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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 48

Commissioner of Railways Office, M.I., Dunedin, 20th August, 1880

page 15
Commissioner of Railways Office, M.I., Dunedin,

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.

On the Dunedin Section, extending, as you are doubtless aware, from Clinton to Palmerston, inclusive, and dealing with the Lawrence Outram and Walton Park Branches, increases are shown in the values of the traffic both outwards and inwards for the period in question, as compared with the corresponding period of last year, as follows, viz.:—
Outwards Traffic—
Increase in Goods £495 18 2
Less decrease in Passengers 82 17 7
Nett Increase £413 0 7
Inwards Traffic—
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.

Outwards Tonnages.—Increase—
Coals and Minerals 1107 Tons
Grain 297 Tons
General Merchandise 1273 Tons
Total 2677 Tons

A slight decrease took place in outwards timber traffic.

Inwards Tonnages.—Increase.
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.

The quantity of native coal forwarded on the Section during the period was as follows:—
From Kaitangata District 3202 Tons
From Green Island District 3150 Tons
Total 6352 Tons
page 16
And for corresponding period last year as follows:—
From Kaitangata District 2171 Tons
From Green Island District 2644 Tons
Total 4815 Tons
being an increase of 1537 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.