WESTPORT HARBOUR INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1862, 23 September 1913, Page 9

WESTPORT HARBOUR INQUIRY.

THE RAILWAY SYSTEM. ,

(By TeaeeTaph—Preas Association.)

Westport, September 22. The Harbour Board Commission continned its inquiry to-day. Evidence was given by W. G. M'Donald, who advocated mining port charges and improving the system of representation on the board. He put in data ho had propared, giving comparisons he had made between the harbour charges at AVestport, Newcastle, and Durban, showing Westport to bo tho raoro attractive from the point of view of charges than Newcastlo.

Other witnesses were P. Payne, district traffic manager, who gave evidence regarding railways, and Captains Dobsou and Williams, who mainly corroborated tho evil effects of the eastern wall overlapping tho western, and tho difficulty anticipated in working in and out of tho floating basin.

John O'Callaghan and John Connell, quarry foremen, gave evidenco concerning tho working conditions.

S. Falla, stationmaster on the Capo lino, testified in regard to the system adopted in the collection of fares and freights on general goods and timber. It was ascertained that no' check was made on sawii timber, tallies being supplied by the millowners. Witness was unable to check out log timber. In connection with tho collection of passenger freights' the guards were handed so many tickets and handed him back tho money. There was 110 check made. Tickets were issued to evcryono who travelled. In answer to Mr. Mtuiro witness stated that tlio number of trucks was about thirty, and ho depended on his memory as to wliero tho trucks wero located. Evidence was also given by Mr. Dudley, Government auditor.