PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 49 
52 miles; from Mullion Creek to Tarana (83 miles) and 
from Clarence Siding to Sydney (88 miles). The sections 
between Wellington and Mullion Creek (45 miles) and 
Tarana to Clarence Siding (32 miles) still contain steep 
grades which have not yet been improved, owing to the 
large expenditure involved; but before the alterations 
already carried out, the load would practically have been 
limited to thirty wagons over the whole distance, or two 
engines would have been required on every goods train. 
On the North-Western, Northern, and North Coast lines 
the continuous improvements of grades carried out have 
had the effect of raising the through load from Moree to 
Sydney (413 miles) from a gross tonnage of 270 tons to 
about 430 tons, the whole journey being now accomplished 
without an assisting engine, except over the section be- 
tween Murrurundi and Willow Tree (15 miles), and from 
the Hawkesbury River to the top of the bank, a distance 
of about five miles, to cut out which would entail very 
heavy expenditure. On these particular gradients it is 
found to be more economical to utilise the assistance of 
what is called a “‘push-up’’ engine. A total amount of 
£750,000 has been expended by the Commissioners on these 
important works. 
Duplication.—It has been found necessary to duplicate 
portions of the lines, owing to the traffic having increased 
to such an extent as to be beyond the economical carrying 
capacity of a single line. The most important work within 
recent years has been the duplicating of the line between 
Glenbrook and Mount Victoria on the main Western line, 
and between St. Leonards and Lindfield on the North 
Shore line. In an ordinary way it is not expected to reap 
interest on the actual outlay in the case of duplications, 
but, as a matter of fact, the interest on the expenditure 
is practically saved by the reduction in salaries to officers 
D—May 6, 1903. 
