460 REPORT — 1891. 



most part, pastoral and but very sparsely populated. It has 

 several ports, around which the population is chiefly concen- 

 trated, and, as a consequence, the distances that traffic is 

 carried are, on the average, very short, being below the gene- 

 ral average. The maintenance charges, due to the long and 

 expensive bridges, are somewhat heavy, and they are also 

 increased by the liability of parts of the line to damage from 

 floods. 



Although there has been a gradual decrease in the ex- 

 penses per ton-mile and per passenger-mile for some years 

 past, this improvement is slow, because of the continual 

 further extension of the railways into unsettled or pastoral 

 country almost devoid of population, the expenses of which 

 neutralise the economies elsewhere. 



That railways with such light traffic as we have in New 

 Zealand can be profitably worked is shown by the results 

 obtained on the Napier line. If lines are intended to be 

 financially successful they must be so located, both with 

 regard to the class of country they are to serve and the com- 

 petition they are to face, as to allow of a reasonable traffic 

 being obtainable. Lines connecting seaports at short intervals 

 apart, and serving only very limited areas of country, are not 

 likely to prove financially successful ; neither is any line 

 entering a country which cannot furnish traffic to give one 

 train-load a day. 



Eailways have been pushed on rather in accordance with a 

 popular sentiment that it is a good thing to do for the settle- 

 ment and development of the country than on the ground 

 that any present direct profit is to be got from them. On most 

 of the extensions which have been carried out of late years 

 no profit in working could be looked for in the immediate 

 future. 



As railways continue to be extended into unpopulated 

 country, the expenses measured at per ton -mile and pas- 

 senger-mile must be high, even with the most parsimonious 

 administration and the curtailment of conveniences and 

 luxuries. 



A practical cessation from railway building until the colony 

 has largely increased its population would lead to a lower rate 

 of expenses on the larger volume of traffic which would be 

 obtained. A larger population would command a lower rate of 

 expenses, lower charges, and greater conveniences, without 

 necessarily impairing the financial results. 



The following tables give a summary of the cost of con- 

 struction, revenue, working-expenses, and statistics of the 

 diflerent sections of the New Zealand railways : — 



