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12. With regard to the channel, is that going back?— Yes, in places. 13. How many shoals are. there? —Three very bad ones and one or two medium. We never stick now. If we get over the fishermen's bad place we can get up the whole river. 14-. Are those long shoals?—No; I suppose the whole lot would not be more than half or three-quarters of a mile. 15. But for those shoals there is no difficulty in getting up from the Heads?— That is so. 16. What draught of water is there? —8 ft. at neap tide, and there is 7 ft. rise and fall at springs. 17. With regard to the tonnage carried, what does the " Awahou " draw with a full load right down to the Plimsoll?—10 ft. 6 in. 18. What does the "Queen of the South" draw with a full load? —Bft.: that is, down to the Plimsoll. 19. Mr. Williams.] How much would be in her then?—l7o tons dead-weight and about 220 measurement. 20. Mr. Weston.] What depth of water do you get on each side of (the river at the banks? — There is plenty to float the ship at low water. 21. Could you float the " Awahou "at low water?— Yes, at most places. 22. What has been the result within the last two or three years with regard to coal-boats coming into the port?—We very seldom get any coal now. The Nelson boats will not come when they are loaded up. 23. Do they come in fully loaded? —No. The " Kennedy " came in with 145 tons of cement. Her full load is 195 tons. 24. What used they to be able to do in the way of bringing in coal in the old days, seven or eight years ago?— When I had the " Himitangi "we used to go through drawing 9 ft. 3 in. 25. Fully loaded?— No. 26. How long ago is that?— About twelve years ago. 27. Could you do that now? —No. You could not get in drawing 9 ft. now. 28. Mr. Myers.] Could you get over the bar? —No, you could not get over the bar. 29. Mr. Weston.] What is it like compared with the Wanganui bar as regards sea and weather ?—lt is about the same class of sea. It is opep to all northerly and north-westerly winds. Westerlies come right into both of them. Foxton is better than Wanganui when it is southerly. 30. Mr. Myers.] What depth do you get now on the bar ? —On the neap tide we have been stuck there drawing 6 ft; : that is at the bar. We could not get down the river either. 31. lam speaking of the bar only and on spring tides?— 9 ft. 32. So that it is no use your trying to get over the bar at neap tides? —Yes, if we could get over the bar with 6 ft. we could get up the river. There is the same water on the bar as on the river. You cannot work it on account of the sea. 33. I am not considering the question of the sea, but dealing with the depth of water at the bar, and you get 6 ft. at neap tides and 9 ft. at spring tides? —Yes. At the last neap tide we had 7 ft. It varies. 34. But if you could get over the bar you would get up the river ?—Yes. 35. I suppose you have not kept the soundings of (the different places in the river from time to time?— No. 36. The bar is a shifting bar? —Yes, very shifty. 37. Is it not a fact that it shifts to quite a considerable extent? —Not lately. I used to run there twenty-five years ago, and it was two miles farther north then than what it is now, but since it has been out where it is it only shifts a few hundred yards at the most. 38. The Chairman.] The Wanganui bar is more sheltered from northerlies than this bar?— Yes. 39. Mr. Myers.] What about the depth of water at the wharf, has that gone back too? No. We lie over at the wharf, but below that, from the Government wharf to Levin's wharf, it is shallower. 40. At the Railway Wharf you say the depth has not decreased?—No, it has not: it is just about the same. We lie afloat at low water. 41. You do not bother to take soundings there as long as you keep afloat? —No. 42. So that you cannot tell whether it has decreased or increased? —No, it is about the same, because at one time we laid aground and we found that a snag had come down and we had been lying on the snag. Otherwise there has been no movement at the wharf. At one time it shoaled up altogether, and the Government had to get a dredge there. 43. That is a good many years ago ?—Yes. 44. Mr. Weston.] Where do you stick more often —on the bar or inside the bar at the shoals? —Inside. We often stick on the bar, but we have no trouble—the sea sends her in. 45. Can you say whether you stick more often going down the river or coming up?— Coming up, because we always have the heaviest load. When we load with flax it is a light load, and we can trim it with anything. 46. You say you stick more often in the channel than on the bar?— Yes. 47. Mr. Myers.] That is because the sea puts you off?— Yes, the sea drives (the ship in.

William Edwin Fuller sworn and examined, (No. 43.) 1. Mr. Weston.] You are shipping manager for Levin and Co.'s coastal steamers? —Yes 2. With regard to the trade in general cargo to Foxton, is that growing?— Yes, it has been growing considerably for the last few years.