602 Transactions . — Miscellaneous. 



The total length of the railway, including the branch to 

 Lichfield, IS 73^ miles. The average cost of this when finished, 

 including the rolling-stock sold by the company to the Govern- 

 ment, will be about £4,300 per mile. The cost of Section I. 

 alone, handed over in working-order to the Government, was 

 £3,600 per mile. The cost of Section II., finished to Rotorua, 

 but without any roHing-stock, will be £5,300 per mile. When 

 it is remembered that the average cost of the New Zealand 

 railways is about £7,500 per mile, and that Section II. is of 

 more than average in amount of works, we have every reason 

 to feel satisfied with the result on financial grounds. 



The total length of the railway-journey from Auckland to 

 Rotorua will be 170f miles, and at the present rates the fares 

 would be £1 _15s. 8d. first class, and £1 3s. 6d. second class. 

 At the same journey-speed as at present run between Auckland 

 and Lichfield the time required would be ten hours forty- seven 

 minutes, but there would be no difficulty in reducing it to 

 eight hours by reducing the number of stopping-places, and 

 retaining the present maximum running-speed. 



_ Such is a brief, and, I fear, rather disjointed, description of 

 this very important railway. The delay in the expected early 

 completion is a severe blow to many of us, as we were led to 

 think that at last a broad view was likely to be taken of bona 

 fide railway requirements, albeit somewhat late in the day, 

 instead of the craving for local expenditure— no matter on what 

 — wliich has so long been the rule. The course of action decided 

 on has not caused much surprise to those who have had long 

 and varied experience of the wheels within wheels which give 

 motion to our railway policy. The jealousy between the old 

 and new townships of Eotorua is to blame for the delay since 

 1888, including the present indefinite postponement of comple- 

 tion. Persistent attempts have been made to prevent the line 

 going past the old township, and this after an expenditure of 

 between £20,000 and £30,000 on the Government Sanatorium, 

 and many thousands besides on the purchase of the new 

 township. 



There are now in Auckland invalids who cannot go to 

 Eotorua because of the coach- journey. There are no doubt 

 thousands in other lands in the same position. Last year the 

 officially-reported number of tourists was over 2,500. The 

 money turned over in the country by that number would pro- 

 bably be £100,000. Ten times that result would speedily 

 follow complete railway- communication. That is the sordid 

 view of the matter. Let us hope that it will soon appeal to 

 the powers that be, if nothing higher will, and that the long- 

 looked-for completion of the Une will be undertaken before the 

 intended new contract is finished. 



