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163. Was there any estimate of the cost of that line from Hamilton to Te Aroha? —Yes; it is contained in the Minister's Statement. 164. What was the probable cost ?—I think it is £168,000. 165. AVas there a preliminary survey of the line from Hamilton to Te Aroha ? —Yes ; there was a preliminary survey, and an estimate formed. 166. Was there any estimate of the cost from Hamilton to Grahamstown? —Not before the order was given to make contracts at Grahamstown. 167. Had your department made any estimate of the cost from Grahamstown to Te Aroha before the Assembly rose last year ?—No. 168. AVhen you got the order to show this extension from Te Aroha to Grahamstown, whom did you direct to put it on the plan ?—I think it would be handed to Mr. Wrigg iv the regular way. He does all that in the ordinary way. I have copies in my department which show the extension to Grahamstown in slightly different tints, showing that it was put on afterwards. There were two or three copies made at the same time. 169. After you got orders to make this extension, did you see the plan before it was laid on the table of the House ? —1 think it would be shown to me in the regular way, and I would again show it to the Minister for his approval. 170. Did this plan that was laid on the table on the 10th of September show the extension to Grahamstown ? —Yes. 171. You think it did ?—I have no doubt about it myself. 172. Mr. Rolleston.] In the case of an order of the House such as this, does not the order of the House come direct to you through the Clerk of Parliaments as permanent officer of the department ? —No ;it would come to the Under Secretary, who would initial it and say, " Please prepare." 173. Would it not be part of your duty to see that the order of the House was complied with ?— Yes, I suppose it would be. 174. Do you consider that this map complies with the order of the House? —Well, I think that would depend upon the Minister interpreting it. I consider an order from a Minister to put anything on a map imperative. He would say, "We propose to make this line from Hamilton to Grahamstown," and then I should think I was doing right in making that red line. 175. Did you call the Minister's attention to the fact that this was in addition to the order of the House ? —That would be known to the Minister. 176. Did you call his attention to it ? —To the best of my belief, I did. 177. Mr. McLean.] How long was it, Mr. Blackett, between the time you ordered this to be put on from Hamilton to Te Aroha, and the time you ordered this from Te Aroha to the Thames ?—lt would be a very short time ; probably the same day. I suppose these maps would not take more than a day to get up. I think it would be the same or the very next day. It would be a very short time. 178. Have you any written instructions about putting these lines on the map ?—I really cannot say. I have merely stated the general procedure. Mr. Knowles gets instructions, and sends them to me for execution. 179. Is it not usual, when instructions come from the Clerk of Parliaments for any map or return ordered by the House, for the heads of departments to receive the Order of Beference ? —Yes, I think, in the way I have stated. Ido not get the order directly. 180. That order of reference comes to the Under Secretary?— Yes, as a rule. 181. Well, is it not the ordinary rule that the Under Secretary initials it, and sends on to you a memorandum to prepare it ?—Yes. 182. Do you consider that you complied with the order of the House in adding that piece from Te Aroha to the Thames ? —I scarcely think I had the option of forming an opinion upon it. 183. But in compliance with the order of the House you put on that piece from Hamilton to Te Aroha? —Yes ; aud was afterwards instructed to lengthen it. 184. And you handed that back to the Under Secretary as if you were complying with the instructions of the House ?—Yes. 185. Have you any recollection as to how long it was before it came back to you to put that addition from Te Aroha to the Thames upon it ?—That was not given by the Under Secretary ; it was a verbal order from the Minister. 186. When this map went to the Minister, was this line on it from Hamilton to Te Aroha ? I presume he sent for you to his room ? —I was in his room. I believe I took the map myself. 187. And by his own instuctions you put the addition on ? —Yes. 188. That was before that map was laid on the table of the House ?—Yes. 189. And the map in the Public AVorks Statement, delivered by the Minister for Public Works, is not the same as that map which was put on the table afterwards ?—They are taken off the same stone, I believe. 190. Hon. Mr. Richardson.] Has that line between Te Aroha and Grahamstown been surveyed up to the present time ? —No ; it has only been surveyed about nine miles up the Thames from Grahamstown. • 191. AVhere did that survey commence?—At Grahamstown, working up tho valley. 192. AVhy has not that survey been completed ? —I think, when the surveyors got to the place where they stopped, the Natives stepped in and prevented them going any further. 193. Are you aware of the 3rd clause of the Railways Construction Act of last session, which states that you, as Engineer in Charge of the North Island, have to certify that the best route for the railway has been taken before it can be commenced ? —Yes. 194. Did you make any such report upon that ?—Yes ; so far as the contracts were let. 195. How far were the contracts let ?—They did not proceed beyond Kauaeranga—merely the foreshore of tho Thames. 196. Mr. Rolleston.] AVhat was the length ?—I think about a mile and thirteen chains. They were just the reclamation contracts. 2—l. 2.

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