The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 48
Commissioner of Railways Office, M.I., Dunedin, 20th August, 1880
20th August, 1880.
The Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin.
Sir,—I have the honor to supplement the statements I have already furnished you as to the traffic on the Middle Island Railways of New Zealand with the following figures collated from the Dunedin Traffic Manager's Report, for four-weekly period ending 24th July last.
Increase in Goods | £495 | 18 | 2 |
Less decrease in Passengers | 82 | 17 | 7 |
Nett Increase | £413 | 0 | 7 |
Increase in Parcels | 32 | 3 | 10 |
Increase in Goods | 2925 | 0 | 2 |
Total increase | 2957 | 4 | 0 |
Total increase, Outwards and Inwards | £3370 | 4 | 7 |
This increase in values may be considered a very gratifying one, as it results not less from longer distances over which goods are carried than from greater quantities forwarded, and this, I take it, can be looked upon as an indication of reviving trade. The most notable of the increases in the inwards traffic are in grain and general merchandise. The latter item shows a large increase both outwards and inwards, as you will see from the figures annexed.
Coals and Minerals | 1107 Tons |
Grain | 297 Tons |
General Merchandise | 1273 Tons |
Total | 2677 Tons |
A slight decrease took place in outwards timber traffic.
Minerals | 668 Tons |
Timber | 91 Tons |
Grain | 1729 Tons |
General Merchandise | 987 Tons |
Total | 3475 Tons |
A decrease of 767 tons took place in coal inwards.
From Kaitangata District | 3202 Tons |
From Green Island District | 3150 Tons |
Total | 6352 Tons |
From Kaitangata District | 2171 Tons |
From Green Island District | 2644 Tons |
Total | 4815 Tons |
The traffic at Port Chalmers for the period and for corresponding period of last year is stated below. You will observe a very considerable increase in the quantities. There is, however, a notable decrease in the quantity of imported coal—500 tons—which, taken in conjunction with the large increase in native coal stated above, clearly indicates a growing preference for the native article; and that this preference is not entirely a local one may be gathered from the fact of the decrease of 733 tons in coal inwards on the Section, thus showing that the extra quantity forwarded has been to stations north of Palmerston and south of Clinton.