The railway revenue for the four weeks ended 20th August was L 75.528, and the expenditure L60,7t38. Jn the corresponding period last year the revenue was 175,412, and the expenditure L 51,524. The North Island lines contributed L 24.714, as against L 25.996 ; and absorbed 120,091, as against L 18.076. The Middle Island lines contributed L 50.814, as against L 49415; and absosbed L 40.677, as against L 33 446. The proportion of expenditure to revenue on the several lines, estimated on a yearly average, was as follows for the respective periods of 1892 and 1891;-North Island— Kawakawa, 80.15, 77.23; Whangarei, 67 95, 97 39; Auckland, 72 21, 70.08; J'apler-Tara naki, 66 81, 70.42; Wellington, 73.72,66.34 Middle Island —Hurunui-Bluff, 62 66, 64,69 ; Greymouth, 66 35, 64 17 ; Westport, 55.90, 4218; Nelson, 93,28, 79.74; Picton, 105 45, 75.83 ; grand total, 65.33, 65.81. The following are the detailed returns fo. Hurunul-Blulf section: 1892. 1891. Passengers— s- a. 8. R- First-class .. 3,320 24,701 3,380 24,004 Second-class .. 17,294 80,274 17,436 78,368 Total .. 20,614 105,038 20,822 102,672 Season Tickets .. .. 512 .. 542 1802. 1891. No. No. Parcels, etc. .. .. •• 18,031 17,033 Goods, etc 74,237 46.228 Tons. Tods. Chaff, etc. .. .. -- 2,316 1,820 Wool .. .. •• •• I.HB 1.142 Firewood .. .. •• 2,784 2,346 Timber ~ .. -- 6.301 5,876 Grain .. .. .. .. 29,800 25,217 Merchandise .. .. .. 18,035 21,140 Minerals „ 26,132 25.902 Total 85.576 83.443 Revenue — 41 £ Passengers 13,941 13.378 Parcels and luggage .. .. 1,784 1,080 Goods.. .. .. .. 27,464 28,449 Miscellaneous .. .. Rents and commission .. - 921 8-0 Total £45,060 £43,405

There are now throe women commercial travellers who go the rounds regularly for drapery houses in the City of London. I hey put up at the same hotels as their male com petitors, and, it need hardly be added, receive from them every courtesy and assist ance. It is said that up to the present they have done fairly well in business. Aeent’ “Like some awnings, mum. We fit and fix ’em cheap.” housewife: “ I don’t want any awnings. They keep out the sun, and we get little enough sun ,. i ’ i s ” Aoent; “You need shine here os it is. . * „ never use ’em, mum. They 11 roll up.
