D.—4.

J. 1. WILSON.]

109

on the hitter 312 ft., near Titoki. The line on the east rises 231 ft. from Mangakahia to Maungakaramea, with several descending grades en route, and 128 ft. on the wesi from th« same point to near Waikiekie. Both lines then descend to the Wairua and Wairoa Rivers respectively— the eastern route gradually, and the western route with several ascending grades to overcome, a descent amounting to ft. on the east and 248 ft. on the west is thus made. The eastern line then rises to the junction at Parakao 7:! ft., and the western line passes over a saddle involving a rise of "27") ft. ami a descent to the same point. Smile investigations as to the relative resistance of the two routes as applied to haulage have been made by taking the three heaviest portions of each line as shown by the grades and curves <>n the plans, and applying the resistances due to those over the sections in question. The result is that the total of the resistances dealt with shows 14 per cent, in favour of the haulage on the western route, and, taking the steepest grades on each route, it gives a result of 20 per cent, in favour of the haulage on the western route. The western route crosses the Wairoa River below the Tangiteroria Road bridge, touching the river at deep water—namely, about If> ft. at high water. This 1 look on as a great advantage. I hand in plans and estimates of the western and eastern routes, ami also r>f the Whangarei McCarroll's Gap connection (Mr. Knorpp's survey). .'i. Mr. Evans.] Have you been over the route?—] have been ever most of it. 4. Mr. Steadman.J When you were talking about the cost of getting ballast out, was anything estimated as regards the cost of hewing the crystalline limestone.' 'Hie cost of ballast has been taken at the same rate righl through. I am not prepared to say thai any limestone will be used. As a matter of fact the cost of ballast lias lx'en taken at the present cost of taking ballast from Mount Albert. Examination adjourned to Monday, the Bth May.

Auckland, Saturday, 6th May. 1911. Eri<j Charles Gold Smite examined. (No. 64.^ 1. The Chairman.] You are Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for the Auckland Land District? —Yes, and have occupied that position for two pears. 2. I understand you have a statement to make to the Commission?—] have not exactly a statement to make, but I can give you particulars of settlement on the western route. •'5. Can \oii give us particulars of the area of land available for settlement.' Within five miles of the western line there an- 7,000 acres of Crown lands to !«■ brought under settlement— that is, on the whole line from MeCarroll's Gap to Kaikohe. There arc 71,300 acres of Crown settlements which this line serves. They are held principally under ihe occupation-with-right-of-purchase tenure. They are held by 114 settlers in areas ranging from 70 acres to 1.200 acres, the average size of holding being about .">()(> acres. Generally speaking, these settlers are in a prosperous condition, so far as I know. 4. Mr. Evans.] Have yon goi any quantity of Maori lands?—l have not gpt the area-. •~>. Mi. A , //"///." .] It appears there are only some 7.1H10 acres of Crown lands available for settlement on the western side? Yes. 6. With regard to the eastern side, is there any Crown lam] available for settlement on th. , : eastern side of the western route? I only look out the particulars on the one side. These settlers will be served as well by the railway by either route. It does not make v< r\ much difference. 7. Mr. Stallworthy.'] You have not been through the western country'?—l was through forty years ago : I do not know much about it now.

Auckland. Monday, Bth Mat, 1911. John Alexander Wilson, examination continued. (No. 63.1 6. .I/' - . G'oom.] 1 would like to ask you a few questions, Mr. Wilson, regarding the two routes. Taking the western route first, I understand that the ruling grade is i in 50 rising to the north, and the same going south'? —Yes. 6. And that the highest summit level reached is 285 ft. ?—Yes. 7. The lowest is 37 ft J — Yes. 8. The minimum curve is 7A chains? Yes. !). And altogether there are fourteen such curves? —1 have not counted them, but the total conies to 1 mile (>."> chains. 10. Of curves of I) chains there are twenty?— That would probably be correct. 11. There are a succession of 7i-chain curves along the route: could these l>e improved? They could be improved by a further expenditure, as the country is capable of standing it. Those curves could be increased in radius. 12. Do you think they could be eliminated? —Yes. 13. At 134 miles there is a long 7J-chain curve, and the work is fairly heavy : it has occurred to me that perhaps it would be feasible at a small increased cost to shorten the line by a tunnel. Am I correct? —You could shorten the line there by increasing the tunnelling.