D.—4.

84

[j. U. MILLER.

18. In your experience as a rafter, where did your logs go down the fastest or get on to the banks more often —in the upper reaches or lower down? —Lower down, always. 19. What do you call lower down?— The farther you go down. Take the Waiotama, for instance. 20. Are you speaking of email rivers J — l take that one as an illustration 21. Another statement you made was that you would advooate the keeping of a railway as far as possible from water competition I — Yes. 22. Why do you suggest a connection with Whangarei. then' —Because in the centre we have no means of getting our goods unless we have a connection with a pori somewhere, and it is always a sound business proposition to connect with the nearest port, such as Whangarei is. 23. Would not the same argument apply to a connection with Kirikopuni, a good port where you have miles of rivet-banks on which hundreds of settlers »ill be placed? —The river is open to any. one who likes to run v boat on it, and people naturally will take advantage of the lowest freights. There is ample scope for steamship enterprise on the Wairoa River northwards. 24. It' you applied the same argument to Whangarei you would have similar competition with your railway, would you not? —Not so much. "-J."). What led you to say that all the settlers on the western side are living on the Wairoa Kiver?—lt is so. Perhaps there are some a mile or two back from the range. 26. Is it not the tact that there are stores in the western district for miles back from the river? —Yes. 27. Practically there are not many beyond the deep water at Whangarei, while you can pick out as many as twenty on-the Wairoa? —Hut the Main Trunk does not tap that country. Ido not propose that the line should come straight on. 28. What does it matter whether you call it a Main Trunk line or a branch? — 1 should call it a branch to Whangarei. ■I'J. Would you make a branch connection with Whangarei before going further north with the Main Trunk? —1 do not know that 1 would do so, because 1 think that by the time the line gets here settlement will have progressed so quickly that there will be ample inducement to continue the line straight on. 80. Mi. Steadman.~\ Do you know how long it is since a valuation of this district lias been made by the Department? —I believe it is about three years. .'5l. Is it not a fact that this district is valued at a very low rate compared with the real selling-values,' -Yes: we would not think of parting with the land at the valuation figures. 32. The Chairman.] How far is it from here to Mangapai by road? —About ten miles. .'i.'i. Do you do your own oarting? — -Yes. .'54. What load do you bring out?—ln summer you can bring out in a cart SOowt., or perhaps 35 cwt. In the winter witli four horses we can bring out 18cwt. ( or a ton. 36. How many trips a day can you make in the summer-time?—l never think of making more than one trip a daj . •'id. What are the freights to Mangapai, maximum and minimum? —12s. 6d.. all round, per ton. 37. What is the freight to Whangarei Town wharf?—7s. 6d. 38. Why are you charged the extra ss. ? — For transhipment from the "Ngapuhi," while in the other ease the goods come direct by the " Kanieri. , ' 39. Would a line from McCarroll's Gap, running through Maungakaramea, and joining the Whangarei—Kawakawa line, suit this district as well as a main trunk line going through the Mangakahia?—l think so. 40. Mr Roimijnr.~\ Does the " Kanieri " go to the Mangapai wharf?— No. The goods come off by tender.

Maungakavumea, Friday, 28th April, 1911. Roland Hill examined. (No. 50.) 1. The Chairman.] What is your position? —I am a farmer, holding 100 acres of freehold at Tangihua, four miles from Maungakaramea. I have been twenty-five years in the district. 2. Would you kindly make a statement to the Commission? —There is no doubt that the inhabitants up the Mangakahia Valley could do with a railway, but the quickest way to get to the north'would be to go round by Maungakaramea, and join with the Whangarei line. 3. Do you advocate the railway being pushed on through the Gap to Whangarei before any other line is made?— Yes: I think that would give the greatest good to the greatest number.. I am a director of. the dairy factory, and we colled cream from right up \hc Mangakahia Valley. We learnt that the Northern Steamship Company were making great alteration in their rates, but on making inquiry we ascertained that the Hay of Islands people had l)een offered a reduction of 2s- 6d. more than they were asking for in order to prevent their traffic coming down to Whangarei. The inhabitants at the lower end of the Mangakahia Valley have bsen very severely punished.