Summer Prospects.

The persistence of unsettled times makes estimating in connection with Christmas and New Year traffic difficult, but with operating costs considerably lower than they were last year, the net returns should shew an improvement, given a reasonable proportion of public patronage. Those who use the rail in preference to other modes of transport will, besides obtaining low fares and satisfactory service, be doing something of direct benefit to the country in its time of need, for as has been previously indicated, almost the whole of their payments to the Railways become a direct contribution to the Treasury, thus helping to reduce the Dominion's annual liability. Through the steady policy of continuous replacement of obsolescent stock, locomotives, cars, and other rolling stock have never been in better order for the busy period of the year, and a generous time-table has been arranged for both Islands to meet the full transport needs of the community.