794 REPORT — 1895. 



The gauge throughout to be 24 inches, and the lines to be provided with a 

 turnout alongside of each holding of a certain size, and at each place where an 

 agricultural industry such as dairying is established. Stations, means of ware- 

 housing, and workshops to be provided only in the proportion of one to each line, 

 all stopping places to require but trifling expenditure. 



The rolling stock in proportion to each line to be — 



2 steam locomotives ; 

 2 composite carriages ; 

 2 break vans ; 

 2 timber waggons ; 

 5 covered waggons ; 

 20 goods waggons, of sorts. 



The total capital cost, if undertaken on such a moderate scale, would be 

 287,105Z., or 1,436/. per mile. 



The estimate of total takings, allowing one mixed train each 

 way per diem only, or one all-round journey, and also allow- 

 ing that one-fourth the capacity for goods is only used, is . i'10,300 

 For passengers, one-fourth the capacity of the first-class, and 



one-half of the third-class accommodation being used . . 8,214 



Total £18,614 



With 247,200 train lines per annum this gives Is. Qd. a mile. 



There are many examples to show that the running cost, pro- 

 viding for upkeep and renewals, can be kept within Is. a 

 mile, leaving a nett profit of £6,180 



The nett receipts for mails, parcel, excursions, and advertising 



work out at ........ . 1,782 



Total nett revenue £7,962 



or about 21. 18s. per cent. 



Extra nett revenue would be derived with extra mileage run, and it might be 

 expected that two all-round journeys would before long be necessary on several 

 lines. 



The author omits the question of the purchase of land. Parliament proposes 

 that the public inquiries preliminary to these light railways shall be essentially 

 local. Tlie views as regards compensation and the necessity of buying land will 

 be governed by considerations wliich will be local in every respect ; and if it 

 is in the interests of the locality generally that their expenditure be kept at a mini- 

 mum, they need not at most exceed 100/. a mile, or 20,000/. altogether. 



The burthen of the guarantee of this fund I propose shall be the only one to 

 be taken by the County Council, and when that is realised, I think individual 

 interests will receive no unfair sliare of consideration. 



At 4 percent., including a sinking fund, this may at first throw 800/. a year on 

 the rates, but it will soon be earned. In return, the local authority to have a 

 deferred charge on the earnings, and powers to become sole proprietors at the end 

 of a term of years, and in the meantime to be represented on the board of direc- 

 tion. 



2. The Gohert Freezing Process for Shaft-sinking and Tunnelling under 

 Rivers. By A. Gobert, Ingenieur Civil of Brussels. 



The process consists in freezing water-bearing strata and running sands by 

 means of liquid ammonia poured straight into the freezing-pipes, which are sunk 

 vertically into the ground which is to be frozen. The liquid ammonia, in passing 

 into gas in the freezing-pipes, produces a more intense cold than that obtained by 

 unfreezable liquids, which are themselves rendered cold by the evaporation of 



