TO THE EDITOR* OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Mr Ward is scarcely accurate when, in his annual statement, he speaks of our railway fares being the lowest in Australa sia. Our single fares are somevhat lower, viz., the eighth of a penny less than those charged in Australia, but those who in the past have taken single tickets constitute a very small percentage of those who travel. The great majority (five or six to one) of those who use the railways take return tic kets, and they have to pay a very consider able amount more than Australians pay. To give an example, Amberley is 34 miles (really a little over 33) from Christchurch, the return journey now amounts to 83 8d and 5s lOd first or second-class respectively. Tlie return fares in New South Wales for the same distance, vi_.,' from Sydney to Campbell town, amount to 6s and 3s 6d, a very consid?rab_e difference in favour of our Australian cousins.
Again, the distance from Adelaide to Port Adelaide is over eight miles ; the return fares are only Is 3d and 9d, according to class. Here again the South Australian scores, whilst many of the trains between the city and the port are through trains, a desideratum denied to the 19 out of 20 who are through passengers on our line.
