassus. (Distance, 44 miles.) The operating revenue ancl expenditure per mile for this branch for the past four years was : —

The operating revenue and expenditure for the whole of the branch for last year was as follows : Branch revenue, £17,883 ; feeder value, £2,225 ; total revenue, £20,108 ; working-expenses, £30,703 ; interest, £16,852 : total loss, £27,447. A fast passenger-train conveying an average of twenty-five passengers per day runs daily between Christchurch and Parnassus connecting with a motor service to and from Blenheim. A substantial saving could be effected by discontinuing the running of the passenger-trains in question, and substituting mixed trains between Waipara and Parnassus connecting with the Christchurch-Culverden or Waiau train at Waipara. Your Commission recommends accordingly. The saving will amount to £2,000 per annum.

, 7 Branch Feeder Total I Working- T , , m , , . Year. ,, , T , ! & Interest. J otal J^oss. Kevenue. j Value. Revenue. j expenses. ! £ £ £ £ £ £ 1927.. .. 186 30 216 360 128 272 1928 .. .. 154 27 181 352 127 298 1929 .. .. 176 34 210 340 127 257 1930.. .. 163 26 , 189 368 132 311

Ar Branch Feeder Total Working- T , , m . . T Year " Revenue. Value. Revenue. ; expenses. Interest " Total Loss - £ £ £ £ £ £ 1927 .. .. 369 59 428 740 350 062 1928 .. .. 373 54 427 740 357 670 1929 .. .. 407 42 449 678 369 598 1930 .. .. 406 51 457 698 383 624