Amberley-Kingston Section.

Comparative Statement of Earnings, Twelve Months ending 26th June, 1880.

Comparative Return of Passenger and Traffic, Twelve Months ending 26th June 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.

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.

A slight decrease took place in outwards timber traffic.

A decrease of 767 tons took place in coal inwards.

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.

Porat Chalmers.

being an increase of 1375 tons, wholly in minerals and general merchandise.

being an increase of 964 tons, wholly in grain and general merchandise.

These increases for the Dunedin Section are of more value when I state that they are a continuation of similar increases in the previous period, as compared with corresponding period of last year, and give me considerable encouragement in looking forward to the probable result of the working for the year, which I feel almost assured will be very much more favorable than any of its predecessors.