33

I.—2a.

C. K. VICKEKMAN.

109. In other words, you do not consider Mr. Knorpp's survey had any particular relationship to connecting with Whangarei ? —He looked into it to see if it were possible, but he did not decide anything. He was just getting information. 110. Hon. Mr. R. McKemie.] Was Mr. Knorpp's survey purely an exploration survey?— Yes. 111. Supposing you were making that survey, would you take all the elevations by barometer? —Yes, by check barometers. 112. You know the country about Maungakaramea and Maungatapere?—Yes. 113. That country would be all covered with bush when Mr. Knorpp was there?— There was a good deal of bush there. . » 114. His line north of McCai roll's Gap is practically all through bush? —Yes, it would be all bush in his time. 115. There is no reference at all made to- any part of the western route in Mr. Knorpp's reports, is there I—No,1 — No, he never went over the western route. 116. How long ago is it since the railway from Whangarei to Kawakawa was decided on J — ln 1878 1 was sent up there to survey a line. 117. That was in the same year as Mr. Knorpp's survey! — Mr. Knorpp's was somewhere about that time. 118. That was the policy of the Government of those days, was it—to make a railway from Whangarei to Kawakawa?—The Whangarei line was to run from Kamo to Whangarei. 1 ran » trial line from Whangarei to Kawakawa. 119. Mr. Knorpp was practically a young man then, was he not —and not in a high position? —Well, he was Inspecting Engineer. 120. Supposing you were to give one of your engineers instructions to go and explore a pieco of country in order to make a railway —say, between Helensville and Hokianga River : he would have a free hand to examine the country, so long as he had a general idea as to where it was wanted' to go?—He would have general instructions, and would be left free then. 121. He would simply make a trial survey, and report? — Yes, that is the usual thing. 122. And that is all that Mr. Knorpp did?— Yes. 123. Mr. Mauder.] Mr. Knorpp went to the southern boundary of Maungatapero Parish?— Mr. McKenzie said so. 124. You did not adhere strictly to Mr. Knorpp's survey?— There were no instructions to adhere to it. 125. You simply selected what you considered the best lino through the centre of the peninsula? —That is so. 126. Mr. Stall'worthy.] The line was to go to Maungatapere, and you say that Mr. Knorpp was looking for a central situation. Would you consider Maungatapere the centre of the peninsula ?—Pretty near it. 127. How far is Maungatapere from the cast coast —you can give us an idea from the map?— Well, measuring on this map, from one coast it is 6 in. and from the other 7 in. 128. Hon. Mr. li. McKenzie.] I have here the schedule to the Railways Authorisation Act of 1904, in which a length of the North Auckland line was authorised. Will you read the schedule, please?—" From Maungaturoto to the southern boundary of Maungatapere Parish. Length, about twenty miles." 129. That was on Mr. Knorpp's survey —was it?— That would be the only guide they would have. 130. That authorisation was passed on Mr. Knorpp's survey? —Yes. 131. When that was passed there was no survey made of the eastern route beyond Kaiwaka '! —No. 132. Can you tell the Committee when the survey was made —say, from Kaiwaka to Maungaturoto? —The trial survey would be made about 1905. 133. About a year after the authorisation ? — That came on just about the time we were working about there. 134. When was the location survey?—lt was not made till the end of 1907—that is, up as fai as Pukekaroro. 135. When was the trial survey made from McCarroll's Gap northwards, on Mr. Holnies's route? —Last year. 136. Do you know whether Mi , . Holmes had Ministerial authority for making that survey at all? Is there an3 T thing on the file authorising him? —Mr Hall-Jones told him to do so. 137. Is there anything on record about it? —I really could not say. I know he had orders to make the survey. 138. Where did you see them? —They were verbal orders. I cannot say whether he had written instructions or not, but I know it was one of the things that had to be done in a hurry. 139. Is it a fact (hat this survey was only started after the Committee reported last year recommending that a survey of the western route be made?—l do not think so. I think it was done before. 140. When was it done?— They were well on with this eastern-route survey before you started the western route. 141. When? Can you give us any date? —The same young fellow that was making the trial survey past Maungaturoto located the line up to Pukekaroro Mountain. 142. I do not mean there; I mean, north of McCarroll's Gap?— Yes. Then he got out of a job and was put on at carrying on the trial survey. 143. When? —From about the end of 1907. He was on continuously at that. 144. How far was ho last February, say?—A little bit beyond McCarroll's Gap. 145. He was not beyond Maungakaramea Mountain last February?— You are quite mistaken, sir, if you think the engineers pushed on the survey of the eastern route to defeat the western.