1.—4

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177. Mr. 0' Conor.] You heard Mr. Beetham's evidence to-day, when he said that ho did not mention anything about pontoons, nor about the expenditure being the Albion Company's expenditure ? On those points, I have not the slightest doubt that my report is correct. 178. Is it possible that if he said £1,600, it would have been put down £10,000 ? Certainly not. Ho must certainly have spoken of thousands. 179. You heard Mr. Beetham's statement relative to your having consented to his making the alterations ? I neither consented to his making the alterations, nor dissented from his doing so. I told him when he had finished, that the evidence would have to go back to the Committee. 180. What did he say with reference to my not seeing it ? Mr. Beetham asked me one day if you were likely to see the evidence before it was printed. He referred to those passages which ho had deleted, in which he had spoken of the AVestport people. 181. You can vouch as to the general accuracy of your report ? Most certainly I can. Mr. Cuetis, Superintendent of Nelson, present and examined. 182. The Chairman.] You have sent a letter relative to Mr. Beetham's matter—that is substantially correct ? Yes. 183. Do you remember of Mr. Beetham in his evidence stating about the sum of money expended at Ngakawau ? Yes. 184. Do you remember what Mr. Boetham stated ? My recollection is, that he said £2,000. I should be perfectly positive if the reporter had not taken it down differently. Otherwise I should be quite positive, more particularly as I was pretty well acquainted with all the circumstances, and would have known that £10,000 was out of the question. 185. Mr. O'Conor.] Did you hear the whole of Mr. Beetham's evidence ? Yes ; I was in the room when he entered and when he left. 18G. You heard him say £2,000 in the Public Works Committee ? Yes. 187. Did you hear Mr. Richardson ask a second time if £2,000 had been spent upon the rivci* Avorks ? Ido not recollect that. It is very likely. 188. Do you recollect Mr. Richardson questioning the accuracy of his statement? No, Ido not, ISO. Did jou see Mr. Beetham's first petition? Yes. 100. Did you see a statement in that about other companies using the Ngakawau River ? Yes. 191. Did you hear him make a statement to that effect ? Yes. 192. What other companies use the river? Are there other companies in existence? I did not understand him to refer to companies in existence, but that other companies would be prepared to uae the Ngakawau. 193. What is the meaning of that if there are no other companies in existence ? Although not in existence they are in course of formation ; there are applications for leases. 194. Who are the applications for leases from, in the Ngakawau ? I cannot recollect them all. There is one by Mr. Rochfort on behalf of a number of persons. • 195. Are you sure that that is in the Ngakawau ? The ground extends right up to the Albion Company's lease. 196. Have you ever stated that it was within ten miles of Westport ? Yes. It extends both ways, and goes right down to the Albion Company's lease. 197. When has that application been made ? Since I have been here. Ido not recollect exactly the date. 195. Are those applications usually made to you or to the Waste Lands Board? Usually to the AVaste Land Board. I think they should more strictly be made to mo. lam not certain as to Mr. Rochfort's application; I think it was made to the AVaste Land Board. 199. I infer from what you have stated, that you believe that would be the application to which Mr. Beetham referred ? Ido not suppose he referred to any particular application. I understood him to mean that other companies would work ground at Ngakawau, and would use the river that was what I understood from his evidence. 200. Are you aware what sum of money the Provincial Government spent at Ngakawau? I would say between £40 and £100; not more than £100 and not less than £40; just in removing two or three boulders. 201. ATas application made by the proprietors of the Albion Company for assistance to remove boulders ? I think it was before the Albion Company was formed that the money was expended. 202. Do you remember their application ? There was more than one application. One was made when I was in AVestport, in February last. 203. You acceded to that ? Yes ;to the extent, I think, of £20 or £25.

APPENDIX. No. 1. Mr. A. Geaiiam to Mr. AY. A. Mijebay. Sin,— G-isbome, 16th July, 1873. 1 have tlic honor to submit for your consideration that a company is now being formed to bore for petroleum, and for the manufactory of kerosene therefrom in the Poverty Bay District. That the direct benefits which would accrue to the Colony at large upon the successful establishment of this industry would be very considerable. Amongst these might be enumerated, — 0