D.—4.

124

[c. mitchelson.

182. Grass-seed] —£1 10s. per acre for the best mixture. Of course, it could be done for less with cheaper and poorer grasses. 183. What would it cost for basic slag?—£l an acre. 184. Now, on the bush land, what would it cost per acre to fell the bush?—£l 10s. per acre. 185. And to grass the land? —£1 10s. per acre. 186. You make the cost of breaking in the gum lands £6 16s. per acre.' -That is, to get it to perfection. 187. And bush land £3 per acre?— Yes. 188. You were speaking about several localities that would be served by the eastern railway and not by the west, and among them was the Purua Valley. Now, the Pipiwai and the Moengawahine empty into the Hikurangi, and that meets tin Mangakahia somewhere about the bridge?— Yes, above it, 1 think. 189. Do you know how far the western route is away from the Mangakahia Bridge?—l could not give the exact distance. 190. The river is navigable to the .Mangakahia Bridge, is it not?— For very small boats it is. 191. There is a road running from Kirikopuni to the Mangakahia Bridge, is there not?—l believe there is now. , 192. Is that road more than four miles?—lt is nearer twelve. 193. At that point, as the crow flies, there is a difference of about three miles and a half? — Yes, but you could not make a road in that distance. 194. Is the establishment of freezing-works dependent on the railway, or are they going to depend on the river entirely? —On the river entirely. If the company can get the ocean steamers to go to the Wairoa the matter will be settled. 195. Supposing the line were sent by the western route, il<> you think it would be ti good business proposition to start from Kirikopuni and let the line go northwards as soon as possible? —If the western line is decided on, certainly; and from Hokianga as well. 196. What is the upset price of the Government kauri?—li ranges according to the distance and facilities for getting it out—from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. per 100 ft. 197. What would be the increased value of the kauri if the railway went into the bush from Kirikopuni?—l do not think the Government would gain anything, because a horse-tram would bring the timber out cheaper than the railway. 198. You do not think that the pushiug-on of the railway beyond Kirikopuni would bring out any timber? —If done at once it would. 199. If it was done in two years, and the kauri was put up for sale, what would be the increased value of the kauri? —Not much, if any. Kirikopuni Creek is a competitor. It runs right up to the timber. 200. You think the railway would be of no use so far as the timber is concerned?— No. I think the railway would be useful for opening up the country for settlement; but the quantity of timber that is there is so small that it is not worth considering so far as the railway is concerned. 201. You mention a branch railway from the Gap to Whangarei, and also a branch railway from the Gap to the Wairoa : what freight would be carried from the Gap to Whangarei and vice versa? —To Whangarei only, I should say very little. 202. What freight would be carried from McCan oil's Gap to Wairoa? —The same thing would apply—nothing to the Wairoa. It would not pay. The railway could not possibly compete against water, unless they made a breaking rate. 203. Was it your idea to throw a bridge across the Wairoa?—No; it would impede traffic. 204. What do you think of a branch line from Kirikopuni to Dargaville, and so link up the Dargaville-Kaihu system?—l do not think it would pay. 205. Would it not carry the Dargaville passengers round by Kirikopuni to Auckland?—l do not think so. 206. Which way would they go?—I think it would be cheaper to go by the river. It costs 17s. 6d. return —that is, Bs. 9d. each way —between Dargaville and Auckland by the existing route. 207. Mr. Steadnian.] With regard to the good Native lands around Kaikohe, do you not think, in view of the approach of this railway, the Government ought t<> stop the acquisition of these blocks in large areas by private individuals? —Most certainly. 208. And that the Crown should pre-empt the whole of that land at once?—lf possible, I think they should. Arthur Herbert O'Louuiilkn examined. (No. 69.) 1. The I'luii riiidii .\ What is your position?—l am Railway Goods .Ayent at Auckland. 2. You have prepared gome tables of freights for the information of the Commission?— Yes [tables handed in; see Exhibit No. 4]. The first table is the rates on goods between Auckland and Newmarket and all the ports of the Kaipara Harbour. The next shows the present passenger and parcels rates between Auckland and the pints of the Kaipara. The third shows ;i few examples of the different classes of goods under (lie railway tariff. The next one is the through rates by steamer and rail to Auckland from the stations on the Whangarei Section of railway—that is, through booking. The next table shows the local rates on the Whangarei Section. These rales are all dead-weight rates.