D.—4

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entailed thereby, the position, by reason of the criticism in the House of their reports, gave them no alternative, both in their own interests and the public interest, but to press for an inquiry. This Commission has therefore been set up, and the Government have appointed three men who have been closely connected with railway matters in the past, and amongst the Commissioners have appointed the gentleman to whom Mr. Wilford asked to have the question referred. I wish to inform the Commission that Mr, Wilford lias been notified of the setting-up of the Commission, and that it would commence its sitting in Auckland, but it would probably bo unreasonable to expect him to be here at such short notice. 1 apprehend, however, that any evidence which he would desire to call would be in Wellington, and the Department will give him every facility for calling such evidence as he may desire to call in whatever place may be most convenient to him. As far as the evidence here is concerned, I propose to call Mr. Murison, who is Locomotive Engineer; Mr. Moore, Car and Wagon Inspector; Mr. McCarthy, Workshops Manager; Mr. Holder, Workshops Foreman, and some, at all events, of the train-examiners. I propose to call two train-examiners from the neighbourhood of the Auckland Station, and I propose also to have in attendance to-morrow morning an examiner from Frankton and an examiner from Morrinsville. There is a number of other examiners, and the reason I am mentioning now which ones I propose to call is that, if the Commissioners would like to have any more called, I should be glad if you would let me know, as it is necessary to make arrangements for relieving any who come from a distance. We have arranged for these two to come to Auckland this afternoon in readiness for to-morrow morning, and we are calling two of the local men. I apprehend that the Commission want to know the system adopted and what the train-examiners do. Francis Tayt.ob Mukison sworn and examined. (No. 1.) 1. Mr. Myers.] What position do you hold in the Department?— Locomotive Engineer. 2. How long have you been employed in the Railway Department?— Thirty-two years. 3. During what period have you been Locomotive Engineer?— Nearly seventeen years. 4. During how many of those years have you been stationed at Newmarket? —Just on four years. 5. Over what section or sections have you control as Locomotive Engineer?— The whole of the Auckland Section, as far south as Taumarunui. It includes everything north of Auckland. 6. Does it include Whangarei Section? —I also visit Whangarei and Dargaville. 7. ISef'ore I go into general matters, would you mind saying whether, so far as any particular operation of the Auckland Seption is concerned, there has been during the last three years any special improvements or any improvement in a particular direction so far as rolling-stock is concerned? —The chief improvement we have had in recent years is the putting-in of the Westinghouse brake on the Whangarei Section —that is, during the last three years. There have also been other minor improvements. 8. As Locomotive Engineer would you give a general indication of what your duties are?— My duties are to generally supervise the work of the Locomotive Branch. I have under me the Locomotive Running Department, Workshops, and the Car and Wagon Department. 9. Have you under you certain Inspectors and other men who have to look after the rollingstock ?—I look to the Car and Wagon Inspector for the upkeep of the rolling-stock. 10. And are there any other persons who also examine and inspect the rolling-stock?— The train-examiners, of course. The Car and Wagon Inspector at Auckland has a staff of twenty-fivo under him. 11. Are those twenty-five train-examiners? —■Nβ, there would be six actual train-examiners. 12. Where are they stationed?—At Auckland itself. 13. So that in Auckland itself there are yourself, the Car and Wagon Inspector, and six t rain-examiners ? —Yes. 14. You have also train-examiners outside of Auckland? —Yes; at Mercer, two; at Frankton, three examiners and three lifters, who act also as examiners; at Te Kuiti, one; Helensville, one; Huntly, two; Morrinsville, two; Paeroa, one; llotorua, one. 15. Those are your train-examining stations? —Yes. 16. What about Whaugarei and Dargaville Sections? —They came under a Traffic Manager. 17. So far as the Car and Wagon Inspector is concerned, does he remain in Auckland altogether, or does he go up and down the section and inspect?—He is constantly travelling about. 18. T suppose it is his duty to report anything unusual to you?— Yes. 1!). Do you also make visits of inspection?— Yes, I am travelling over the section frequently. 20. Except when you are travelling, where do your duties keep you?—My office is at Newmarket, but I am frequently at Auckland in the yard, and in the Newmarket shop. 21. The duties of the Car and Wagon Inspectors are defined by the Locomotive Code, which I have put in—numbers 328, 329, 330, 331, 333, 335, 336, 342.' These rules provide for the duties of Car and Wagon Inspectors, and also train-examiners?— Yes. 22. Have you found your staff competent, or otherwise? —Thoroughly competent. 23. Have you at any time found any reason to complain that your staff or any member of it was not doing what you considered to be his duty under the provisions of the Locomotive Code? —No. 24. Then the rolling-stock is subject to examination and inspection by the Locomotive Engineer, the Car and Wagon Inspector, and the train-examiner? —Yes 25. Tn addition to these inspections, has it been the practice for an inspection to be made I'i-oni time to time by the Chief Mechanical Engineer from the Head Office in Wellington?— Yes.