D.—4a

96

only material consists of a statement that has been made—of course, in absolute good faith —by Mr. Fulton ; but when the two schemes, the deviation scheme and Mr. Fulton's scheme, are considered carefully and compared as to cost, our submission is that even on the point of immediate economy there is nothing to be said in favour of Mr. Fulton's scheme as against that propounded and proposed by tho Department, while on the other hand there are many respects in which the advantage is clearly with the scheme which has been propounded by the Department. The Department is looking not only to the: present but to the future. The officers of the Department have before them information as to the requirements of the Department, and as to the probable requirements in the future, which cannot be appreciated in the same manner by Mr. Fulton, or by any other engineer who lacks the experience and the knowledge of the requirements possessed by the officers of the Department. Ido not think, sir, I can usefully add anything further. The Chairman : I think I speak for my colleagues as well as for myself when T say that we; thank counsel for representing the case so lucidly and fully, and all that wo have heard will receive our serious consideration. Mr. Myers: I desire to say, and lam sure Mr. Luckie agrees with me, that our thanks aro due to the members of the Commission for the consideration we: have met with, and for the patient consideration that the epiestion before the Commission has had at your hands. Mr. Luckie : I quite agree, sir.