A large increase in goods traffic carried by rail in the Auckland Province is reported compared with the corresponding week last year. This is shown in the weekly goods returns compiled at Auckland. So heavy was the demand for transport of general merchandise, coal and manures from Auckland to Maungaturoto that three special trains had to be run. The extra amount of goods between Huntly and Frankton Junction necessitated two additional trains.

The gross tonnage of goods railed from Auckland for the 7th October week totalled 5,702, compared with 4,184 tons during the corresponding week last year. From Frankton Junction, 8,426 gross tons of general goods were railed to Auckland, against 5,408 gross tons last year. The figure from Frankton includes goods from Wellington and southern districts.

The gross tonnage sent from Huntly to the North amounted to 5,000, an increase of 1,000 tons. A total of 10,300 gross tons was railed South, against 5,600 gross tons last year.

Cleaner Travelling.

For some months past the Railways have been trying out a new form of matting in several of the Main Trunk Express cars. These mats are a New Zealand product of a link design, and any dirt is caught in the interstices of the mat, making it almost impossible for it to be tramped or blown through the carriages.

The matting is soft and silent to walk on, and in those cars where it has been tried it has been favourably commented upon by people walking through the carriages.

The Victorian Railways have used these mats for a number of years, with complete satisfaction, and it will be interesting to hear the further comments of New Zealand railwaymen and railway passengers on the greater cleanliness of travelling which it is considered this matting now makes possible^*.

I hereby certify that the publisher's lists and other records disclose that the circulation of the “New Zealand Railways Magazine” has not been less than 20,000 copies each issue since July, 1930.

Deputy-Controller and Auditor-General. 27/9/33.

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