958 ° DISCUSSION ON 
it did, it was a truism—but this was not the question. The 
question was, having to lighten your railway, presupposing 
decreased axle weight and decreased speed, what was the best 
way todo it? It had been shewn in the paper that what was 
proposed as regards stiffness in the road, bearing surface, and 
fastenings, had been actually for years in successful operation 
elsewhere under similar axle weights. It was not a theoretical 
proposal. And, in proportion to axle weight, the proposed railway 
was a heavier one, and therefore lighter for maintenance than 
most existing roads. It may be mentioned here, that, in propor- 
tion to its duty, which must always be kept in mind, the total 
weight of the proposed road, including sleepers, was high in com- 
parison to existing ones. The London and North Western road 
with heavy axle weights and high speeds, weighs, per mile, three 
hundred and forty-four tons ; the New South Wales present lines 
with about sixteen tons axle weight, weighs two hundred and 
eighty-two to three hundred and eighty-four tons; the Madras 
Railway, main lines, with twelve tons axle weight, weighs two 
hundred and sixty-nine tons ; Cape railways, main lines, eight 
tons axle weight, weighs one hundred and twenty-six tons ; pro- 
posed light branches, eight tons axle weight, weighs two hundred 
and twenty-six tons. The inertia of these weights in proportion 
to the duty, which is greatly in favour of the last, had an impor- 
tant effect on cost of maintenance. 
Mr. Vandevelde was an able advocate of the introduction of 
the two feet gauge into the Government railway system of this 
‘Colony, and he has shewn his wisdom in keeping clear altogether 
“of the break of gauge question, which was the only objection to 
that system raised in the paper, or in the opening of the discussion. 
Since the paper was read, Mr. Burge had ascertained that tran- 
‘shipment costs in France four pence per ton, with labour at two 
shillings and seven pence per day, sevenpence therefore, estimated 
in the paper, p. 72, as the cost here of transhipment, might have 
‘been considerably increased. 
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