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erected here and there among the coconut trees. At Alutgama the Southern Province is entered, and the chief villages of the Galle District are passed, Galle itself being reached some 72 miles from Colombo. Thence the line proceeds to Matara, passing the town of Weligama. Though the line runs almost exclusively through coconut groves, it supplies areas of rubber and tea as well. The very important rubber district of Kalutara, the tea plantations of Deniyaya, the rubber of Elpitiya are, for example, dependent upon it. The distances from Colombo to the chief stations, with times, &c., are :

The north coast line to Negombo and Chilaw (5 feet gauge) branches from the main line at Ragama, 9 miles from Colombo, and passes through rich coconut districts to Negombo Marawila, and Chilaw. Mills for the manufacture of coconut produce are common in this part of the Island The distances from Colombo to the chief stations, with times, &c., are:-

North Coast Line.

This line is now being extended to Puttalam, 32 miles north of Chilaw. This extension will serve an important coconut area, and will carry large quantities of salt, which is manufactured on a fairly large scale at Puttalam.

The Kelani Valley line (2 feet gauge) leaves Colombo in a southerly direction, but soon turns east to. Padukka, and north Kelani Valley to Avissawella. Thence the line branches, one line Line. holding northward to Dehiowita and Yatiyantota, while the other runs south to Ratnapura, Kahawatta, and Opanake. As the line-locally known as the K. V. or Kelani Valley— runs through the heart of one of the principal rubber districts of Ceylon, all the stations are more or less important centres for the requirements and produce of the numerous rubber estates. The distance from Colombo to Opanake is 85 miles, and from Avissawella to Yatiyantota 11 miles.

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The main results of the working of the Ceylon Government Railway for the financial years 1917-18 to 1920-21 are shown in the following table:TABLE No. 47.-Main Results of the Working of the Ceylon Government Railways, 1917-18 to 1920–21.

Nett revenue*

Percentage of

nett revenue on

total capital outlay

.. 6.35 per cent. 5. 87 per cent. 4.53 per cent. 4. 17 per cent.

Gross receipts

from ordinary

passengers and

season tickets

6,795,046 ..

7,694,702 .. 9,075,961 .. 9,608,657

Gross receipts from parcels, goods, &c.

11,364,707 .. 10,928,943 ..

12,046,143

11,134,624

1,249,600 ̊..

1,721,815. 3,992,812

3,858,791

Rates of Railway Fares, Freights, &c.

:-

The standard passenger fares are as follows :Single fares First class, 10 cents per mile (16 cents Main line above. Nawalapitiya, 17 cents Uda Pussellawa line). Second Passenger class, 63 cents per mile (10 cents Main line above NawalaFares. pitiya, 12 cents Uda Pussellawa line). Third class, 3 cents per mile (2 cents Pallai to Kankesanturai, 4 cents Uda Pussellawa line). Return tickets are issued at two single fares, less 1 cent, except in the case of the Uda Pussellawa line, on which section double the single fares are charged. Reductions are made for children, pioneers, and coolies of any nationality, and for periodical tickets.

The parcel rates vary according to weight and distance carried. A 7-lb. parcel is charged from 10 cents, a 14-lb. parcel Parcel Rates. from 20 cents, and so on, according to distance, one hundredweight being charged from 80 cents upwards. Goods traffic is divided into six classes, according to the nature of the traffic. The classes are the following:

Classes of
Goods.

* That is,

Class 1.-Acids, gunpowder, and other dangerous articles, pianos or other musical instruments, and plate glass.

"Gross earnings " less "Total working expenses."

19

34-20

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Class 2.-Furniture, wine, or other liquors in bottle, groceries, oilmanstores, millinery, textile fabrics, glassware, crockery, and unpacked machinery.

Class 3.-Rice, grain of all kinds in bags or packages or in bulk, oil, wine, or other liquor in casks, jute, horns, jaggery, sugar, cinnamon, plants, seed, refined salt or saltpetre, bales of unmanufactured cotton, cordage, machinery packed in cases, manufactured metals, coir matting, castings, soap, hardware, tools, and agricultural implements.

Class 4.-Tea, coffee, cacao, coconut palm produce, country-grown grain, fibre, and wrought timber.

Class 5.-Fruit, vegetables, and unwrought timber.

Class 6.-Coke, coal, minerals, bricks, lime, tiles, and stone, unworked metals, manure, firewood, and liquid fuel.

The charges for each class vary according to the section of the line. The following is the standard classification in cents per mile :—

The minimum distance on which a mileage charge shall be made is ten miles.

The minimum charge for a consignment of goods is 25 cents. Demurrage, insurance on valuable articles, warehouse, loading, and like charges shall be made in addition to the above rates, which apply only to the carriage of goods.

Goods of the sixth class in quantities less than 4 tons are charged as for 4 tons, or at third class rate on actual weight, whichever is lower. Horses are loaded and unloaded at owner's risk. The rates for the Horses and conveyances of horses and carriages are:

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Motor vehicles uncharged with electricity, gas, oil, or petrol (except as regards the small electric battery and coil usually Motor Vehicles, affixed to petrol propelled vehicles) are conveyed at owner's risk at the following rates: Motor cars 37 cents per mile each; motor bicycles over the Main line (and all branch lines) below Nawalapitiya are carried at the rate of 2 cents each per mile, over the Main line (and branch lines) above Nawalapitiya 5 cents per mile each; motor tricycles at double the rate of motor bicycles; motor cycles with side cars, trailers, or fore carriages are charged at the rate for motor bicycles plus four times the rates for bicycles.

Bicycles (not packed) when sent as parcels or accompanying passengers will be conveyed at owner's risk at 13 cents per mile over the Main and branch lines below Nawalapitiya, and at 2 cents per mile over the Main line and branches above Nawalapitiya (minimum charge, 25 cents).

Live Stock.

Donkeys, cattle, calves, pigs, sheep, goats, and hounds are carried in cattle trucks by goods train at 30 cents per truck per mile, one attendant being allowed to travel free with The minimum charge for a cattle truck is Rs, 5.

each wagon load.

Sleeping Cars.

The sleeping cars which run on the Up and Down Night Mail trains between Colombo and Nanu-oya are provided with accommodation for twelve passengers, namely, two four-berth and two two-berth compartments, and lavatory accommodation. Each berth is numbered, and provided with pillows, sheets, blankets, and quilt, and an attendant accompanies each car. Berths will only be reserved on prepayment before 6.30 P.M. of the ordinary fare plus Rs. 5 for the sleeping berth. Applications for First Class seats (or berths) by Northern Line Mail trains at intermediate stations must be made not later than 3 P.M. No passengers applying for tickets after that time can be supplied until it is known after arrival of train that there is room.

Should a sleeping berth be allotted in response to an application, the fee (Rs. 5) must be paid whether the berth is occupied or not, unless notice is given, twelve hours before the departure time of the train, cancelling the booking.

Refreshment Cars.

These are attached to the trains as shown below:

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Sundays.

6.35 P.M. from Bandarawela

Nanu-oya >and Colombo Fort.
Talaimannar

Bandarawela and Maradana.

Passengers by the 5 P.M. train from Ragalla intending to dine at Nanu-oya and go on by the Down Night Mail should inform the Guard, who will wire free of charge for dinner to be prepared.

7.20 A.M. Week Days

7.25 A.M. Sundays

KELANI VALLEY LINE.
(Light Refreshments only).

from Colombo Fort to Ratnapura.

2.10 P.M. Week Days and Sundays, Ratnapura to Colombo Fort.

COAST LINE.
Week Days.

7.20 A.M. from Maradana to Galle. 12.15 P.M. from Maradana to Galle. 12.45 P.M. from Galle to Maradana. 5.50 P.M. from Galle to Maradana.

Sundays.

7.45 A.M. from Maradana to Matara. 3. 0 P.M. from Matara to Maradana. ·

Refreshment Rooms and Baskets.

These are provided at Maradan a, Polgahawela, Hatton, and Nanuoya on the Main line, Colombo Fort and Alutgama on the Coast line, and Anuradhapura on the Northern line. Refreshments at these places are supplied at moderate prices. The Guard of the through Northern line day trains will telegraph free of charge for the provision of midday meals at Anuradhapura. Similarly, passengers by the morning train from Anuradhapura can, if sufficient notice be given, have breakfast put out for them at Polgahawela from the Refreshment Car on the 7.32 A.M. (6.55 A.M. on Sundays) train from Maradana, and forwarded free of charge to meet them at one of the wayside stations.

Refreshment baskets can be supplied for any train from Colombo on giving three hours' notice to the Refreshment Car Company at their offices at Darley Road, Maradana, Colombo.

Insurance.

The charge for insurance, which must be prepaid, is 1 per cent. on the value (minimum charge Re. 1) to be declared in writing at the time of booking.

Application for the insurance of any package valued at Rs. 500 or upwards is to be made to the General Manager, Colombo. Station Masters are authorized to accept insurance rate on packages valued at less than Rs. 500.