D.—4.

104

J. TBOUNSON.

81. Do you say that the settlers in the Mangakahia and Tangowahine Valleys would be better served by the western line than by the eastern I —l am not speaking of a few solitary settlers, but of the public generally. 82. Taking the country from McCairoll's Gap to Parakao, where does the biggest population lie?—On the western side. 83. Is there any settlement to the west of that line as big as Maungakaramea ?—A large part of Maungakaramea has but a sparse population. 84. Is there any settlement on the west, as big as the one 1 refer to?—I have not got the statistics here. I know these settlements very well, and I consider the greatest possibilities in regard to settlement are on the western side. 85. I am taking the whole scope of country, and I ask you on which side is the bulk of the population?— Take Whangarei out of it, and you will soon find out. 86. I do not want to go as far us Whangarei, but am taking five miles to the east and five miles to the west of the eastern and western routes, and I ask you where does the bulk of the settlement lie?—l consider the biggest population is on the western side. 87. Are you sure of that) — l am quite sure from my knowledge of the country. 88. Is there any settlement on the west thai would compare with Maungakaramea on this side? — Maungakaramea would not cany one-tenth of the number of settlers carried on the same extent of country on the western side. 89. Where are the settlers living on the wesi I -There are a few settlers living ai Maungakaramea partly by roadmaking and gum-digging, but the western side affords the better prospects for a payable line of railway. 90. Has not population a great deal to do with a railway paying? —The Maungakaramea district is pretty well worked out. There are a few small holdings near the mountain, but a little way aw,iv to the east you gel the poor laud. 91. Would it surprise you to know that an Austrian settler is making £150 per year out of half an acre of what you call this poor gum land by growing grapes? — 1 would doubt it. 92. Which side carries the biggest population?— The people on the eastern side run their stock on the western side, and derive their income from the western side of the range, although they live on the eastern side. 93. Do the Whatitiri settlers run cattle on the western side?—l have not been there Tor some lime, and cannot speak of these solitary places. 94. Do you know in which direction the Tangihua Range lies?—] have not taken the bearings of that range. 95. It lies practically cast and west. Is there any scope of good country between the end of that range and the Wairoa River? —The good land lies in the basin between Tangiteroria and right away to the river. 96. Did you say there is no good land north of the Tangihuas? —There arc some patches of good land, but the other part of the country has a larger extent of good land. The settlers are doing well on it. 97. Can you toll me one settler who is doing that'/- Babe. There is a large family of them. 'Is. Where does Babe live? -I have been there scores of times. They live in Waikiekie, on the eastern side of the range. 99. The range runs east and west, do they not live to the south of the range) I know where they live. 100. Will you look at the map. Will you not admit that they live south of the range?—l know the\ r live on the eastern side of the range*. 101. Mr. Evans.] Is i 1 not a fact that most of the good land and the flat country is held by Maoris and syndicates on the west?—l do not think it is. 102. You know that most of the flat land in the Kaikohe district is held by the Maoris?—l think they hold a good deal of it at the present time, but I believe the Government are now negotiating for the purchase of it. 103. You say the land generally will carry one family to 200 acres: is your area of 6,000 acres composed of sveh land as that?—My land is not such rich land as these we are speaking of. My land is second class as compared with that. 104. Do you know if there is any Government land obtainable for cash in your district at the present time?— Under the present regulations you can take up Government land under the optional system. 105. There is plenty of land to be obtained that way now?— Yes, every month land is offered all over the province. The favoured tenure is occupation with right of purchase. Gerald Loftus Peacockb examined. (No. 62.) I. The Chair inn ii . | You reside in Auckland? —Yes. '1. Anil you are Chairman of the Auckland Railways League? —Yes. I am here as representing the Auckland Railways League in their views with regard to the carrying-on of the Main Trunk line, but I think it is as well to tell the Commission that I am not simply a Queen Street man who does not know anything about the north. As you know. I travelled all through the north a few years ago with a party of members of Parliament. I specially wished them to see the north, and we travelled right through from Whangarei and Kawakawa to Hokianga, through the Broadwood Settlement to Kaitaia, back to Taheke, thence to Kaikohe, and from there right through the Mangakahia Valley to the head of the Wairoa navigation at "Wiiarekohe. I think that was the old point where, under the original survey, it was supposed