TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION J. 501 



persons employed to conduct a given traffic, all combine to 

 make the working-expenses on narrow-gauge lines much 

 greater than on those of the standard or broad gauge from the 

 moment the traffic reaches the point at which the construction 

 of a railway might be made to yield a profitable return. 



General Conclusions. 



The conclusions at which the author arrives from the fore- 

 going considerations are as follow : — 



1. That the supposed economy in the construction and 



furnishing of nai'row - gauge lines is simply a de- 

 lusion. 



2. That the working-expenses will be practically the same 



on the standard and broad gauges, but will be greatly 

 increased on the narrow gauge. 



3. That the capacity for traffic will be greatly reduced on 



the narrow gauge, whilst its cost is proportionately 

 increased, thus, in level country, excluding a large 

 amount of traffic which can be carried as expeditiously 

 and more economically by horse-teams. 



It therefore appears to tlie author a matter for the deepest 

 regret that, after the New Zealand railways had been started 

 on a gauge which, without an appreciable increase of con- 

 structive cost, not only gives great stability at high speeds, but 

 affords ample facilities for the development of locomotive- 

 power, this gauge should have been abandoned for a narrow- 

 gauge fad which, without seriously diminishing constructive 

 cost, has crippled the efficiency of our railway system. 



One single example of the mischief done may suffice : had 

 the south line been constructed to the oft. 3in. gauge, on 

 which it was originally commenced, the Dunedin express would 

 have been run in five hours, and passengers leaving Christ- 

 church at 8 a.m. might have had two hours in Dunedin for the 

 transaction of business, and have returned by the afternoon 

 express, reaching Christchurch at 8 p.m. Comment is need- 

 less. 



Is it yet too late to retrace our steps, and to reform our 

 railway system so as to make it efficient and self-supporting, 

 if not a valuable source of revenue '? 



