E.—2.

Wagon Stock.—The average English charges include the cost of some stock which was imported complete, and the cost of conversion of some classes into others. The rates stated as average English charges, therefore, afford no clue to the cost per set of ironwork, in which form all the larger and more recent Home orders have been executed. Owing to the mixed nature of the importations, it has been found impossible to apportion the Colonial charges against each class of stock with certainty, and in "The General Average of Wagon Stock " it is most probable that the average cost of high and low sided wagons is given too high, while that of other classes is too low.

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.-STATEMENT of AVERAGE COST of WAGON STOCK IMPORTED by the GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

By Authority: George Didseuey, Government Printer, Wellington. —1878. [Price 9d.

11

Timber Trucks. Cattle Trucks. I Sheep Trucks. I Meat Trucks. ,, „ Covered Goods Horse Boxes. „, Wagons. High-side Wagons. Low-side Wagons. Iron Hopper Wagons. Westport :— ■ Average English charges Average Colonial charges £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ *• d. 61 14 6 26 19 6 £ s. d. £ *. d. 114 19 I 13 9 8 ... ... ... ... Net average cost ; 1 . 1 ' ... ... ... 88 14 o 128 8 9 Nelson :— Average English charges Average Colonial charges 68 18 8 21 2 8 67 14 6 52 16 8 72 2-3 52 16 8 124 18 n 68 19 4 31 14 o 69 7 11 26 8 4 95 16 3 Net average cost ! 9° i 4 120 11 2 ... ... 100 13 4 ... Picton :— Average English charges Average Colonial charges 1 64 15 o 2128 60 19 9 52 16 8 66 4 o 52 16 8 ... 126 14 11 20 o o 104 18 2 20 o o 77 14 11 24 10 1 ... ■ 1 146 14 11 Net average cost 85 17 8 113 16 5 : 119 o 8 ... 124 18 2 102 5 o Christchurch :— Average English charges Average Colonial charges 59 9 4 13 11 1 66 5 9 32 11 10 70 2 8 33 11 9 95 10 3 45 i? 4 67 1 10 32 9 o 74 4 4 19 16 6 70 19 8 16 17 8 120 l8 2 9 18 3 Net average cost 73 o s 98 17 7 103 14 5 Hi 7 7 99 IO IO 94 o 10 87 17 4 130 16 5 Dunedin :— Average English charges Average Colonial charges 60 15 3 24 9 4 69 o 6 58_ 8 5 70 9 9 61 3 4 82 17 2 9i 15 o 78 7 8 54 6 o 132 13 8 77 4 5 35 18 7 61 16 6 30 11 8 92 8 2 105 19 9 18 7 o Net average cost 85_ 4 7 127 8 n ' 131 13 1 ; ... 174 12 2 "3 3 o I 124 6 9 Invercargill :— ■ Average English charges Average Colonial charges I . I I 69 o 7 11 60 65 7 7 28 s 8 72 3 n 28 5 6 83 1 1 42 7 6 67 13 6 27 15 5 77 3 6 17 13 1 72 14 7 14 12 4 107 9 3 896 Net average cost 80 6 7 93 13 3 100 9 5 125 8 7 95 8 11 94 16 7 87 6 11 115 18 9 ... GENERAL AVERAGE COST OF WAGON STOCK AS ABOVE. 84 18 2 112 1 5 in 10 4 122 4 4 159 12 9 no n 10 101 12 4 93 12 5 128 8 2