85

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1886. And previous years?— There have been a few new houses going up every year, but perhaps the best way would be to give you the exact figures from our books, viz. : 1898, 12 ; 1899, 15. 1887. Your estimate is that perhaps a thousand have been added to the population in five years? —I can only estimate it, but I think it will be close on four thousand next census. 1888. Do you think you are prepared to.stand by your estimate against the estimate of the Registrar-General, who gives the estimate in 1900 that the population is less by three hundred than it was in 1891, and only three hundred more than in 1896—3,423 last year? —I do not know how he gets at that. 1889. You are prepared to stick to your estimate ? —I know the new houses that have gone up, and they speak for themselves. 1890. Can you say whether there has been a steady growth in the value of property : do you know anything about the country districts round about?— Yes, I am pretty familiar with it. 1891. Do you know whether there has been a steady increase in the value of land in the boroughs and country districts during the last five years ?—During the last two years I think there has been. I think before that it was about normal. It is the dredging that has given the impetus to the values. I can tell you the values of properties in Greymouth and Cobden; I have instances of sales during the past few years. I know that in the freehold portion of the Town of Greymouth South property which you could buy for £40 eighteen months ago you now have to pay £150 for. Two sections were sold three weeks ago in High Street for £150 each, unimproved; and in a back street —Shakespeare Street- -two others that are down on my valuation-roll, unimproved value £20, fetched £95 each. 1892. Those are not exceptional instances, you think?— No. 1893. They represent fairly the growth in the value of sections in the last two years?— Yes. In Cobden the Education Board bought a section belonging to the late Mr. Nancarrow, and they gave £50 for a quarter-acre. 1894. Mr. Bell.'] Was there a Chinese festival in every borough on the Coast in 1891?— I could not say that. They have their festivals on the same day throughout. 1895. The population of Brunner was 2,200 in 1891 and 1,600 in 1896 : was the population of Brunner inflated by a Chinese festival ?—I cannot say. 1896. I wanted to know whether you think the Chinese festival inflated the population of every borough on the Coast in 1891 ? —I cannot say. 1897. Mr. McKerroiv.] About Cobden : We have been requiring evidence about the value of sections there belonging to the company?—l know of the sale I mentioned, because I was acting for the Education Board in the matter. 1898. I mean the sections that have not been sold ?—I know the sections on the map. 1899. You could not tell about any one section, but what do you think about the value generally, making an estimate of the value of the fifty-eight sections —about 14J acres ? —There are buildings going up there ; some of the new-comers like that side of the river, and lately there has been a request for sections, but they like sections alongside the metalled road. Those along the metalled road would fetch, I think, from £40 to £50 a quarter-acre ; those in the bush perhaps not half that. 1900. So that an average estimate might be about £25 ?—Yes. 1901. Mr. Hudson.] I should like to be clear that you are referring to the sections belonging to the Midland Eailway Company in your reply to Mr. McKerrow ? —I do not remember whether any of those sections abut on the road or not. 1902. Do you know where they are?— Yes. 1903. Knowing where they are, do you believe them to be worth from £20 to £25 a section ? —I should think that would be a fair value for them. 1904. They would realise that if sold ?—Yes. 1905. Mr. Graham.] You do not know the sections on the ground ?—No. 1906. Then, you are not in a position to value them at all ?—Only in relation to the values of adjacent properties. 1907. You do not know the Midland Eailway properties ?—Not intimately—not to value them for valuation purposes. 1908. Dr. Findlay.] Do you know that nearly all of -them are under water?— Yes, some of them. 1909. Mr. Graham.] What would you value those at ?—Perhaps £10 or £12. Those in the swamp are practically useless unless they are drained, and that would cost a good bit. 1910. Are there many in the swamp ?—A good many of them. Adam Blaie examined on oath. 1911. The Chairman.'] What are you, Mr. Blair?—Sawmiller, residing in Greymouth. 1912. You have been for several years in the sawmilling business ?—Yes. 1913. How many mills are you interested in?— Our firm owns five mills. 1914. Do you know what the export timber trade of Greymouth is at present ?—I think somewhere about 14,000,000 ft. or 15,000,000 ft. last year. 1915. What proportion of that do you reckon has travelled over the Midland Eailway ?—I should say about two-thirds of it travels over the railway; a portion of it travels over the Hokitika line. 1916. Are any of your mills on the Midland line ? —Yes. 1917. How long do you reckon your timber-supply will last ?—I suppose some of our present mills will be working for ten or twelve years yet. We will have to go back further for the timber. 1918. Do you think the population of Greymouth has increased during the last few years?— Yes, it must have increased wonderfully.