D.—4.

100

[P. MANDER

123. Have your travels been confined to the river itself to Tangiteroria, and then up the road to Whangarei?—No, I have been all round to Birch's. 124. Where is Birch's?—l do not know the exact locality, but it is west of Waikiekie. I have been to Tokatoka 125. I am speaking of the west of Waikiekie?—l have been right through to RiddelPs property to the Mangakahia Ranges. 126. Then, you have travelled from Waikiekie through to Tangiteroria? —Not by the route of the railway, but through the mountains. I have been through the country and seen it. 127. Is that country a good class of land? —Yes, very fair country. 128. Is it capable of carrying a population?—l think it will carry a considerable population, but most of it is suitable for large holdings. 129. Will it not do for dairying?— Yes,, the undulating country will, but a lot of it is broken. 130. Will not the hills do for dairying?—A lot of it is too broken, and you cannot profitably work it for dairying. 131. Do you know what Riddell puts off his place) — l know he puts a large quantity. 132. Do you know he puts off two hundred head of fat cattle regularly every year?—l believe he does. 133. Does that not show it is cattle country?— Yes, but in this bush country there is a tremendous lot of feed for the first few years, and then it gradually goes back. 134. Do you not think the mountain land will be good enough for dairying eventually?- — You cannot cultivate it intensely enough for dairying. It will go back in spite of you. If you can get the plough into it it will be good enough. 135. What evidence have you in regard to the land going back?—-The evidence of all the lands I have seen in the north. It is the same class of country. As I said, Paparoa was as good country as one could possibly see thirty years ago. but it has gone back now: and I know that other parts of the country are going back. 136. What is the nature of the country at Paparoa?—Sandstone. 137. It is not limestone country up Waikiekie way?—lt is the same class of country as Paparoa. 138. Is that not sandstone country?— Yes; 1 am positive it will not maintain its present feeding-capacity. It will do so for ten or a dozen years. That is my opinion. 139. How far is Tangiteroria from Kirikopuni? —About four or five miles. 140. And Tangiteroria is the head of the navigable water for big boats?— Yes. 141. Do you know the belt of gum land about Poroti ?—Yes. 142. Supposing a line were sent up about midway between 11 1* ■ eastern and western routes to under the Tangihua Mountains, and from there a branch line was sent through Maungakarainea to Whangarei, would that not tap all the good country on the east coast?— No. 143. What good country on the east coast would it not tap?— All the country at Puroa, Moengawahine, the lower Mangakahia, Ripinui, Maramaku, and Ripiwai. 144. Where is Moengawahine? —Between Huatangata and the Mangakahia River. 145. How far is Puroa from Ramarama? —I could not say. 146. Is it not only two or three hours' ride?—l suppose it is. 147. Doei not the railway to Whangarei, if connected with Auckland, run past Ramarama? —It would not be a great distance away. 148. Is not Puroa only an hour and a half away from the eastern route by the Mangakahia? —Yes, but there would be extra mileage to pay. 149. Is there not in that part only two or three miles difference between the eastern and western route? —It is a tremendous distance round. You would have to go round as far as Whangarei, as far as I know. 150. Is there not only a very little difference between the eastern and western routes at Lower Mangakahia? —There is not a great difference, I suppose. 151. Is it not only about an hour and a half's ride from Ripinui to Hukerenui by a formed road? —I suppose so. 152. Would it not take you five or six hours to connect with the line?—lf there were two routes I would drive to the shortest route. 153. W T ould not the Ripinui settlers have to go by Puroa to get to Mangakahia?—Yes. 154. Is not the outlet to Muramaku through Towai?—That is so 155. Is not the railway to Towai the established connection with Auckland?—At the present time, but you surely do not want to make the people up there pay extra railage for all time. 156. Would not the Muramaku outlet be above the junction?—l could not say. 157. The road would be the same from McCarroll's up to the base of the Tangihuas, more or less on the eastern side?—lf you struck a midway road between the two you would have to go through the Tangihua Ranges. 158. What produce are the Poroti lands capable of growing for sending to Auckland?— Fruit, butter, and almost anything that other lands will grow if properly cultivated. With the use of basic slag all those lands can be made very profitable. 159. The line that you take is north-east by south-west? —Straight across the map. 160. A connection must be made between Whangarei and the Main Trunk line: when that connection is made none of the trade along the Whangarei-Kawakawa line will go on to the Main Trunk line north of Kirikopuni?-—I believe that is right, excepting stock. 161. You say you rely upon the opinion of engineers in this matter?— Yes, very largely.