7

D.—lo.

Cross-examined by Mr .Hamilton. —Live in Levels, and am a ratepayer. No one assisted me, but for a couple of days my son took the tally. This book is in my own handwriting. My son took his tally on paper, and I transcribed into this book his notes. Was there from 4th to 18th April. I put these entries down every day. On 18th tally taken by my own observation. Cannot say which two days I was not there. Springbrook Settlement is nearly adjoining St. Andrew's and railway-station at St. Andrew's. These settlers mostly have small holdings, and they mostly cart produce to Timaru. Practically all of them cart pretty nearly all. They grow grain, and they cart it in drays and spring-carts. Easter came during the time I took the tally. Cannot say how much wool Pentland Hills carted. Object of taking tally was to show what crossed to Timaru and back from both sides. We put down all that came. This accounts for Grant's sheep from Oamaru. Was paid by Levels County. Thomas Black sworn. —Is overseer for Levels County Council. Has resided in Waimate all his life, except three years. Made an estimate of the work required to be done. Be Main South Road : Adheres to the report he furnished. [Pointed out position of roads on map.] When he made out these estimates he reckoned that the work would keep the roads in order for ten or twelve years. Thinks it advisable to spend all this at once. Has nothing to do with fixing the proportions. The estimates are for maintenance only. Considers the amounts he has stated are necessary for maintenance for ten or twelve years. We put maintenance metal on when original metal has worn down. It would last that time. Generally the metal and shingle on the roads are getting low down. As regards the road from town-boundary to Saltwater Creek. They have put on some quantity on main roads in town. Would use the road-roller, and about 15 yards per chain would be put on the rest. A less amount than that would be insufficient the way we work. If you put on a small amount the sheep would knock it into the water-tables. Prepared Tables B, D, and F, in conjunction with Messrs. McLaren and Orbell. Has had a large personal acquaintance with that part of the county. These tables represent the Levels ratepayers using the roads. Got the areas and valuations from the rate-book. The mileage was taken out by Mr. Whitehead and me as scaled from map, and they are approximately correct. Cross-examined by Mr. Kinnerney.—Has had three years' experience with Levels County, and as a boy worked with his father on the Waimate County Roads. Is twenty-six. Has had three years' experience as an overseer. Has had no qualifications as an engineer. Heard Mr. Howarth's evidence re 25 yards per chain on road town-boundary to Saltwater Creek. Does not agree with him that metal would stop traffic. The roller would fix that up. Just over townboundary knows 16 yards per chain were used, and that Borough Council ordered more to be put on. Does not think 25 yards per chain is renewal. 25 yards per chain was used when road was first made. By metalling in this way we really spread the maintenance of fourteen years in one year. My instructions were that I was to report on the roads. Cannot remember that I was not asked to report on the renewal. Very likely I should plough up the road. It has been the practice to allow the roads to wear down for a number of years. This road has been allowed to wear down with the exception of a few loads of beach-shingle. Has not gone through Council's account to see. Would say that road has been practically neglected for several years. Neglected for-ten years, but it has had surfacing. Be Otipua Road: This road has not been neglected. Parts of it have been reshingled, and 12 to 14 yards per chain put on. Levels County have done very little—not what they should have done. Knows that some portions have been repaired. Will not say they have not had slight coats now and again. The average cost of road-maintenance in Levels on district roads is about £13 Bs. per mile, and £22 to £25 per mile on main roads per year. Formed the estimates himself. If estimates were reduced road would probably last a less time. A coat like that is not needed all over the roads, only in parts. Where I specify 15 yards per chain this is required to make the road last. I have put 10 or 11 yards on portions of the Main South Road. The Council only allowed me a certain amount to do the work. The rest of the road, as it wears out, will require it. It is necessary as other portions wear out to put on similar quantities. Be Brassell's Road: Cannot explain why this road is three-quarter and Otipua Road half. Knows Cannington Road. Last year we spent £60 to £80 for metalling and maintenance. We put at least 9 yards per chain. Mackenzie County does the work. Before they do work they send in estimates to our county. The road is a boundary-road. Re-examined by Mr. Raymond. —When Mr. Howarth spoke of the road outside the townboundary, should think he had a roller in mind. A roller would smooth it. It is the custom in South Canterbury to put on a good quantity and make a good job. I was road-grading in the north. My father was Road Overseer for Waimate for fifteen years, and I often assisted him. Duncan McLaren sworn. —Is a farmer. Member of Levels County Council. The Main South and Otipua Roads are in his riding. The Otipua Road is treated as a main road and Great South Road as a district road. The whole cost of a district road is charged to the riding and the cost of the main road to the county. In each riding we are allowed one main road. In this case it was selected by my predecessor. Lives at Kingsland, and his way to Timaru is along the Main South Road, five miles and a half to Timaru. Lived there eight or nine years. Before then lived at Otaio, in Waimate County, below the south part of Pareora Riding. Lived there sixteen or seventeen years. Knows Waimate County as well as Levels. Is continually on the Main South Road. Knows Otipua Road well, and is frequently on it. Tables A, B, and C were prepared under his supervision. Has been through list on Table A. It shows what it purports to show. Few names are on it that he does not know to be substantially correct. Table B comprises all Levels County ratepayers who use Otipua Road. Table C comprises all Waimate ratepayers who use Main South Road. There is more heavy traffic on Otipua than on Main South Road. These ratepayers bring their produce to Timaru on this road. They use the upper bridge or crossings. To best of his belief the ratepayers shown on Tables A and C use this road. Table D comprises Levels ratepayers who use the Main South Road. The grain and produce in Waimate all comes over Otipua